Community Chat

[Suhse]

Have you, did you, would you; force your kids/grandkids, to eat foods that they dislike, or even hate, because "it's good for you" or, "it's we're having for dinner and you Will eat it!"

Note; I am NOT talking about "take a bite, try it, if you don't like it, you don't have to have anymore, leave it on your plate, etc." I have no problem with that. I'm not talking about preparing a whole separate meal, for a picky eater. If chicken is the main course, and they hate chicken, they can eat what they do like; no one should have to fix separate meals for all their fussy widgets.

I'm talking about dictating, to a child that they Will eat food that they dislike, because you said so.

I'm a Dietician, sadly, I still see some Parent's who do this. Not only, has no one ever learned to love Cauliflower, because they were forced to choke it down, it can set up an attitude of dread, rather than enjoyment, at family meals. It can contribute to digestive problems, and it contributes to your kids seeing you as an inflexible despot, rather than Mom and Dad (and the battle you pick is tuna fish???).

I never have and never will understand this type of parental behavior, and I see some nasty consequences.

What do You think?