Finishing the kids' plate

tigerlily8045

Last night after having my dinner, I realized that "normally" I would finish off whatever my daughter (4yrs) didn't on her plate. I hate wasting food and for her not to clean her plate, was a waste to me. For the first time, I made a point to NOT eat her leftovers. I wonder how many other parents do that not realilzing how many extra calories they were taking in.

oldmanstauf

Last night after having my dinner, I realized that "normally" I would finish off whatever my daughter (4yrs) didn't on her plate. I hate wasting food and for her not to clean her plate, was a waste to me. For the first time, I made a point to NOT eat her leftovers. I wonder how many other parents do that not realilzing how many extra calories they were taking in.

I used to, but came to the same realization you just did. Haven't been doing it for months now.

robot_potato

I used to. It helps that my youngest makes a horrific mess whenever he eats. I'm not gonna touch that.

mindidily

I used to as well, and one day had that exact same thought! I've just gotten better about giving him smaller portions to start and if he is still hungry, I give him seconds. If there are leftovers, I wrap it for lunch the next day.

tigerlily8045

We had homemade pot pie and my daughter doesn' t like the crust so instead of me eating it like usual, I gave it to the hubby to eat since he is one of those people who eat everything and stays skinny.

Krissy366

Last night after having my dinner, I realized that "normally" I would finish off whatever my daughter (4yrs) didn't on her plate. I hate wasting food and for her not to clean her plate, was a waste to me. For the first time, I made a point to NOT eat her leftovers. I wonder how many other parents do that not realilzing how many extra calories they were taking in.

WTG for coming to that realization, but I also hope you realize how distructive the "clean your plate" mentality is. I wish every parent on Earth would commit to never saying those words to children. Eating after you are full just to "clean your plate" is how a lot of us ended up here.

Doreen_Murray

When I started logging I stopped doing this! Such a bad habit. Now, even the smallest amount I save for his dinner/lunch for the next day. Pretty good habit to break.

antoniosmooth

HAHAHAHAHAH!!! Yes I did this a lot years ago. When my wife and I were married 21 years ago I weighed sub 200 lbs. For years finishing our son's plate as well as my wife's and 3 additional daughters later I weighed 275 lbs. by 2003.

Needless to say I haven't polished off a plate other than my own in years, leftovers are now KING in our home....

myak623

Yes, this would be me. Drives me crazy to waste food. I would eat my plate then whatever our 3 kids didn't. I've learned to not do that.

jasperann

I usually only give my kids what I think they can eat, so if they don't finish it, there isn't much left when they are done. That way I don't feel guilty about throwing it away. I have never told them to clean their plate though... if they aren't hungry I'm not going to make them eat it and if they just don't like what I cooked then they will be eating again in the morning.

ishallnotwant

I usually only give my kids what I think they can eat, so if they don't finish it, there isn't much left when they are done. That way I don't feel guilty about throwing it away. I have never told them to clean their plate though... if they aren't hungry I'm not going to make them eat it and if they just don't like what I cooked then they will be eating again in the morning.

Me too. I give very small portions and if they want more they can have seconds.

tanyakay87

This was SO me. My daughter is 10months and I found that if she didn't finish her beans on toast or her spaghetti, I would finish it for her. Which is insane!!!! Luckily I came to the same realisation as you. I also hated wasting food and it was even a case of I would give her half a piece of toast and then have the other half, even if I wasn't hungry!!!

It took me a few days to get used to it but now I do it for everything. Even our dinner that we don't finish, I chuck out instead of keeping it in the fridge for "lunch tomorrow"

Good work on realising it xx

tigerlily8045

Oh she usually cleans her plate on her own no problem, it is when we have some sort of casserole that she picks out just the chicken and potatoes, or eats the beans and leaves the carrots...lol then there is a plate of little pieces of carrots, thats what drives me crazy. :happy: Then she wants more chicken and potatoes out of the pot pie. Have you ever tried to find just chicken and potatoes and leave the rest????????? I never tell her to clean her plate, she eats what she eats.

Krissy366

Oh she usually cleans her plate on her own no problem, it is when we have some sort of casserole that she picks out just the chicken and potatoes, or eats the beans and leaves the carrots...lol then there is a plate of little pieces of carrots, thats what drives me crazy. :happy: Then she wants more chicken and potatoes out of the pot pie. Have you ever tried to find just chicken and potatoes and leave the rest????????? I never tell her to clean her plate, she eats what she eats.

Good to know. :-) It's one of those phrases that drives me bonkers. I'm sure many over-eaters heard that phrase over and over growing up.

And, I'm sure that the pot pie search is fun!

hmstarbuck

I remember the exact day I realized my mother did that ALL the time and it led to a huge weight gain. She still does that. My 2 year old gets small portions of everything and he asks for me if he wants it. I can't stand wasting food either. One of my biggest issues. But if it comes down to it, I will throw it in the field or give to my mutts, at least it's getting eaten. But it's rare that this is needed. We love left overs

Spanaval

I still do that, LOL! She eats what we eat, and I eat after she's done, so it all gets logged.