https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 13:13:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096801 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:10:22 +0000 Mrsjets 2096801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096777 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:58:46 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2096777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but any substantial leftovers on her plate will be eaten later in the evening before any snacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096765 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:51:20 +0000 yin 2096765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I usually have a variety of food on their plate and don't expect them to eat it all. I mainly want them to try a bite of everything on their plate. FIL assumes that LO has to eat everything I pack, which is a lot. I need to address that issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096200 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:38:36 +0000 LuLu Mom 2096200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I think it creates a bad relationship with food. I want my girls to have a healthy relationship, eat when you are hungry, eat until you are full. that being said I will not allow skipped meals or hardly any bites, because I want them to know nutrition is important as well, a few bites of everything and then you can be done (with no snacks later.) As I got older I did not have a healthy relationship with food, nothing my parents did just my mindset, I do not want my girls doing through the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096177 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:24:46 +0000 artsyfartsy 2096177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I have bad memories with that as a child and I have an unhealthy relationship with food now and I won't do it to T. I encourage him to eat more if he stops just to make sure he IS full (he's only 12 months) but when he's full he's full. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096170 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:17:48 +0000 MoreCoffee 2096170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's really interesting to hear others' strategies for mealtime. I have my own food issues so it was very important to me to be neutral about what DS does/doesn't eat and not force him to eat things he doesn't like. I would describe my philosophy as "TV Dinner": I give him his plate with everything on it already, including something enticing that I know he'll eat. Some nights that's applesauce or sweet potato, and some nights it's a few Annie's bunny cookies. Much like I'd always eat the brownie first when I got a TV dinner, DS will usually eat the "treat" part first too. But 90% of the time he'll finish most of the rest and even ask for more veggie, chicken, whatever.</p> <p>I want to teach him that there are healthy foods and foods to be eaten in moderation, but I also don't want to categorize things as "good" or "bad" or use dessert as a reward. This seems like a happy medium for now; I'm sure we'll have to reassess as he gets pickier and more assertive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2096109 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 08:36:19 +0000 miramira 2096109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as you, Bao. My dad used to make me sit at the table until my plate was clear. I used to wrap up the food i disliked (does anyone really like overcooked, soggy, unseasoned broccoli or green beans? Sorry, mom...) in a napkin and put it in my pocket, then flush it down the toilet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095693 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:33:14 +0000 Bao 2095693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meh, we love dessert over here! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095665 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:18:09 +0000 jessibear 2095665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopstixwife: I agree that encouraging kids to eat some more when they're saying they're full just to get up from the table is sometimes necessary. And encouraging kids to be mindful not to waste anything, especially food, is important. For us, we choose to instill these good habits and manners without making it about cleaning your plate. At least that's what we're hoping to accomplish. Thanks for sharing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095587 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:51:29 +0000 sarac 2095587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, same as everyone else, I see how that encourages a terrible relationship to your feelings of hunger. I'll encourage my daughter to eat a few more bites, but when she says that she's full, end of story. Now, if she hasn't eaten much, she doesn't get whatever fruit dessert we're having. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095523 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:23:00 +0000 pui 2095523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095521 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:21:39 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2095521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. Right now my policy is that she has to try one bite before deciding she doesn't like it, and luckily she's willing to do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095511 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:16:34 +0000 regberadaisy 2095511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I'm on your side. When they're older? Sure, I'll let them decide. But right now that toy on the floor is way more enticing than the food on the table. I don't make separate meals for my toddler, we don't do desserts. She tells me so often "I'm full!" Or "I don't like this". I know her appetite and I know she's not even borderline full. She loves what's on her plate and always has. At this age it's my job to make sure she's fed a healthy meal.<br /> I hate hate hate waste. My bIL loads his daughters plates with enough food to feed my husband and I combined and his girls have the appetite of a bird. I won't and don't do that! I think if you only give them what they can eat there's no reason why they can't clear a plate.</p> <p>Anyway, that's my philosophy but of course it doesn't always work with a toddler. There are nights she doesn't have a appetite and I can tell and respect that. But I will absolutely encourage her to eat a tad more. When she is full she flat out refuses to eat any more. But when she isn't she will eat more. </p> <p>I grew up being taught to finish the food in my bowl, I'm chinese so we always ate family style. I have no eating issues. I certainly don't want to create eating issues that lead to overeating but there's a flip side as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095424 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:23:30 +0000 Greentea 2095424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095404 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:12:30 +0000 chopstixwife 2095404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jessibear: As his mom, I know he's not eating enough. He use to be a great eater. As he got older, he would whine/fight us at dinner time about eating saying he's not hungry blah blah blah...I didn't want him to get to the point of where he doesn't sit at dinner with us and the constant asking for food/snacks before bedtime. Structure is very important to my husband and eating together at the table as a family every night (at least 4-5 times a week) is important to me. As the eldest son, I want him to set an example and didn't want his younger brothers learning bad behavior such as if you whine enough, you won't have to sit at the table, not finish your dinner, etc. We