There's a difference between making your kids eat broccoli if they want green beans instead, and "if it's not fried i won't eat it"... the truth is, nobody is going to die of hunger, when food is available. Maybe it's not their first choice, it might not be the second, but eventually they'll break down and start enjoying their grilled chicken with rice

4-year-old me sat at the table until bedtime staring at an unsightly blob of cooked spinach. My mom realized that this was a war she wouldn't win. So, when spinach was on the menu (as yes, it is good for you) (don't have to tell me), she also cooked Brussels sprouts, which I, for some unaccountable reason, liked, and would eat. My mom and dad got both, I gut the sprouts, and my brothers got the weedy, slimy stuff, which for some unaccountable reason, they both liked. WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN! (Still don't like cooked spinach)

It’s proven that people’s tastebuds change in their response to things, but forcing a child to eat something, or making the stay at the table until they eat something is not only traumatic (one of my biggest memories from camp), but won’t encourage them like it.

When I was growing up, I used to hate the smell of bacon; not because I didn't like bacon, but because it was always accompanied by liver (and onions). I remember cutting the liver into tiny little pieces and swallowing them whole and trying not to gag. I have a lot of issues with textures and flavours and food aversions and this does not include all my food intolerances either. I buy what I like to eat. When my daughter was little we encouraged her to try everything and if she didn't like something, we prepared it a different way to see if that was better but she was never forced, just encouraged. To this day, she doesn't like mushrooms unless they are fried with butter and garlic which, in my opinion, is the only way to eat mushrooms!

Yup. I frequently used to have to sit alone at the table with a plate of nasty microwaved peas after everyone else had finished. As an adult I barely even eat vegetables due to the trauma of forcing down things that made me want to puke as a child. Thanks mom and dad! :(

I've always hated chicken pot pie. It always made my stomach hurt and my parents (who didn't have a lot of money at the time) needed me to eat it because I was very underweight. Turns out I'm very lactose intolerant

I used to feed my beans to our dog under the table when Mum wasn’t looking… 😎

I have severe issues with food because of this. My dad would hit me in the head until I managed to choke down the whole plate of whatever disgusting goulash we were having for dinner, I could have probably handled it if he hadnt taken away the water I was using to wash it down with. Now as an adult I can look back and see that my issues were because of undiagnosed autism and food texture difficulties. And so whenever I found a food I did like I would overeat it as my daily dinner experience forced me to go beyond what my hunger limits were regularly. He also refused to let there be alternative food for us children but mom was forbidden from ever cooking something he didn't like. Swallowing past the lump of unshed tears in your throat is just the worst.

I remember one post where the baby wouldn't eat well...turns out that the silicon food dish put a bad taste into his food. They changed the plate and good appetites returned

Beets. To this day, I can't even stand the sight of them. The smell makes me gag. My mother used to do the whole "there are kids starving in China" or "if you don't eat them, no desert for you" BS. That lasted until one day I projectile puked all over the table as soon as everyone sat down and she started serving them. She finally got the message.

Yes! It's important to TRY different foods and there r exceptions, but remember how much u hated certain foods as a kid! Why would put that same thing on ur own children?!

There's a big difference between not liking something and really hating it. Of course I will eat food I don't like for politeness sake, even food I am sensitive to, eg onion or garlic which will have me making extra bathroom visits the next day. But something that makes you gag at the smell or sight of it or a real allergy, then fine. But that isn't the same as a picky eater and that is something that bugs me and I think kids need to be taught manners about. Uou can't expect people to cater to every single picky eaters preference on a given day and nor should they.

I always said to my son when he was little that he has to try everything but I won´t make him eat anything! Worked well. He still won´t eat salmon, buts that´s it! For some people the fishy flavour is to much. I don't like dill, which tastes like soap to me.

I once put my feet in my food because i didnt want to eat it.

Any fellow Brits here remember when Iceland made chocolate flavour vegetables in the 90s to get kids to eat them? They were so bad I still never ate them.

Also, don't insist on clean plates!

My mom always "insisted" that we try one bite. Yeah, she gave in if we really didn't want it. I appreciated that, because that's how I learned to like some of the uglier food - mushrooms and sweet potatoes come to mind.

When I was a kid we couldn't leave the table till we cleaned our plate. We weren't allowed to wear sweaters either so it was uncomfortable eating in winter.

This happened to me, but it was my kindergarten teachers. On Tuesdays they served us oatmeal, and we weren’t allowed to leave the table to play with everyone else unless we had at least one spoonful. I have sensory issues, and the texture made me gag, so on Tuesdays I just sat in my chair and watched everyone else play because I wasn’t too fond of throwing up

It can take up to ten times trying a new food before you decide if you like it or not. Introducing foods and continuing to offer it is good, forcing them to eat an entire helping is not.

my brother hated umngqusho (samp and beans with beef) he was given the same plate of food for 2 days i think, then my father gave up on trying to get his to eat it

This

My mom's 2nd husband made me eat things that I'd never try on my own, not try, EAT completely. When I started taking care of my niece, I swore I'd NEVER have her try something I don't like, and I'd NEVER make her finish eating something new if she didn't like it. At 19, she has a very eclectic palate for her age, and will try everything once...except seafood. I failed there. LOL!

this. i'm in highshool and my parents still force me to eat food- or they take away things such as my blankets, my phone, pillows, etc-- even if i still eat the food

I always asked my kids to take 3 bites of new foods. After trying 3 bites over the course of 3 meals, they can do as they want. And food is a fun time and pleasant event at our house, where even a toddler can help make a meal, we all sit down together and visit, and something is prepared that they like at each meal. We have a veg garden, and they help as much as they want with it, and they see the food grown that they eat. Not everyone can do that last part, but make mealtime pleasant for everyone, and talk about healthy eating.

Try it 3 times. For children it's important to expose them to as many varieties of foods as possible. It decreases allergies and increases immunity learning. If after 3 times they hate it's guts then stop

Had really crazy emetophobia when I was like 12. Forcing me to eat didn't work, just made it worse. Of course, I did have to eat, but I stuck mostly to my comfort food and protein shakes/supplements for a few months before the doctors prescribed me meds that actually worked.

My dad used to make me sit at the table until I ate whatever it was. I don’t know why he kept doing that. I’m the stubborn sort. I’d sit there. And sit there. And sit there. Nope. Its 9:30 pm. My mom tells my dad to stop it. I have to go to school tomorrow. He always lost.

I don't understand why people think it's okay to treat kids like that. Like if they were the kid, they would 100% fight it, but because they're kids "it's okay, they need to listen." No, shut up. Treat your kids like you want to be treated and be kind.

Absolutely idiotic comment. Kids if not forced to eat what they SHOULD would be just deprived f the necessary nutrients needed for the to grow and develop. Adults are not kids and their nutrient requirements are absolutely different. Get some education 🙄

Forcing children to eat food they detest is STUPID PARENTING. At its extremes it is CHILD ABUSE. Gradual, gentle , loving introduction makes sense.

This.