How do people tell the children not to waste the food?

My folks never used any threats to make me eat, but then again, there was only one thing my mother fixed I would not eat. I suspect that my mother would only put a little food on our plates and tell us we could have seconds if we were still hungry, you know how little kids eyes are bigger than their stomachs.

When I was a child I was taught not to waste food, as money doesn't grow on trees, I remember the teacher which I worked telling the children that there were millions of starving children in poorer countries. One child said they can have my vegetables as I don't like them. Out of the mouth of babes!

Hi youless, I told my son as well as my siblings's kids how duplicated the little of rice served on the dinner. Telling them the whole process of how how paddy(rice) is planted, how hard to take good care of them from seedling until harvesting in the paddy field. How to process the rice grain to cooking rice. This would make them to cherish rice. From this they also would think how other food like bread, vegetable, etc are from. This really works and they always do their best not waste any food. I'm glad to see them take only the amount they can finish when having meal Happy posting

First off you don't dish them a lot of food. You teach them by example and expectation. Make it a rule that if they ask for more they have to eat it all or get in trouble. Teach them to be thrifty.

I remember my grandparents tells me that if I waste food- I will have bad dreams about foods chasing me (hehehe) Well, my grandparents explained to me that I should not waste food because food are given free by other people or by anybody else- but,someone in the family works hard to earn money to buy the foods that we are eating.

I bet all grandma will said the same thing to their grandchildren. "don't do this, you'll get this" " if you do that, the ghost will come after you'. My grandma said " if you don't finish your rice, they will cry'. How lame is that. Bu thanks to her, i never waste my food.

I think it is good not to waste food. There are lots of people who does not get enough food in the world. I think we should only take food that we need and not more. I also think that food is precious. I think your grandmother was right to taught you not to waste food when you were little.

same here.thats what i used to tell my kids also that they are very lucky to eat at least three times a day while other rarely eat once a day so dont get food that you cant finish.it much better to get a little and get again if ypu are still hungry.

I start by putting on what they could finish in one plate, and when they ask for more i tell them to make sure they are able to finish it off as i tell them there are other people starving and does not have food right now. Somehow my kids understand it.

I just make sure they take enough of what they can finish on their plates. And I tell them that they cannot leave anything on it, not even a single grain of rice because that may be where all the blessings are. They will waste their blessings by wasting food. This has been instilled to them since they were very young. So now that they are teenagers, it has become a habit that they always clean their plates.

I think its hard. Just give them very little on their plates to start with. Now a days we can afford to waste foods.

Hahaha it seems this used to be a common tactic in Asia in the past! My mother never had to use this on us, we grew up relatively poor so never wasted food. It was only when I was older that I hear from my friends this was a common reason used by their parents to get them to finish their food, since I was old enough by then it was really funny for me to hear this. But it is better to explain to your child that food is precious and others are starving. This makes him more sympathetic, and at his age I am not sure he is thinking about marriage anyway.

What your grandma said made me laugh. It seems people use silly methods like that to convince their children things, it also gives them a good laugh when they're older! I use your method, I explain to my son the importance of eating. He's also a picky eater, so I make sure to only serve him wht he likes and how he likes it until he feels ready to try something new.

That is very true, my grandmother and mother always told us that way ! However, I would show those photos of starving people to my children to make them understand what is it meant by food is precious .

The best way to teach anything is by example. In addition, it is better to serve small portions and let the child ask for more than to serve too much and waste the food.

Hello You Less. I am a vegan. So are my 5 year old son and my 3 year old daughter. I tell my children that food and drinks cost lots of money. I make sure they know money is limited. I wish they didn't waste any food or drink. My daughter somethings leaves some of her soya drink and some of her food. I am glad that your son doesn't waste any food.

Just tell your children wasting food is not a good habit, he shouldn't adopt it. There are insufficient free food in our present world to feed every hungry mouth and too costly for everyone to afford eating enough, it is important for him not to waste them. I am sure he is clever enough to understand that since he has a loving n caring parent that teach him and provide for him well during his childhood. He can reason well from his upbringing by a responsible parenting .

It's hard especially when they don't understand the cost and where money comes from. We use to get a nice kick in the butt, and not get the next meal for wasting food. I knew a girl in school who would get a big plate of food eat half of it and throw it out. Now as an adult she still does this, and I believe it's all because her parents didnt do anything.

when my son was a baby, there was an international campaign to help africa's food shortage. there were always documentaries on tv. i still remember that whenever he didn't eat well, i would start reminding him about those children and how food was precious, etc.

Good job youless! Instead of negative consequences, you expose your child to positive things. A balance of fear and understanding helps the child appreciate and comprehend better the things we teach them and perhaps we can call them lessons in life. Another way to teach you child about value of food is to always eat together. Show him how to properly eat, to get the right amount of food on plate and to finish what you've taken. Parents should always be engaged in teaching values to their children because I believe the best learning method is observation and copying. Good luck! :)