Parenting Question: Parental Reason is a Dish Best Served Cold

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QUESTION:

What do you recommend for two little ones ages 3 and 4 for not wanting to eat what I fix for meals? This has just started and we want to nip it as soon as we can. Do we make them sit until they finish their plates, send them to their room for not eating, or only serve what they like out of what I fix? Or let them get up and no snack etc until it’s ate.... I don’t have a microwave so reheating meals is very time consuming. I want them to eat the time we do.....is that something that can happen and how?


ADVICE/ SUGGESTION:

 My answer is a version of what John Rosemond himself recommends:  Allow your little ones to eat with you, and inform them that they cannot complain about foods they don't like; NOW is the time to start emphasizing good manners. At each meal give them a serving of everything you have fixed, regardless of whether they like it or not. The portions should be small--just a few bites per portion.  Tell them they can have as much of any food  they want once EVERYTHING is eaten that is on their plate. If they choose not to join the "Clean Plate Club", then allow them to be excused from the table after a predetermined number of minutes. Take the uneaten portion of food, cover it and save it for later. If they get hungry later, uncover their food and serve it. Remember, no other food can be eaten until they finish each item completely, even if they don't eat again until  the next day. The hungrier they become, the more likely they will eat it--even when served cold. Once they clean their plate, they may have more of anything. I will admit that on occasion with my grandchildren, I have added a spice or an ingredient to a leftover to make it more palatable--especially if it is a food that you sense  to be overly undesirable to the children.  But I would do that only on rare occasions. As a side note: If you're good at sniffing out deals, you can get good microwaves for cheap at garage or yard sales.
Mike Smart, CLPC
smartmike59@gmail.com
937-925-6136