Re: Parental food nagging may produce fussy eaters

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/23/2010 11:49:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, no_reply writes:

Though a number of studies have found that when parents strictly control what their children eat -- either denying all unhealthy food or pressuring them to expand their meal choices -- their children may be more likely to have less than ideal eating habits, it has not been clear whether these parental tactics were a cause of or a response to their children's' eating habits.

I can agree with this. Not only was I fussed at to eat a wider variety of things, but my mother and her family practically talked about nothing but eating. When I'm not hungry I couldn't care less about food. But all they ever did was gab on and on. I swear they couldn't go three sentences without using the word "eat." It was like Chinese water torture. "What do you want to EAT?" "When do you want to EAT?" "What are we going to EAT for lunch?" "What are we going to EAT for dinner?" "No, we ATE that last night, I want to EAT something else." On and on, all day long.

Of course, it didn't help that they loved casseroles and nasty mixed up things that just made me sick to look at, not to mention the sticky gross noises it made when you scooped it with the big spoon. That and they had bad table manners, eating with their mouths open and making weird faces. Grossed me out.

Of course it then didn't help how they'd rail about my not eating much. Well not kidding I didn't each much. I just wasn't as hungry as they were because for one thing I was a little kid and they packed away enough food for me for an entire day in a single meal. They still eat about as much in one meal as I do in two, and they eat more often that me.

So its probably why I'm a picky eater and get no real enjoyment out of eating. I really consider eating and drinking a nuisance and wouldn't miss either if I didn't have to to stay alive.

[Guest guest]

It's good to raise your kids to be fussy eaters sometimes you know why that is?

Because i believe " if it smells bad don't eat it. " And there are alot of foods

that smell bad that i don't eat. And i would gladly pass that information onto

my kids so that they'll grow up eating healthy foods and not stuff that stinks

to high heaven no matter how good people may say it is it still stinks and it's

still unhealthy that's my grand speech for the day thank you for listening. I

hope to hear from you soon,good luck in all you do.

Signed,

Greg

>

> http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/101122/odds/odd_us_eating_parents

>

> Parental food nagging may produce fussy eaters

>

> Mon Nov 22, 1:52 PM

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters) - Parents beware. Telling your child to clean their plate

may help produce a fussy eater, while tight control of what they eat could make

children prone to overeating, according to a study.

>

> Though a number of studies have found that when parents strictly control what

their children eat -- either denying all unhealthy food or pressuring them to

expand their meal choices -- their children may be more likely to have less than

ideal eating habits, it has not been clear whether these parental tactics were a

cause of or a response to their children's' eating habits.

>

> In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Jane

Wardle and colleagues at University College London surveyed 213 mothers of 7- to

9-year-old children.

>

> " Child enjoyment of food was linked to lower maternal pressure to eat, " Wardle

wrote.

>

> But she also noted that the results don't necessarily mean that parents'

mealtime strategies cause their children to overeat or become picky eaters.

Indeed, the parental moves may come in response to habits the children already

have.

>

> In the study, mothers were asked about how their children responded to food:

whether they would typically overeat if given a chance, along with whether

they'd eat slowly or routinely fail to finish meals.

>

> Mothers also reported on their own mealtime strategies, including whether they

tried to get their children to eat when they weren't hungry or whether they

believed their children would overindulge without eating restrictions.

>

> Overall, Wardle and her colleagues found a correlation between the mothers'

pressure to eat healthy food and children's degree of fussiness over food. In

addition, the more mothers restricted their children's food, the more likely

mothers were to say their children would overindulge if allowed.

>

> The links were seen regardless of the children's weight.

>

> But the team also said the parental strategies could be responding to how the

children ate, with thin children often being pressured to eat and more diet

restrictions being put on a heavier child.

>

> " With growing evidence of a genetic basis to eating behavior and food intake

in children, the present results are consistent with the idea that mothers'

feeding practices are, to some extent, responsive to their children's

predispositions toward food, " Wardle and her colleagues wrote.

>

> But they added that it's important to recognize that children may both

influence, and be influenced by, their parents' diet management.

>

> (Reporting by Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies)

>

[Guest guest]

Greg wrote: " It's good to raise your kids to be fussy eaters sometimes you know

why that is? Because i believe " if it smells bad don't eat it ... <snip> ... "

Animals live by that edict and humans ought to as well in my opinion. In fact,

Aboriginals will tell you that their ancestors took their cues from animals. If

a bear wouldn't touch a berry, then you didn't either because the bear knew

something you didn't. :-)

Raven

Co-Administrator

[Guest guest]

Animals live by that edict and humans ought to as well in my opinion. In fact, Aboriginals will tell you that their ancestors took their cues from animals. If a bear wouldn't touch a berry, then you didn't either because the bear knew something you didn't. :-)RavenCo-Administrator

Indeed. My mother eats things even the raccoons won't eat. Its really funny to watch them turn up their noses at food when they generally eat anything. I should say that one seems pickier than the other. Spot will eat almost anything but Boon doesn't like spicy food.

On the other hand, when I was a child and had to have my tonsils out, the nurse came in the room shortly before surgery. She had a pill for me to take but didn't tell me what it was. I put my hand over my mouth and wouldn't take it until she told me what it was. She was surprised but laughed saying I was the only child she'd even seen who wouldn't take a pill when she gave it to them. It was the first stage seditive for the operation.