https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 15:20:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23322 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:03:59 +0000 theotherstark 23322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents made us try everything on our plates, as well, but rarely made us finish everything. Except when my dad would force me to eat a banana. We called it the 'banana wars,' because I hated bananas, and he made me sit there until they were gone. I still hate bananas.</p> <p>Anyway, this is a really great article. I can understand not wanting to be wasteful, but the 'clean your plate' logic has always seemed wrong to me. If the wastefulness is an issue, just make smaller portions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23317 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:53:41 +0000 eeh 23317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents always offered us appropriate kid sized portions on our plates (and I don't mean a restaurants version of kid sized) and we had to at least try everything but we didn't have to clean our plates. However, if we didn't clean our plates then the food was saved and refrigerated and we didn't get dessert. We also weren't allowed to come back an hour later and say we were hungry. We had the opportunity to eat at dinner with the rest of the family. If we didn't take it then the food waited until the morning and it's what we ate for breakfast. We weren't given other food choices until that food was gone. </p> <p>I think that system was a nice balance in not forcing us to eat when we weren't hungry but also teaching us to eat what we were given and that my parents didn't run a 24 hour diner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23316 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:53:14 +0000 Rosie Girl 23316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the only thing I would be guilty of is offering sweets as a reward. We never had to clean our plate when we were little, just had to take at least a bite of everything, and I would never make my child clean their plate. If they are done, and ate well, then they are done. </p> <p>We don't have TV, just Netflix, so we really don't watch much TV. He gets to watch a show in the morning. His snacks aren't all the time, and are healthy, getting lots of food groups in. He also doesn't use the stroller very often. If we know that we are going somewhere with LOTS of walking, we will bring it, but give him the option of walking or not. He likes to walk :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23306 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:42:52 +0000 Andrea 23306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the stroller one! I don't understand why I see so many big kids in a stroller. Once my daughter started walking well, I just have her walk. Sure I guess the stroller is easier so you don't have to wait on your kids to catch up or chase them down but I think my daughter should be walking when we are out for a stroll and not being pushed in a stroller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23177 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:22:25 +0000 mrs.earrings 23177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mum never enforced the "clean your plate" rule, but she did ask that we eat all the protein on our plate, because protein was scarce and expensive where we grew up. We could leave the starch though. And we usually ended up eating everything anyway because there wasnt much food and we were hungry! I plan to not enforce the "clean your plate" rule for my kids either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23104 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:59:03 +0000 Mrsbells 23104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the child. I was a terrible eater, and was always skinny. The "clear your plate" rule was enforced in my house as a child, and that never made me fat or even normal weight, I was always below normal. I think different things work for different families and different children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23098 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:55:00 +0000 cyndistar3 23098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am guilty of sometimes telling my child they won't get dessert if they don't eat her dinner, thankfully the first thing she always eats is her veggies! I also think we could cut down on tv time. But, I never force her to eat all of her food, I just tell her that if she doesn't eat it she will not get any food until the next meal. She is limited to one maybe two snacks per day and I only give her drinks other than water at meal time and she only gets one cup and if she is still thirsty she gets water. As far as meals go, I will let her choose between two options that I provide for her, she doesn't get to come up with her own idea. She always goes to bed at a decent time and gets plenty of sleep. Also, we havn't used a stroller since she was able to walk pretty good. I guess two out of 8 isn't so bad... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23088 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:47:41 +0000 erinpye 23088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with all of it. My mom was really good about every single thing on this list and I've never had a weight problem. She did things like mix 1 part honey nut cheerios with 3 parts regular cheerios for breakfasts so we could have a touch of sweet without sugar overload. We NEVER had soda in the house, ever. It was a special treat we had at the occasional dinner out. The only juice we had was that frozen juice from concentrate you mix yourself, and she always added extra water. Dessert was never something that was an every day thing, either, and snacks weren't really very common, unless she gave us some fruit or cheese and crackers or something after school. Dinner was never our choice, we ate what she made. We also played outside or did things like dance class so much, we didn't have much TV time. I never felt deprived or even noticed her tricks until I was much older, I'm grateful she cared that much about our health, and I grew up loving healthy foods and willing to try anything (truly, I've tried many crazy foods!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23071 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:22:42 +0000 looch 23071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's important to establish healthy eating habits. There were nights I didn't eat my dinner, and I literally had to sit at the table until it was gone. I don't want to resort to repeating that with my LO but I also don't want him to rule the roost and require a separate meal.