don't force him to over eat because I give him the minimal amount of rice that I think he should have and then I add meat and veggies to his bowl, which isn't much (his younger brother eats more). Usually, he'll add more meat and sometimes veggies, but I always remind him, that he must finish what he takes and what I originally put in his bowl before he can leave the table. At 4.5 years old, he says to me "mom give me only a small amount of rice, you gave me too much rice/food for school, etc". Take for instance, Friday nights are movie nights, he finishes his dinner and can still finish a whole bag of popcorn if we let him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095377 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:51:45 +0000 catomd00 2095377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely not!!! No one is better at knowing when you need to eat or stop eating then yourself!! Force feeding makes eating about power and control, which in my opinion is a recipe for disordered eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095354 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:27:40 +0000 jessibear 2095354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopstixwife: can I ask what motivated this decision for you? It's always interesting to hear what impacts a person's decision, to me at least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095312 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:04:04 +0000 Ra 2095312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I'd be pissed if someone tried to force me to eat if I was full or didn't like what I was served. Why would I force that on my child? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095309 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:03:11 +0000 jessibear 2095309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No! DH's stepmom and dad are a stickler about this and, while they enforce it with my nephews, we don't let them enforce it with C. I had to make kind of a joke of it when I was pregnant because they as previously always commented when I didn't clean my plate (not how I was raised) and I was tired of it. DH and I both think it creates an unhealthu view of eating. My dad is almost 60 and just now able to break this habit after his depression-era grandparents instilled it in him. </p> <p>That being said, we also do not do after dinner snacks and no dessert, because lazy. C has learned to eat til she's full and is very good, even at 2, of knowing when she's full and will tell us all done. I think that skill is far more important than cleaning your plate.</p> <p>ETA: typos! Sorry about that, too much of a pain to fix on my phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095196 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:18:57 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2095196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. We will ask that they take one bite of what's on their plate, especially if it is something they haven't tried before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095194 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:16:07 +0000 chopstixwife 2095194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, whatever I give #1 to eat in his bowl, he must finish. Whatever he chooses to add in addition to what I gave him, he must finish. He doesn't get to choose what he wants to eat and not finish what I originally put in his bowl. We don't have snacks or treats after dinner. Over time, I can judge how much he should be able to consume for dinner to not feel hungry for a snack between dinner and bed time. We had tried the whole saving your dinner for later if you get hungry later but we snip that and said, if you don't eat dinner, you don't eat at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095169 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:04:44 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2095169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't push it, but he does love making a "happy plate" (which is a clean plate; he picked that up at daycare). We don't usually give a dessert either, but if he asks for a dessert he must have eaten all his dinner. I tell him, "If you have room for a dessert, you have room for your dinner." Also, if he's trying a new food or a not-well-liked food, he has to eat at least one bite of it before he could eat a dessert. It seems to be working for us, because he will often just ask to be excused if he's really full. We make him stay at the table until my husband and I are done eating, too, so there's no re-offering of dinner later either. He's a pretty good eater, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095155 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:57:45 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2095155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way. If they didn't eat, no dessert/treats/other snacks. If you're hungry again you may finish your dinner. If I honestly believe that she stopped when she was full, then if we are having something special later she can totally have some. I want to encourage her to listen to her body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095140 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:53:01 +0000 sunny 2095140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggle with this. On one hand, I don't want to force her to finish. However, if I don't ask her to eat more/help spoon feed her, she will eat only a few bites each night. Right now, we're going with spoon feeding her until she says no. I think that is the best we can do for now without starving her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095129 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:49:41 +0000 rachiecakes 2095129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. But you do have to remain seated at the table until everyone is done and you won't be able to fill up on junk or sweets afterwards.<br /> And I'm certainly not making a second dinner if you don't like what we're having. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095120 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:45:20 +0000 looch 2095120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now no, because my son has some oral motor issues and we don't force food.</p> <p>The one thing that I do is repeat the food...if he doesn't eat dinner and asks for a snack, he sees dinner again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095118 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:45:01 +0000 Torchwood 2095118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For what it's worth, my husband was made to always clean his plate, and you can really see the impact it's had on him. He is completely incapable of leaving food, no matter how full he is, and it's a big part of why he struggles with his weight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095114 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:43:02 +0000 Torchwood 2095114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, never. Won't do the desserts thing either, but we rarely have dessert anyway. Sweets will be saved for special, not as an everyday thing or a reward for eating their regular food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095106 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:41:20 +0000 MrsRcCar 2095106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. We start with very small portions to avoid waste. He doesn't eat it all we put it away and offer it later if he says he is hungry. We also don't bribe with treat kind of foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-make-your-lo-eat-all-of-their-food#post-2095092 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:36:26 +0000 blackbird 2095092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I also don't do treats or dessert as a reward for finishing dinner. </p>