Food related--Big deal, or not?

Re: Food related--Big deal, or not?

• msdrdg member

  April 2014

  I am assuming your DD is still young (less than 5).  At that age I wouldn't make any sort of deal out of food.  I think as long as you put a reasonable portion on her plate, her clearing it is not a big deal. 
  
  
  

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• TiffanyBerry member

  April 2014

  To me, it is a big deal, and I don't feel bad about thinking that. I can already see the effects on eating to please others or just eating to personal satiety in little kids at the age of three or four, depending on the approach the parents take.
  
  I won't say anything to another parent, but I would absolutely speak up for my kid to anyone who pushed (even in this "positive" manner) eating to external cue rather than internal ones.

  
  

  

  

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• klondikebar member

  April 2014

  We don't have a clean your plate rule in my house, but we do stress to only take what you are going to eat so they do tend to clean their plates. They can always have an extra serving. I prefer teaching my children about healthy portions from all of the food groups.
  
  I'd tell your DD that she can stop when she is full. I don't know her age so I'm not sure how in depth you can go, but just explain the importance eating some of all of the food on her plate so she has a well rounded diet.
  

       
  

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• ASmallWonder member

  April 2014

  I see the danger but I think it can be perfectly countered with teaching her to be mindful of portions.  If I told my kid to listen to his body, he'd be done after 1 bite because he just doesn't want to eat and he'd flat out lie.  I'd talk to her about how eating well is important but that some days, if you really don't want to finish what's on your plate that's ok too but that it's important to eat a little bit of everything to know you got a "happy lunch" vs a "happy plate."

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• Whenigrowup member

  April 2014

  It's good to know that my concerns aren't 100% my projecting my issues on to her.  On one hand, school is the only place where she will eat some variety of veggies.  I tell her at dinner and breakfast to listen to when her body tells her she's full, and I don't make a huge deal about how much she eats.  

  
  

  I know that she gets reasonable portions and a good variety of food groups at school.  I just don't like her being trained that she needs to eat everything in front of her.  

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• wiggyslilsis member

  April 2014

  I definitely encourage her to eat until full rather than clearing her plate. I think you could bring this up with the daycare in a waywithout causing a bunch of drama.

  
  
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• MagickalNarwhal member

  April 2014

  I would absolutely bring it up and would not be ok with that sort of an approach to eating overall.

  

  
  

  

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• ready-or-not member

  April 2014

  This is a tough one. I don't think it's such a big deal that they have a happy plate verbiage at her daycare. Most likey her daycare is not giving her a huge portion in the 1st place, & I'm going to assume that they have some kind of physical activity (playtime) in the afternoon as part of their daily routine. If they were loading her up with carbs, sugars & sweets then setting her in front of a tv for hours after I would def take issue with it. I was a fat kid, & very self conscience about it, & it led to an ED in high school. It took me a long time to be comfortable in my own skin, & i still have issues that come up from time to time. As the mom of a 12 year old girl now when I hear DD & her buddies comment about needing to go on a diet & being too fat (which they absolutely are NOT. I would have killed for their bodies at 12. Or hell, now!) it makes me sad. While we promote healthy lifestyles & physical activity, we don't make it a focus, if that makes sense. We go outside with our kids, we play sports, they play sports, we cook healthy meals, we splurge on goodies occasionally, but we don't push any part of it....it just kind of comes naturally. I have 2, soon to be 3 DDs now & while it is absolutly not limited to girls, I think girls are a lot more subject to scrutiny regarding their weight & body image. They will deal with this for their whole lifetime, & I think it's a little unfair to them to have to start that at such a young age...

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• ready-or-not member

  April 2014

  Geez I'm really sorry that was so long winded! Lol

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• persephonerose member

  April 2014

  The term happy plate doesn't bother me too much. Unless it is associated with praise/rewards/negative tones. "Lets all try to have a happy plate today" is very different from "Oh no! little Timmy didn't have a happy plate today." 
  
  No clue if that makes sense to anyone else, like it does in my head.  I just don't feel that eating should be associated to negative feelings or rewards. It sets a bad example for the children.
  

  
  
  
  
  

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• winecastle14 member

  April 2014

  PrivacyWanted said:

  I would not be happy with that and would say something.

  This.

  
  

  
  

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