Insane, controlling parents. Simply that.

There is a theory that it is more healthy to eat and drink seperated, something about digestion, guess it's got something to do with that. Even though smacking might not be the right choice to care for the health of your child.

My parents are the same, especially my mom. As far as I figured it had to do that they don't want to fill themselves up with water and not being able to clear their plate fully (which itself is also a doubtful behavior). Anyway, they've been war/post-war children and so there was a lot mucked up in their view of food and drinks. Luckily they did not (fully) hand down on to me.

Some kids would have like 7 glasses of water to have a full stomach sensation rather than having 1 bite at a zucchini. Anorexism behaviour out of a dislike.

My Italian Nonna believed that you were "washing away all the nutrients" in your food if you drank anything while eating. She was from the old world and filled with Old Wives Tales.

I know why: Many kids drink so much when eating food that they get only a handful of actual food in their stomach and they will be hungry again 90 Minutes later (logically) and then sneak in the kitchen and stuff anything sweet they can into themselves to satisfy the hunger.

"Getting full on your drink before said meal" I had the same as a kid.

I have heard the rather spurious argument that it supposedly dilutes the stomach acid. I suspect it's oxen-shyte, though.

My mother did this. Helped me along with my eating disorder by a lot.

The liquid would fill you up and you wouldn't be able to finish your food

My mom encourages me not to drink my drink while I am eating because it will fill up the stomach (but I still drink a beverage while I am eating)

A lot of people wash their food down with a liquid instead of chewing it thoroughly, which is an essential first step to digestion, mixes it with saliva, and makes it easier to swallow, .

Liquid fills you up and you don't have enough room for food and proper nutrition. There are diets based on drinking a large glass of water prior to eating.

A lot of parents were like this because they didn't want you to "get full" from liquids and waste food.

Drinks fill you up and probably the food was expensive?

Simply - to not waste food. If you drink before/during a meal there is less room for food. This is now an often used "trick" for weight loss actually but it makes sense (to some brains)

so you don't fill up on liquids and not eat your food

Ya so am I….. I’d like to know why op doesn’t drink while eating and why her family was against it.

For the parent to exert absolute control over the child. That's definitely not the only story OP has...

My parents were both from relatively poor families with parents who were children during the depression in the 1930’s. Sparing a drink to the end of the meal supposedly helped in cutting cost. If you drink during the meal when you’re thirsty you’d tend to drink more where as when you’d wait you might not be more thirsty. It’s weird logic and obvious not realistic but this is also a generation that tried hard to make can food and aspic fancy 🤷‍♀️

My kids will fill up on drinks if I let them. I don't ban drinks at meal time though, they are just limited to one small glass of something until they finish the meal

Cos a drink fills your tummy , if you want to diet have a pint of water before you eat

"You'll spoil your appetite." That's the reason we always heard.

Control

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I was managed this way also. It's because you can fill up on the drink, not eat enough of the meal itself and then be hungry soon after. Which annoyed all the adults. No snacks growing up.

Yeah, my dad does this but always hedges about why I'd asked. Maybe this was some weird boomer childhood parenting technique?

The drink might fill you up?

Perhaps because it was considered an insult to the cook to have to wash down the food?

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Liquid washes down the digestive acids and it'll be longer and harder to digest your food, leading to metabolism and weight inbalances. But that's just scientific facts, you do you. 🙄

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Liquid washed down the digestive acids and it's longer and harder to digest your food, leading to metabolism and weight inbalances. But that's just science, you do you.

This is how I was brought up. Don't know why though.

My evil stepfather did the same. He would have a nice thick steak and we be eating leftovers or a hotdog. He said that he bought the food so he got to have the best of the food!

I'm the same. I NEED a drink to be able to finish my meal.

The science behind this comment, please.