</p> <p>I think the hardest thing is seeing your kid not eat and feeling like you have to give them something otherwise they won't grow. For some kids, food is a control thing, they can't control much, but when they are old enough they can choose not to eat. They also get exposed to peers and kids that were awesome eaters, suddenly don't want to eat their regular food because they got made fun of at lunch.</p> <p>It's hard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23070 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:22:23 +0000 Maysprout 23070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I agree with the canned veggie thing, canned veggies always had a bitter/metalic taste to me, I can see why kids dont like them. Fresh veggies are def better tasting.</p> <p>@Miss Adia: I like that move, doesnt waste food but allows them to learn to gauge how much to put on their plate without having to eat everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23065 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:19:19 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I totally agree. And, if your kid eats a ton of veggies but doesn't eat any protein they really aren't better off than the kid that refuses to eat their veggies! The key is a well rounded diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23062 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:17:44 +0000 yoursilverlining 23062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The “clean your plate” mantra is one my husband struggles with now – and he struggles with his weight. He doesn’t have any real sense about just eating until he is full – he just eats until its all gone because that’s what he always had to do growing up and just continued that into adulthood.</p> <p>Soda/koolaid/sugary juices were very, very rarely ever kept in our homesgrowing up (each was a rare treat), and we plan not to keep them around for our kids.</p> <p>One of the biggest eating pet peeves I have is when people make sure a huge issue about veggies, drawing all sorts of attention to veggies and acting like its some great achievement if/when kids eat them. Just treat veggies like normal food, don’t make a production out of it, start kids eating them early and there’s less issues. Also, prep them in interesting ways – its no wonder kids don’t love plain canned peas, those are gross. Fresh peas though, different animal completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23060 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:16:28 +0000 Miss Adia 23060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't make my daughter clear her plate. If she is full then she is full. I do the same thing when I'm at home or out. Sometimes her eyes are bigger than her stomach and she won't finish a large portion so I will just throw it in the fridge for the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23056 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:12:21 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I know, right? "Okay LO, you don't want to try what I've cooked? I'll get your bowl of Fiber one..." followed up by, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I'll eat dinner...more vegetables please!" hahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23053 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:05:29 +0000 mediagirl 23053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: Bran cereal. I say this while laughing. You're right - who would choose BRAN cereal or even better - the original Fiber One - over real food??! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23051 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:01:20 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I get blown away when I see parents just make their kids whatever they want for dinner even if it means cooking multiple meals at once and giving your kid something with no nutritional value. I NEVER had that option as a kid. We ate what my mom cooked. Period. I have a friend who cooks her 5 year old daughter pancakes for dinner probably 5 nights a week because that's what the 5 year old wants.</p> <p>I do like the idea from the article of having a backup meal (like bran cereal) that they can eat if they refuse to eat what you've made. A) hopefully it WILL encourage them to try new things since, seriously, who would want to eat bran cereal for dinner every night? And B) you don't kill yourself cooking multiple meals. Something I'll definitely have to try someday when we get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23050 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:59:43 +0000 heffalump 23050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: We never had soda at home either, and had the option of having it when we went out. But I always chose to have the cash instead! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23047 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:57:23 +0000 prettylizy 23047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see my mother in law often try to soothe my niece when she's upset by offering her a snack to distract her and I makes me cringe. The other night we were visitng and my niece was a little fussy, so I picked her up and took her out of the room where the bulk of people were, my MIL immdeiately said "you want a snack" and at this point we're 20 minutes from eating dinner. I pretended I didn't hear it, kept walking, distracted her with a toy and she calmed right down. I'm sure giving her some craisins or goldfish would have done the same thing, but I think at such a young age learning to soothe with food is a recipe for disaster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23045 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:56:05 +0000 mediagirl 23045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find cleaning your plate interesting because of my husband. He likes to eat and he is overweight. He was brought up on the "clean your plate" idea. He still has a problem not doing that today. I try to make our dinners in smaller portions and on smaller plates but then he'll eat what's on his plate, fill it up again and even though he's full halfway through the second portion, eat the whole thing. Same goes for eating out - restaurants give us huge plates and huge servings that could be 2 or 3 people's dinner. He'll eat everything b/c he was taught to at a young age. I think it does become ingrained in some kids heads and sticks with them. I don't think it will happen to everyone, though. </p> <p>Now mind you - this is his excuse, I'm sure he could stop if he wanted to. We are working on doing the leftovers thing and sharing a dinner when we're out to eat so that doesn't happen. </p> <p>I'm not sure what we'll do with our kids but I think we'll find what works for us and keep healthy foods in the house as much as possible (like we do now). I do worry about food pickiness and