Hey Dr. G I’ve got a topic for you… making kids “clean their plate.” Growing up I was always told to finish all of my dinner. This lesson has stuck to me so well that I’ll eat past the point of being full rather than waste food. Now that I’m a parent I find myself walking a fine line between making sure my daughter eats enough, but not making her eat more than she wants to. This isn’t always easy, but I do my best. So, how can I encourage my daughter to eat “enough” without setting her up for a lifetime of overeating?
Wendy, in AZ
Wendy, I too grew up being admonished to finish my food since there were starving children in China. Got smacked once for suggesting we box up my leftovers and send them on over.
Times have changed. A generation or two ago the biggest concern most parents had was getting enough food onto the table. In this generation we’re much more concerned as a society with getting healthy food in front of our children, and teaching them about balanced nutrition and reasonable portions. I’m glad, as I’m sure you are, that this shift is occurring. Though there are still too many children in need of any food at all.
