Kids and food can be a tricky combination, eh?

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There's the food we know they should eat vs. the food they want to eat - and the times we want them to eat, when they'd rather be doing something else.

It's definitely a topic that's got our mums talking: when we shared the story of a mum who admitted she'd make her child go to bed hungry if she didn't eat her tea, lots of you waded in on the issue.

A few you were in 100% accord with what the mum was saying.

Nadine T tells us: "I totally agreed with her... her child needs to know what hunger is... my kids do the same and it's a sheer utter 1st world problem.

"Our kids are too spoilt for choice: she won't die for not having one meal."

Michelle P takes a similar stance: "I wouldn't make something I knew my child didn't like and then expect them to eat it, but if I made something they've eaten before and they just refused to eat it that day well sorry kid but you either eat it, or don't.

"Children need to learn the world doesn't always give them what they want. Not eating for a few hours or missing 1 meal doesn't do any major damage to your kid, they will survive."

And Leyla A recalls how things were done when she was growing up: "I'm going through this with my 3-year-old, she chooses her dinner...

"After making her own choice of food, she will play with it, sit chatting all way through, it will go cold, she won't eat it and then she is refused treats or snacks after, if she is hungry at bedtime she is offered a banana and water and that's all.

"Children starving in bed is not healthy. But neither is teaching them that food is disposable, it costs money!

"And not everyone has privilege of eating an evening meal. As I grew up, I didn't eat my dinner, it would be served the next night and night after until it was eaten. I soon learnt to eat it the night it was made."

Others of you couldn't imagine letting your children go to bed hungry - but most agreed there'd be no 'treat' food if a meal wasn't eaten.

As Ruth N says: "If my daughter, a somewhat fussy toddler, won't eat her dinner then asks for ice cream or biscuits she won't get it.

"I will allow yoghurts or fruit later if she's hungry. But no 'treats'.

"I don't believe in them staying hungry but I will not allow her to pick and choose nice things over proper meals."

And lots of you agreed: "Offer their dinner again later," says Emily L. "If not heat it up for breakfast. They'll soon learn."

But, there were plenty of you, too, who think we're being too harsh on our kids when it comes to mealtimes.

"I do not agree with this at all," says Jennifer B. "A child should never be punished with food! You only have to think about yourself - you may not feel like eating at a particular time, but in an hour or two you're really hungry!

"If my children don't eat their dinner I send them away from the table and will offer a piece of toast before bed with some milk."

And Alison B says this: "Good girls clear everything on their plates whether they want it or not and end up fat for most of their lives. Linking food to punishment or reward is wrong."

What do you think?

Is it eat your meals or go without in your house? Or are you a bit more relaxed around food? Tell us in the comments below or over on Facebook

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Authors

Tara BreathnachContent Editor and Social Media Producer

Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015

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