stuff and see my friends feeding their kids chicken nuggets, pasta with butter, etc. We never got that as kids. If we didn't eat what was on our plate, we could come back to it later but we couldn't have a "substitute." I know it's hard to deal with and I'm sure we'll struggle with it when the time comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23034 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:48:10 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: In the actual segment on the show they talked more on the snacks. Their biggest issue with the snacks was that a LOT of snacks given to kids have no nutritional value, and research shows that giving your kids JUST carbs (like crackers, chips, etc - common snacks) actually makes them more sluggish. If you're focusing on healthy snacks (fruits/veggies, yogurt, a cheese stick, etc.) it's much better for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23029 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:46:24 +0000 ecogirl 23029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh this is a great article! My parents always made me finish my plate and I always thought it was bad and encouraged over eating. I use these neat things that are plates and bowls that are exact healthy portion sized. So now I give Liam his food on them. Not only are they cute but I know he is eating the recommended amount and not more.<br /> Also he loves sushi, haha so I think I'm going to get lucky with keeping him on track with a healthy diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23025 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:45:25 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The psychology behind "offering sweet rewards" also makes sense. To quote the article...<br /> "But unfortunately, this technique teaches our kids that broccoli and other vegetables are “less appealing” because their consumption requires a reward. At the same time, this approach positions dessert as the prize, something to be valued over other foods."</p> <p>I always liked vegetables. Steamed broccoli was actually my favorite, lol. My favorite summer snack was to eat a cucumber, I wouldn't even cut it up, haha. So, with any luck, my kids will enjoy vegetables too but if they don't I can see how bribing them to eat veggies is just reinforcing the idea that they're bad and sweets are good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23023 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:43:58 +0000 Maysprout 23023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the clear your plate and snacking are wrong. I find wasting food very rude, especially when Im the one cooking. There's always the option of not filling a plate as full and taking 2nds or 3rds. And as long as the snacks are healthy most studies show its better to not be starving when you eat and little kids have little bellies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23021 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:41:51 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Soda was a "treat" for us. So we would never have it at home, but if we went out to dinner we could have it (I usually had a shirley temple, lol) as part of the "going out" treat. Then again, my family RARELY went out to eat, especially compared to a lot of families these days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23018 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:40:19 +0000 Navy_Mommy 23018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@junebugmama: Very clever!</p> <p>I think there's a difference between a fussy eater who will say they're full and then try to eat something else 20 minutes later and a kid who is legitimately full. But we, as parents, should be conscious of the portion sizes we're giving our kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23016 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:39:29 +0000 heffalump 23016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo is only 4 months so we're not there yet. But my mom never made me clear my plate so I'm no going to do that either. Also, we were strongly encouraged to drink water. My dad would pay us the dollar we saved him by ordering water instead of soda at restaurants, and it worked! I only drink water now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23013 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:38:39 +0000 banana 23013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom used to totally make me finish my plate before I left the table. I used to complain that I was full but she'd make me take at least 3 more bites. Thankfully I didn't end up obese but I could completely see how that could easily become a bad habit. I never even thought about it but now I'm gonna be more conscious of that when feeding my son. Thanks for the article! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-23009 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:36:02 +0000 junebugmama 23009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents didn't make you clean your plate but you did get chores related to how much you left on the plate. My parents always let us make our own plates or tell them how much to put on our plates. The chores rule made it so that you would put less on your plate to start. You could get 2nd or 3rds if you wanted to, but it taught us not to waste food. (Big family small budget) I plan to do the same eventually. I know it's for different reasons than the making them fat but I'm sure that's just a bonus impact to this idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/article-are-you-making-your-kids-fat#post-22999 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:30:42 +0000 Navy_Mommy 22999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On the Today Show today they had a segment on "8 Ways We're Making Our Kids Fat" and I found it quite interesting (article here: <a href="http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/28/9057922-food-fails-8-ways-were-making-our-kids-fat)" rel="nofollow">http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/28/9057922-food-fails-8-ways-were-making-our-kids-fat)</a>. Some of the points, like don't give your kid too many sugary/high calorie drinks, seemed like common sense to me but others really made me think.</p> <p>The point that really got my gears turning was the first point - it isn't good to make your kids clean their plate. The logic is if your making your kid eat even if they're full you're setting them up to overeat later in life by teaching them to ignore their hunger cues. That makes sense to me - but at the same time I wasn't allowed to leave the table until I finished my dinner and I've never been overweight.</p> <p>What do you think of the 8 points in the article? Do you think we're making our kids fat? Are you guilty of any of these? </p>