TheLemonSong
Assistant Cook
kitchenelf said:LemonSong - you don't have kids do you - *wink* (we lost our winking emoticon) - it is easier said than done. Especially if it's going to create WWIII every mealtime.
But remember..............and this too shall pass............
It really will.
Nope, no kids yet, but when I do have them I'm certainly not going to put up with this kind of negative behavior. Nor will I allow my kids to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. If that means causing "WWIII" every mealtime, then thats what it means.
My mom let me get away with this type of "picky eater" behavior and I really wish she'd have laid down the law. It never helped me until I grew out of it, so I agree that "this too shall pass" but in the mean time it left me unhealthy, overweight, and allowed me to walk all over her in other things that didn't help me (like housework, etc.).
Parents today are afraid of their kids. They're afraid they'll cause "WWIII" and I don't think that thats going to help any situation. You're the parent, she's the child, lay down the law.
If its a topic where she has a legitimate point, then thats one thing...but she doesn't have any legitimate point here. She wants to live an unhealthy lifestyle that annoys you/bothers you/stresses you out so much you have to post on this message board about what you can do to cater to her negative behavior...why fall in to that trap?
Certainly I mean no offense whatsoever, and to some degree I think you should allow her to express herself and eat what she wants...but not all the time! When she's out on her own, if she wants to be super-picky and eat crap, then that is her own issue, however while she's under your roof she follows your rules! Its never too late to help your family to lead a more healthy lifestyle!
I wouldn't recommend doing the "eat everything on your plate before you get up" thing, but like I said..make a meal, if she doesn't want it, don't cater to her bad behavior by giving in and making special meals for her.
If she wants to spend her money buying something she'd like to eat, fine. If she likes what you make or eats part of it, fine. If she makes her own meal and cleans up the mess, thats fine too. Otherwise, this is HER problem not yours, don't make it yours.