There was a discussion on another board I participate in about kids and food. I am curious what you all think.
In our house, what is prepared for dinner is what is prepared for dinner. Kids eat it or don't eat. Breakfast and lunch are completely at their control within a set of healthy choices. The kids have access to cook books and are encouraged to suggest meals that they would like to try, with or without helping to cook it.
In my opinion, food choices are made based on several factors. The most important role of food is sustenance and nutrition. It also can taste good, be a pleasant way to enjoy company... But its first role is sustenance and nutrition.
For us we want to teach the kids to
- understand healthy eating
- not use food and eating as an emotional crutch
- be prepared in the case of want to eat for the sake of sustenance
- be able to deal politely with a situation in which they are offered food as guests that they don't like
In the other group these ideas were met with ... well horror. It was mean and controlling to try to teach these values to the kids. (We live them ourselves. I hate chili. Beans are cheap. We eat chili.) Kids should never be forced to eat what they don't like. (They aren't forced to eat what they don't like since they can always choose not to eat.)
I am curious what other folks think on this issue. Is this the kind of thing that is appropriate here?
In our house, what is prepared for dinner is what is prepared for dinner. Kids eat it or don't eat. Breakfast and lunch are completely at their control within a set of healthy choices. The kids have access to cook books and are encouraged to suggest meals that they would like to try, with or without helping to cook it.
In my opinion, food choices are made based on several factors. The most important role of food is sustenance and nutrition. It also can taste good, be a pleasant way to enjoy company... But its first role is sustenance and nutrition.
For us we want to teach the kids to
- understand healthy eating
- not use food and eating as an emotional crutch
- be prepared in the case of want to eat for the sake of sustenance
- be able to deal politely with a situation in which they are offered food as guests that they don't like
In the other group these ideas were met with ... well horror. It was mean and controlling to try to teach these values to the kids. (We live them ourselves. I hate chili. Beans are cheap. We eat chili.) Kids should never be forced to eat what they don't like. (They aren't forced to eat what they don't like since they can always choose not to eat.)
I am curious what other folks think on this issue. Is this the kind of thing that is appropriate here?