Were you always told to clear your plate before leaving the table? If yes, do you think it affected you in la

Question

My Son-in-law used to force my 2 Grandsons to finish their huge dinners as they were growing up often resulting in one of them literally gagging. It used to upset me a lot.
Now, they are both strapping bean poles! That's the only way I can describe an 18 and 19 year old who are both over 6 foot but weigh slightly less than they should.
I actually thought they would grow up to be fat! How wrong can you be?

Sorry, messed up. Rest of question is
'Do you think it affected you in later life?'

Answer 1

My dad made me finish what was on my plate. He kept insisting that I should be grateful because of all the starving children in Italy/China/Africa. I asked if I could send my dinner to them, it was met with poor reception. I developed an eating disorder and was anorexic for many years. It was during the days of Twiggy so my parents didn't pay much attention to the fact that I was 30 lbs. underweight. I would only eat once a day and try feeding the dog under the table most of my food.
My 36 year old son was a beanpole and he ate like a horse.
He was 6'1 and weighed 135 lbs. I was embarrassed and told him not to wear shorts. It looked like I had starved him. or just returned from Ethiopia during a famine..

Answer 2

Wow, some of the stories I just read were so interesting. And
I too come from the parental thought of those times, that I had
to finish everything on my plate. But I wasn't interested in my
moms' cooking. She managed to cook according to the things my dad liked that his mother made. But I was horrible
about wanting to finish anything. And when I'd take too long, and not finish, I was sent to bed early as punishment. So often
it would be daylight and I could naturally not go to sleep. So a
friend of mine, who was allowed to stay up late, would often
come to my bedroom window if she didn't see me outside, and I'd entertain her, by reading some of my Little Golden
Books to her through the screened open window. And usually
around 7:30 my mom would check on me, and she'd find me
reading, and she'd tell my friend to go home and that I had to
go to bed, since it was my bedtime. And it was too. I probably
was the only kid in the neighborhood that had to be in bed by
7:30 on any night. Mom would say I needed my rest. And I
believe now, it was so that she could have her evenings free.
The only time I had an appetite to eat, was when we went
to my grandparents' farm on a Sunday for dinner. My gr'ma
was everyones' favorite chef. And there wasn't a thing she
made that wasn't heavenly to the taste.

Answer 3

Yes we were made to sit at the table until we cleaned out plates and there wasn't really that much on there. Not like the double and triple serving today. I also didn't like oatmeal and Mom made me sit there until I ate it. Only trouble was I couldn't. I would gag and throw up. It didn't matter I sat there until lunch time and if I wanted lunch I had to eat that bowl of oatmeal. Now the reason I couldn't eat oatmeal (which I use to like) was that my cousin Curt was staying with us and we had oatmeal for breakfast and he leaned over to me and said, "EEwwwww, that looks just like snot." That was the first gag right there and I could not get that bowl of buggers image out of my mind !!!! Finally after a summer of this, mom started fixing me Cream of Wheat. By the time I got to High School I wouldn't eat breakfast at all and she would buy me Carnation Instant Breakfast. Did it have an affect on me? I haven't been home but 5 times in 35 years !!!! It wasn't just that. There were other things too but it made me the best Mom and Grandmother I can possibly be !!!! I never made them eat anything they didn't like !!!! I just offered them a different choice and when I found out their likes and dislikes I would buy and cook those !!! So thank you Mom !!!!

Answer 4

We were never made to eat anything we didn't like or a certain amt., but if we took food out we were expected to clean our plates. Growing up we were always being told of starving children in other countries and I always felt bad about that. It was hard for me not to clean my plate, even though I was full. I was a chubby teen and into most of my adult life. I've now learned to eat smaller portions and stop when I'm full. Eating that way is much healtier for me.

I never forced my daughter to eat what she didn't want. She likes many different foods and has always been a good eater.

Answer 5

Yes, my Father wanted us to take a little of everything. "Take what you want, eat what you take". Many evenings I sat at the kitchen table staring at my plate until bed time. After we grew up, he said he regretted doing that. (He is a great Dad) Swore if I ever had children, would not force them to eat.


I did have children, kept my promise. NEVER forced them to eat what they didn't want.


I feel it is wrong to force any child to eat more than they want. Children should have a balanced diet. Serve them small portions first, adding more if they are still hungry. No dessert unless they have eaten a decent meal.

That's my 2 cents...have a great day!!

Answer 6

We was never made to clean up a whole plate unless we put the food on it our self's,We were made to try two bites of food that we said we did not like.I was raised on a ranch after I was 5 years old and still to this day I don't put more food on a plate than I can eat. Nor to I kill more game than we can eat.We were told to share if we new some one in need, I still try and do that today

Answer 7

We were always told to finish our meals as well. But I grew up in a family of six kids (and Mom and Dad) on a very small income (for the times), so even though our meals were nutritious, there wasn't much ON those plates. Today they would be considered equivalent to a snack serving at a restaurant.

I think it is actually criminal that we waste so much food in overly large servings and empty calories. (And I am just as guilty of this now as anyone--maybe it was my deprivation as a child that leads me to eat too much now??!)

Answer 8

In my house, you were so damned happy to have anything on your plate to eat that being forced to finish wasn't an issue.

When one spends a good portion hungry and hoping for the next meal, a clean plate is to be desired.

Answer 9

Yes.....my parents expected us to finish our plate. After having my own kids, it did cross my mind quite a few times to establish that rule myself.....but I never did. It effected me because I did get fat. Kind of lost that ability to distinguish between full and stuffed. Wasn't until I left home and lost weight that something that simple mattered. I know my parents ment well because we didn't have alot....

Now to the other extreem are people like my husband. Doesn't like much of anything. Took picky eater to a new level for me. Hates everything......but never even tasted it before....that I could deal with....but he can't stand the smell of things either. And there's alot of food I like I can't even cook because the smell makes him sick. Or he finds the look yucky. If on those few times we ever go out...can't get it then either because it ruins his meal. I mean there are some things I could understand.....but Alfredo? Lasagna, chicken with a sauce? Rice? (looks like maggots) Jello? Sometimes I do cook the things he doesn't like the "look" of but he won't eat with me. Has to go to the other room. His father and brother are the same way. Their food issues definately effect the rest of us.

Answer 10

Susie, I was never keen on fish as a child and was always getting told to eat it up.

I think that's why I grew up lacking some brain cells! Never mind maybe I'll grow some now I've started bringing home a fish supper every week. lol x