finish your plate mentality

kittyd7015
kittyd7015 Posts: 4,546 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
does anyone else think that encouraging kids to finish there plates might be a bad thing? I have been looking after my little sis and I encourage her to finish her plate and she complains but finishes it but she has also gained weight. Is this bad culture? xxx
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Replies

  • gabijadc
    gabijadc Posts: 90 Member
    Ugh I don't think I HAVEN'T finished my plate in...years! I was raised to do so and even when I'm full I always finish my plate.
    That definitely has not been too good of a factor for me... But I have learned how to size my plate so finishing it is not a bad thing to do anymore :)
  • dlbredesen
    dlbredesen Posts: 122 Member
    My mom grew up poor. She was big on us kids eating everything on our plate. She didn't want anyone to be hungry. I want my kids to eat healthy. In the real world I want them to limit junk food by portion control. I don't think a child should be forced to eat. Offer healthy choices at an early age.
  • bernie59c
    bernie59c Posts: 9 Member
    I was brought up with that culture, finish your food, Think of all those starving children in the world & yes I have had been a long life dieter ever since. I have never encouraged my kids to clear their plate as I think you know yourself when you've had enough.. Trouble is trying not to clear their plates :(
  • namelesshere
    namelesshere Posts: 334 Member
    Yes, I think it encourages overeating. If the plate only had the proper calories, then the finish your plate mentality might not be so bad. I grew up with the finish your plate mentality, you know, all those starving kids somewhere in the world, if you don't want seconds, (what's the matter, isn't it good enough for you). I remember always feeling stuffed to the point of almost being sick. To this day I have problems recognizing when I feel full. I have had weight problems my entire life and I am approaching 60!

    A better option would be to encourage eating a balanced plate, and quitting when full. If not enough was eaten, more of the same could be offered later.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    We were a "take what you want, but want what you take" family. If you took a small amount you could always go back for more, but if you took too much you were expected to eat it. I, of course, always took to much. I've finally learned to take the smaller amount or single portion, but it took years.
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    I don't encourage my kids to finish their plates. I do encourage them to make proper choices, healthy and tasty, when at buffets and family dinners. I do encourage them to only take what they can eat, and to eat what they take. When I serve them at home I try to only give what they will eat, but don't get after them if they don't finish it. There's portioned out fruit in the fridge if they're hungry later. My aunts, when I was a kid, pulled the "starving kids in Africa" thing, and I felt incredible guilt growing up. I do my best not to waste now, but I've had to come to terms with the fact that I can't send my leftovers to Africa, whether I eat them or not.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    It depends how much you put on their plate or allow them to put on their plate. My granddaughters are terrible for not eating any vegetables so they have to eat those before they can leave the table and I make sure they have a reasonable amount of food . If you aren't hungry enough to eat what is on your plate (especially veggies) then you are much too full for dessert or snacks later.
  • kayemmgee5
    kayemmgee5 Posts: 86 Member
    It depends how much you put on their plate or allow them to put on their plate. My granddaughters are terrible for not eating any vegetables so they have to eat those before they can leave the table and I make sure they have a reasonable amount of food . If you aren't hungry enough to eat what is on your plate (especially veggies) then you are much too full for dessert or snacks later.

    This is what my mom did for us, portioned out our plates with mostly veggies and then a little protein & starch, but heavy on the veggies. I noticed that I really gained weight when my mom wasn't cooking me those nutritious meals anymore, I took that for granted for sure!!! College was cheap pasta, lots of carbs, and too much cheap beer!
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    ...I've had to come to terms with the fact that I can't send my leftovers to Africa, whether I eat them or not.

    ^ Quoted for truth.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    It depends how much you put on their plate. We ask our kids to finish their plates if they want dessert, but we really put a ridiculously small amount of food on their plate... they often ask for seconds.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    The problem isn't cleaning your plate, it's putting too much on it to begin with.

