Should you force your child to eat everything on their plate?
A recent poll conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation has discovered that many parents in the UK insist that their children thoroughly finish everything on their plate - but is this an approach we should continue?
As the guidelines on portion sizes change, we have consulted with specialists to determine what steps parents should and should not take.
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She concurred. She said: "Using phrases like 'clean your plate' or 'just one more bite' can indeed be problematic."
Eating a bit more won't necessarily harm, but forcing your child to do so can be detrimental to their overall eating habits.
Children who grow up with supportive parents are more likely to develop a healthy relationship with food and eating habits for life.
“Parents and carers unintentionally cause damage to their children's emotional well-being with their everyday words and actions, warns Yassin, also an expert in eating disorders. “Their behaviour, self-confidence and sense of self can all be negatively affected as they enter adolescence.”
Introducing consequences during mealtimes can be a tricky affair.
“Strong boundaries and consequences can be unhelpful when it comes to food, as this can lead to emotional issues down the line, according to Brunton. However, if families maintain a good relationship, offer healthy portion sizes, and encourage self-selection of food, this should have minimal long-term effects.”
In addition, Yassin thinks parents should steer clear of saying things like ‘Eat plenty or you won’t grow into a big, healthy child’.
Suggesting the ultimate aim of consuming food is to 'grow big and strong' promotes the idea that its sole purpose is undeniably one-dimensional. This may lead children to believe that enjoying food is not a priority, and perhaps view it merely as a means to achieve a specific end. Furthermore, this attitude may induce feelings of guilt and inadequacy in children if they are unable to finish every item on their plate.
Should we believe children when they claim they are hungry?
It can be quite challenging to determine whether a child is actually hungry or simply unenthusiastic about the meal.
It's usually a sign that they're full, if a child is only dropping small amounts of various foods," notes Brunton. "In that case, it wouldn't make sense to pressure them into finishing their meal. But, if they're consistently leaving behind significant amounts of the food's nutrient-rich elements, that's a cause for concern.
What are some alternative actions that parents might consider taking?
Please eat as much as you feel comfortable and satisfied with.
“Let your child pay attention to their body's natural hunger signals so they don't interfere with their natural eating rhythm,” advises Yassin. “It's vital for mums and dads to show their youngsters how to stop eating when they're content, not just because the plate is empty.”
The concept is to empower youngsters to recognise and respect the sense of contentment that comes from being satisfied.
Create a calm atmosphere
Mealtimes can exacerbate eating problems and make children understand that consuming food can be a means to achieve attention from their parents, notes Brunton. "It is crucial to address this issue in a composed manner and listen attentively to what your child is articulating."
You should introduce them to new foods, but do not expect them to enjoy every single one.
Young children should learn about a balanced and varied diet, but parents also need to consider their individual tastes," Brunton points out. "It's a good idea to try new foods, but children may struggle with strong flavours.
It's generally more beneficial for people to have a variety of enjoyable and nutritious meals, rather than striving for them to like every type of food.
Gradually introduce choice
“Choosing between options helps people understand who they are, figure out what they prefer, and make their own decisions about what they eat,” points out Brunton.
It seems sensible to allow children to take the portion of food they desire, and then having them visually assess it should be a reasonable approach to this task.
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