Comments on: (Not) Cleaning your plate

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 00:05:31 +0000

I always try to leave a few bites at the end as the dog gets a treat. I have also bought smaller dinner plates!

By: Meagan

Meagan — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 02:24:54 +0000

I work shift work an am frequently gone on my days off so I have developed a habit of being proud of myself when I emptied the fridge regardless of how big or small of a grocery run I had done . Reading this post brought this to mind because it's similar in concept to the cleaning of a plate but instead I'll gorge all week to avoid throwing good out . I have recently started doing some meal planning as well as freezin or preserving leftovers which has cut both my cost and waste drastically

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 02:53:29 +0000

I agree that it is about judgment. I do not have a hard and fast rule that my kids must always clear or never clear their plates. However, I do not allow eating just the main dish and not touching the vegetables. Also, the rule for my daughter is don't ask for more of anything until you've eaten everything you were given. I have a pretty good idea of how much my kids eat. They both are very good eaters when the meal is something "normal" such as bean burritos and often ask for seconds. BUT when I put something I make less often or that is new they eat a lot less. I also noticed that my one and a half year old son is starting to pick up cues from his four-year old sister. If she is picking at her food, he may resist tasting it. I do not believe that my big eaters are done eating after two bites of food. That being said, I can't force them to eat. But I do refuse to give them anything else to eat in place of their dinner.

By: Nadine

Nadine — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:40:27 +0000

In reply to Richelle. I agree, and when I think back on the times when my parents encouraged me to finish my plate, it was almost always vegetables left. My parents never had to force me to eat the last of my lasagna or pizza. What kid wants to eat a cold piece of broccoli or kernels of corn they've been shuffling around their plate? Unfortunately veggies are the most important part of the meal. Sometimes if we're eating something like a chili or soup, and my daughter hasn't eaten much or doesn't like it, I just scrape it back in the pot with the rest of the leftovers. We don't care.

By: gladis

gladis — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 22:16:28 +0000

I actually never make (or made) my kids finish their food. But when they were old enough to understand, I started telling them "this is dinner time, no more eating after this" as I started feeling like a short order cook. I learned from my kids that you naturally moderate your intake. That sounds so silly,but I was amazed that kids will eat what they need. I grew up having to finish what is on your plate and I have the shape to show for it! My kids don't even overeat with dessert! I still get a little tripped out by it!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:47:45 +0000

I try hard at this one too. I never make my kids clean their plate just for the sake of cleaning their plate, I make a judgement call at every meal, based on how much I know I gave each child, and what else I know they'v eaten that day, and how much I know each child can/should eat. No two children are alike. Some days I will make some children finish their meal, but usually not. The only time we really require it is if there is dessert offered (which is rare), and on those days I really try hard to give them what I think is a reasonable portion for each child to finish.

By: Richelle

Richelle — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:01:50 +0000

In reply to Nadine. I agree with you, Nadine. I put the amount of food on my kids' plates that I know will satisfy them, without stuffing their bellies. One always eats the food, while the other two will say they are "full" after one or two bites because they don't want to try the food or eat the food. Eating massive platefuls of unhealthy food every meal for a long time will cause health problems, but expecting children to eat a reasonable amount of healthy food at mealtimes is not a bad thing. I see nothing wrong with "clean your plate" as long as it doesn't go too far, i.e. the child is becoming physically ill trying to force themselves to eat a food they really and truly hate.

By: Nadine

Nadine — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 20:19:20 +0000

I agree with not forcing your children or yourself to finish your plate if you are full, but I don't really think that is one of the causes of obesity. Obesity does not come from eating a few extra bites off your plate. It comes from way worse eating habits than that - eating EXTRAORDINARY amounts of food, and poor quality, high fat, high sugar foods (as well as indulging in a sedentary lifestyle). "Clean your plate" was a practice of previous generations, but it's OUR generation that struggles with obesity. My parents practiced "clean your plate", but they are not in any way over weight, because their food is healthy to begin with, they don't go back for snacks an hour later and they exercise regularly. If anything, it is the parents of our generation that have become way more lax and less restrictive about food (I often see parents let kids leave half-finished plates) and yet we are the ones struggling with obesity. I think the key is discipline. Our parents were disciplined about their eating habits, including not eating too much, not snacking, eating homemade food, AND cleaning their plates. Our society has become way too indulgent about food - eat whatever you want, as much as you want etc. It would be better to "clean your plate" but eat healthy then to not finish your plate but eat junk.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 19:34:02 +0000

I do believe in finishing what is on your plate - don't waste food. But know yourself and start off with a little food and take seconds if you are truly HUNGRY.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 19:16:40 +0000

My husband is a huge "clean plate" follower, to the point where if I am full he will clean my plate for me. I started serving dinner for us and leaving the leftovers in the kitchen (not on the table). I start off with giving us both smaller equal sized plates (instead of before where I gave him more food because he is bigger and in my mind, hungrier). Now, he still cleans his plate, but I know it is an appropriate portion size. Like the article states, if we are still hungry we can have seconds. Usually finding the motivation to get back into the kitchen is enough to keep us satisfied with just one plate.