    I grew up having to clean my plate and it is still very hard for me to waste any food. It bothers me to throw food away. That's money in the waste basket!
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    Yeah I think that is partially the reason why I ended up gaining weight in the first place because my dad always made me finish my plate and also our family eats until they are stuffed, not just satisfied. There is nothing wrong with leftovers, I am learning this. It is a hard habit to break.
  • LiziAB
    LiziAB Posts: 55
    The problem isn't cleaning your plate, it's putting too much on it to begin with.

    I grew up having to clean my plate and it is still very hard for me to waste any food. It bothers me to throw food away. That's money in the waste basket!

    This!
  • mandasalem
    mandasalem Posts: 346 Member
    I think it depends on the motive. In my household, we were always encouraged to finish our plates so that we weren't picking at real food and then clamoring for snacks or empty calories 30-40 minutes later.
  • dawn_h_d
    dawn_h_d Posts: 184 Member
    The problem isn't cleaning your plate, it's putting too much on it to begin with.

    I grew up having to clean my plate and it is still very hard for me to waste any food. It bothers me to throw food away. That's money in the waste basket!

    I still have that mindset from my parents growing up - if it is there, and it can't be reheated, you better eat it. My boyfriend tells me it's ok to throw it away, but I feel like it is such a waste. That is one of my things I need to change in this journey.
  • AfricaLatina
    AfricaLatina Posts: 111 Member
    I have struggled with this for years, as children we were always encouraged to finish all the food on our plates and portion sizes were generous! I am still not able to leave food on my plate, so now I weigh out my portions BEFORE they go onto my plate so I can eat guilt free...
  • fShaw86
    fShaw86 Posts: 878 Member
    This was true when I was growing up, but for my son I've ensured he only gets enough food on his plate that he will be able to finish. Whether its me serving or by himself, we've agreed upon taking small portions enough to half fill his tummy. Defo beats taking a huge *kitten* portion and not being able to finish it!
  • PixieGoddess
    PixieGoddess Posts: 1,833 Member
    We were a "take what you want, but want what you take" family. If you took a small amount you could always go back for more, but if you took too much you were expected to eat it. I, of course, always took to much. I've finally learned to take the smaller amount or single portion, but it took years.

    This was my family too. We were encouraged to take small amounts the first time and go back for seconds if desired, explained by saying that we could keep the food as leftovers if it wasn't already on somebody's plate. (Anyone who's seen children eat can well imagine why THAT rule was implemented!) We didn't *have* to finish our plate, but no seconds of anything until you finished everything you got the first time. And if we were trying a new food, my mother would put literally one or two bites' worth on my plate, saying, "We're just going to put this much on your plate to see if you like it." So yes, I had to eat that bite or two. But if I didn't like it, that was it, and I could get more of whatever I did like. I think it was a very healthy way to eat (I don't really have problems with overeating) and intend to do that with my kids when I have them.
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    My parents did it to me, and I think it was horrible. I grew up believing I was a bad person if I left any uneaten foods on my plate. I knew not to do it to my kids, but I couldn't get past the guilt my parents instilled in me, so I would finish their plates for them standing over the sink in the kitchen.

    My kids are older now (teenagers) and make their own meals and usually, they are very small portions. They've learned, and I've learned from them, that if you're cleaning your plate of guilt instead of hunger, you're putting too dang much on the plate to begin with. Now we're rockin' and rollin'. ;) And the food bill is less.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I think it depends on the motive. In my household, we were always encouraged to finish our plates so that we weren't picking at real food and then clamoring for snacks or empty calories 30-40 minutes later.

    THIS!!!
  • jerseygirlmaggie
    jerseygirlmaggie Posts: 165 Member
    Same here. The hubs and I grew up eating everything on our plates, especially if we took seconds. When we had kids, the hubs and I agreed to never force our kids to finish the meals on their plates. It's adding calories they don't really need.

