Clean plate club

[littlesista06]

Do you all make your kids clean their plate at meals??

I don't. I just make sure she's eaten a good amount of what's on her plate.

I can remember sitting at the table until my plate was clean. I swore I would NEVER to that to my kids. It think it can lead to too many food issues. (it did in my case)
No offense to ANYONE who feels differently.

[bizymum]

Nope, dont make my kids clean their plates.
I make sure they get enough, they have snacks during the day too.

As long as they made a good attempt at eating whats on their plate. I usually tell them to eat one more bite of each thing, when they ask to be excused. The one thing I do make them do is drink all their milk before they leave the table.

Some nights if theywant they usually get a healthy snack before bed.

[Diane]

I had a certain amount of food that I expected my kids to eat... when/if they met those expectations, they were allowed to have their desert and could then get away from the table but... if I didn't think they had eaten an adequate amount of food it was up to me to decide whether they would get a desert or not. Now I might sound mean to some but my theory has always been that if their tummies were too full (which was usually their excuse) and had no room left to finish up their meal, than there was also no room left in their tummies for desert either. It was up to them... not eat and get no desert or eat a "little bit" more (not all) and get desert. LOL I NEVER made them eat anything I knew that they didn't like... (like I was made to do) but at least enough to satisfy me. I always wanted our meal time to be a happy time... something to look forward to, not something that was dreaded and carried a lot of issues. :) I don't like to see parents fighting tooth and nail with their kids to eat... to me it just isn't worth it. :)

Diane... :wave:

[Mickey]

Nope. Ds doesn't have to eat everything on his plate. I don't even make him try anything. He usually tries things on his own and I think that's a result of no power struggles over food.

Jennifer, I agree that forcing the issue can cause food/eating issues. I, too, spent many nights at the table until bedtime, staring at my stewed tomatoes and brussel sprouts.

I've written this before, but I read a book that discussed how babies are born with natural cravings for the types of foods their bodies need, when they need them--then we immediately begin to manipulate when and what and how much they eat. It said that if you, from the beginning, make every effort not to manipulate things where food is concerned, they will eat (and actually ASK for) things their bodies need.

My mom bought doughnuts when she was here a couple of years ago (ds was 3 at the time) and he had never seen a doughnut. He asked for one (he was obviously curious) and my mom said, "NO! You have to eat your eggs first--THEN you can have one!" I told her that I didn't do things like that and I broke off a piece of doughnut and put it on his plate next to his eggs. He picked up the doughnut, smelled it, licked it, put it down and ate his eggs! LOL! My mother was stunned!

[littlesista06]

Diane - I do the same thing with dessert. If you can't eat another bite of dinner then you sure don't have room for dessert. Funny how there's always room for dessert! :lol:

Mickey - Nothing was ever forbidden from dd either and I think now that's why she does not crave and horde sweets. We never made a big deal about sweets, so they are not a big deal.

Are we all good moms?! :)

[Amy]

I never do that. I never had to as a kid either, thankfully.

[Cathy]

I follow the Diane philosophy of dessert ("if you're too full to finish your dinner....), but I don't make them eat everything. I have been lucky to have 3 pretty good eaters. I always tried when they were little, to have something that they liked, but I never made alternate meals. (I hate cooking too much to do it twice!! LOL) Now that they cook, they mostly choose what we eat, so they like everything.

Now if I can get them to stop eating a full meal when they come home from school, maybe we'll have enough food left for dinner.

[Linda/NE]

I don't make my kids clean their plates either. I also don't make them eat things they don't like. I always hated when people gave me a hard time for not liking something they liked and that I should be greatful to have food and eat it. (My parents weren't like that but relatives were.)

[MaryL]

I only enforce the "clean plate" theory as far as having dessert goes. (Same as Diane and Littlesista). I serve the kids their meals...I suppose I could have them serve themselves, but so far this works. I'm very good about putting a reasonable amount of food on the plates, and they know that they can always ask for more. I'm always happy if they "try" a new food, but it isn't forced. My ds #1 will actually forego dessert alot...he's not really into sweets/treats. Ds #2 is a total sweettooth....and the dessert/treat is an important part of his meal (in his opinion). LOL :rolleyes: I let my kids pick their own dessert, from what we have on hand. They don't abuse the priviledge. We actually have a "treat" drawer where we keep fruit snacks, candy (Halloween etc :D ), and other small treats. The children are free to choose from that drawer after lunch or dinner.

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by Mickey
Nope. Ds doesn't have to eat everything on his plate. I don't even make him try anything. He usually tries things on his own and I think that's a result of no power struggles over food.

Same for us with dks. They are actually really good about trying things and like lots of different things. :)

[kat]

I had one really good eater and one who is incredibly picky. I was always concerned about his eating habits. Ped said as long as his height and weight were consistant for his age that he would get all the nutrients he needed through the course of a week provided I offered balanced choices. We rarely have desserts at our house, so that has never been an issue. Kids are so much better at listening to their bodies than we are. They eat when they are hungry and don't when they are not. It is true that cravings are signals for what your body is needing. Also your taste buds will indicate what your body needs. Remember when some foods just don't taste right and aren't what you thought you wanted.

I've gone through the Weigh Down Workshok and it really is amazing how the body is designed and if we would really listen to it, as children instinctively do, food would be less of an issue.

[RCT]

ok, I am the only one....:lol:.....I usually like the plate cleaned...no I only place 4 green beans for the 4 year old and 6 for the 6 year old....small portions of the rest of the meal...if you want more ask.....desert is only available if you have finished your dinner....I am a mean mother...LOL...I too try not to serve too many undesirable meals a week....one is good per week...:lol:....never make them sit a the table...dh is another story...:biglaugh:

you all sound like your doing a great job...:p