if the kids chuck there dinner in the bin

liney

DS is 3 - if he doesnt eat what he's given he has a packet of breadsticks in a low cupboard he can help himself to, and also the fruit bowl.

LuciferTDark

Mine eat what they're given or go hungry, I did try the "there's kids in Africa" speech once but my smarta$$ oldest son suggested boxing it up & sending it to them rather than eat it himself.

redmel1621

I'm in full agreement, I will not let my kids waste food they are 7 & 5....I would however assess if it will be a very long time till next meal if so maybe an apple or something would be offered..

But i'm the same with juice they moan and moan sometimes for a drink so I give them water....they then decide they aren't thirsty after all.
I do exactly the same with food if they are hungry they will eat toast etc..if it is 'treats' they are asking for it's tuff. They are only allowed treats when they are full with proper food.

Mel x

ravylesley

morganb wrote: »

Just remembered the day DS1 took vegetable sandwiches into school one day ... has never messed about with them at dinner time since!

ewwwwwww and I thought I was a strict mummy:rotfl:

My kids are given their tea and if they dont eat it they dont get anything else.If they dont like what I've served then I insist they eat their veggies and they can leave the rest.I am really strict on fruit/veg consumption and thankfully my kids are pretty good about it

Lesleyxx

Wonder_Girl

They eat what they are given or go without, they are only ever given food they like in 6 year old portions, If they are trying something new then they don't have to like/eat it but the HAVE to try it, as long as they have tried it then they can have something else. :rolleyes:

They aren't too picky, but sometimes we have to do a bit of mind over matter, DD2 insisted she didn't like yorkshire puds but loved toad in the hole, I had to make some of each at the same time to prove they were made from the same stuff, she now loves her yorkies too:rotfl:

pigpen

ceridwen wrote: »

Can I please put in a little plea here for vegetarians? I recall overhearing someone the other day saying that one of her children had rejected meat and said she wasnt going to eat any more meat (because it used to be animals) - but she had told the child that "I am not going to stand any nonsense - eat it" or words to that effect and the child did. She was telling someone else this tale - they were agreeing with her. I was personally totally horrified hearing this - as a child has a right to decide to be a vegetarian if they choose to. So can I ask anyone whose child does decide to be vegetarian to PLEASE PLEASE let them be - rather than trying to forcefeed them or con them into eating meat - believe me, they will resent you all the way into adulthood, and then some for it (voice of experience here!!!!!). She is far from the only one I have heard saying similar things - with no regard for the fact that her children are people in their own right (if young ones).

Now I disagree.. as I have a right to do.. lol..

I do not think children up to a sensible age.. not a set age but one where they are able to reason and understand the issues themselves.. are capable of making this decision. That child might only have been 3 or 4 and recently discussed it at school and just be doing some outward thinking not making an informed lifestyle choice.. They do not understand nutrition, their need for high levels of carbohydrates and proteins to grow healthily IS vital and I think this is very lacking in the diets of many people I have discussed this matter with.. veggie and not.. Children cannot grow hralthily on a plate of salad.. they NEED proteins from other sources and I for one refuse point blank to cook a seperate meal for one member of the family.. eat it or starve often rings through the kitchen in here.

My 13 year old doesn't like the taste or texture of most meats.. but she will eat spagetti bolognese.. so she does.. Her reasons for not eating it are not anything to do with ethics or animals just the taste.. I don't like brocolli.. so I don't eat it.. the same thing.. but I make sure I eat other things which provide me with the same nutrients... Gosh I LOVE sprouts!!! lol

While I do fully agree with the childs right to choose I do firmly believe the level of understanding has to be taken into account and peer pressure.. one of mine was told by a friend she would no longer be her friend if she ate meat.. I said well if she was your friend it wouldn't matter if you ate human flesh she should accept you for you NOT what you eat or wear or think or believe.. it is all personal choice. By the same stroke I totally disagree with parents bringing up their children veggie.. the same applies.. if they want to eat meat they should be allowed to and not feel bad about it.. and until they decide otherwise I feel it should be provided.. I had a few 'warm' debates with a friend about this many years ago.

My husband was veggie for years and years and years.. he started eating meat earlier this year and is almost a carnivore now.. and all because his mother is the most horrendous cook he couldn't bear to eat her food!

I am definitely of the 'eat it or starve' mean mother brigade.

Penny-Pincher!!

DD doesnt get anything else if she doesnt eat her dinner. She has gone to bed many times hungry. She is allowed water though:D ...so Im not that bad;)

PP
xx

Wonder_Girl

pigpen wrote: »

I said well if she was your friend it wouldn't matter if you ate human flesh she should accept you for you NOT what you eat or wear or think or believe.. it is all personal choice.

Now i have to disagree, if your DD was a cannibal then i think this friend has every right to stop talking to her :rotfl:

geordie_joe

ceridwen wrote: »

So can I ask anyone whose child does decide to be vegetarian to PLEASE PLEASE let them be - rather than trying to forcefeed them or con them into eating meat

Depends on how old the child is and why they are saying that. Some will say it just to get out of eating something they don't want. Some are too young to understand and are simply repeating what they have heard. Others have read magazine articles written by vegetarians that are completely biased in one way.

Personally I believe we were designed to eat meat, as are many animals.

Pandora123_2

My personal opinion is that children should eat what is in front of them, but if they don't want it, they shouldn't be forced to eat it but rather simply go without until next mealtime.

My mum used to force me to eat porridge oats, and to this day I cannot stomach it. It actually makes me gag, I literally cannot swallow it.
.
Then my mum changed tacks, she would tell me I didn't have to eat anything if I didn't want to (I wasn't given a replacement) and that suited me fine. I wasn't that picky, and now I eat a very wide range of foods.

I also believe a child should be allowed to eat vegetarian if they choose, for some it is a moral choice and certainly morals are not lacking in children! It is not difficult to get enough protein as a vegetarian (or vegan), most people consume far too much protein anyway, and it's abundant in things like beans, lentils, nuts, tofu etc. I don't know ANY vegetarians who subsist on plates of salad, and certainly that wouldn't be a balanced diet. If a child is determined to be vegetarian, then surely it would not be that difficult to make adjustments for them, eg if spag bol is on the menu, why not set aside some sauce before adding meat, they can have as is or add some veggie mince. Or if chops and a salad are served, how about a prepared veggie replacement for the meat (they can just be reheated), or simply adding some tinned chickpeas to the salad for protein. Or if making a stir-fry, set aside some before adding meat and add a handful or two of roasted cashews or peanuts to make a vegetarian stir-fry.

Just my two pence...

:A