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I agree with Ali, although I think Jinx and More Than are saying something smiliar - parents should know their children well enough to serve them the right size portions. I think it's far worse to scrape away good food and then indulge the children later with snacks. I'm not saying anyone here does that - but I've certainly seen it. Specifically in the house of parents who claimed their daughter hardly had any appetite. Three forkfuls of pasta and she was done. Down from the table and off to watch tv. But she knew she could get crisps by asking later in the evening. And two biscuits with a glass of milk. And she was allowed to take another two biscuits up to bed so that if she woke up early, she could eat them while watching cartoons. Four biscuits and a packet of crisps is another meal for a 7 year old - and nowhere near as well balanced as the one that went in the bin.
Re weight and eating problems - that just doesn't ring true in my ears. My sister, my brother and I grew up in the same house, and although the rules were relaxed for my brother they still included finishing everything on the plate. Within reason I have to add - the odd mouthful was not an issue. My sis has never struggled with her weight, never got fat, never had anything other than a healthy relationship with food. My brother grew out of being faddy and although occasionally he puts on some weight, he always exercises it off - the weight gain tends to be when he isn't playing football or cycling. Me? I over-indulge. In everything. I am an all or nothing person. It's led to obesity and probably is a factor in my depression. I don't believe for one second it's because me parents made me finish my dinner.
Thing is, I'm sure there are as many different ways of parenting as there are people. But I also agree with Ali that to waste food today is as wrong as it ever has been. Forcing children to eat it does not help anyone. Having the sense to only buy and cook what your family needs is a far better option.
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