Child Nutritionist Shares Why It's Okay If Your Child Leaves Food on Their Plate

Photo by Elina Fairytale: https://www.pexels.com

There’s no way around it: kids just don’t eat as much food as adults do, so parents often struggle with figuring out how to get their picky kids to fill up their plates at dinner time. Studies show that the majority of kids aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diets at home or school.

What You Don't Know About Portion Sizes

This may be shocking, but if you want to get your kids to try different foods and eat more servings of healthy foods—maybe even lose a little weight—don't make them clean their plates. That’s right: Research shows that forcing children to clean their plates teaches them to associate eating with feeling guilty or ashamed. This can lead to all sorts of unhealthy eating behaviors later in life, like disordered eating or under-eating.

What You Don't Know About Kids Not Finishing Their Meal

Many of us grow up believing that it’s our job to finish everything served at mealtime. However, you may be surprised to learn that leaving food on your child’s plate is not a cause for concern. Having kids clear their plates can be detrimental to their growth and overall health. So don’t worry if your child doesn’t eat all their dinner; rather, listen for cues about what they are and are not hungry for and make healthy adjustments moving forward!

What You Don't Know About Allergies

There are a lot of misconceptions about children and food allergies. Today, I’ll try to clear up some of these myths! 1) Children should finish their plates at dinner. FALSE: As an RD, I hear countless stories from parents whose kids have left half a plate of dinner behind because they don’t like it. Parents may be worried that their child isn’t eating enough or that they won’t get enough nutrients if they leave food behind.

What You Don't Know About Picky Eaters

So, your child doesn’t eat enough of their dinner for you to feel good about it? Relax. This post is for parents who want to understand why kids get picky about food and what we can do about it. According to a recent study, more than 30% of children are picky eaters by age 3.