    I have two healthy (and fit) daughters. We encourage our girls to wait a few minutes before taking seconds (maybe finish their milk or water before taking seconds). I know them well enough to know when they are reaching their maximum and 9 times out of 10 I am correct. But if they do take seconds and eat some and leave some, we don't harp on them about it or make them eat it. On ocassion we do remind them to take smaller seconds because they can always add a little more if they are still hungry (rarely see them eat thirds).
  • libranpixi
    libranpixi Posts: 6 Member
    I used to clear my plate (as instructed by my parents as a child) and then my kids plates (when they were a bit younger) when they couldn't eat everything, I never forced them to eat anything and they both have extremely good self control now and stop when they have had enough. I just got bigger lol!!

    The past few months I swapped all of my big plates out for much smaller ones and I immediately pack any leftovers that don't fit into the fridge for tomorrow's lunch. It has saved me a fortune, I still clear my (much smaller) plate and my body is finally starting to recognise when it is full and I'm losing weight at last.

    I have also started to drink a full glass of water whilst I am cooking so I don't feel as hungry when I sit down to eat.
  • jerseygirlmaggie
    jerseygirlmaggie Posts: 165 Member

    I have also started to drink a full glass of water whilst I am cooking so I don't feel as hungry when I sit down to eat.

    Outstanding idea!!!
  • 1longroad
    1longroad Posts: 642 Member
    my parents and grandparents (who grew up during the depression) were always 'finish your plate' people. Understandable, when you see where they came from in relation to food, but the problem was that there was always SO much good food, that finishing your plate, meant overeating!

    I don't make my grandsons finish their plates, but don't let them mindlessly snack in between their meals either.
  • glin23
    glin23 Posts: 460 Member
    And if we were trying a new food, my mother would put literally one or two bites' worth on my plate, saying, "We're just going to put this much on your plate to see if you like it." So yes, I had to eat that bite or two. But if I didn't like it, that was it, and I could get more of whatever I did like. I think it was a very healthy way to eat (I don't really have problems with overeating) and intend to do that with my kids when I have them.

    This is fantastic advice if I ever have kids and even for myself.
  • b218w
    b218w Posts: 76 Member
    i was brought up with finishing whats on your plate.....but i only put what i wanted and went for seconds if hungry...still do that today(finish my plate and only serve myself what ill actually eat)
  • RubyRunner14
    RubyRunner14 Posts: 148 Member
    I understand why people do it (to prevent snacking later), but it's unhealthy both physically and emotionally and kids especially become very ill-feeling when forced to eat. Children know much better than adults when they are full or hungry. Guilt tripping your kid doesn't change the fact that they are hungry or not. You're wasting money and setting your kids up for bad habits.

    When I was younger, my parents set a two-cookies-only-for-dessert rule. All desserts were to the top shelf of the cupboard and we had no problems with sweets. Holidays and parties we ate whatever sweets we wanted but we learned quick about the sore stomach... even then we overate sweets because of the availability. But setting limtations within reason I believe is your best option.
  • Madame_Goldbricker
    Madame_Goldbricker Posts: 1,625 Member
    Always had dog's so leftovers don't even make it as far as the bin nevermind Africa...

    My daughter has always eaten/ left as much as she wants. I on the other hand now use a smaller plate so my eyes/brain/belly think I'm getting a far bigger portion than I am :bigsmile:
  • TinGirl314
    TinGirl314 Posts: 430 Member
    My parents definitely were the clean your plate people.
    Till I was about 10 and obese.

    I think it's a balance. If you make healthy food and give them a reasonable amount, no harm done.
    If you take your kids to a restaurant and not get a kids meal and force them to eat it all, or tell them to eat a whole plate of mac n cheese...then I believe it 's hurtful.

    So if the house is healthy I don't think it's the problem, but if the whole house has a weight problem, might was to re-evaluate what everyone is getting.
  • 2ht2hand1e
    2ht2hand1e Posts: 116 Member
    Don't do that to her. If she doesn't finish it, put it in the fridge and reheat it if she's hungry later.

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