Well, you might be surprised to discover that if you've carried that tradition over into your children's lives, you should probably rethink your approach. Sheah Rarback, R.D., a dietician at the University of Miami School of Medicine, believes that forcing your children to finish everything on their plates is problematic for several reasons. Rarback says that insisting your kids eat a specific amount exhibits a lack of respect for their appetites.
Parents have to allow children to eat when they're hungry and stop eating when they're full.
What's more, Rarback acknowledges that this kind of force-feeding rarely takes place with treats, such as cookies or cake. Instead, it tends to happen with the foods that are nutrient-rich and good for children. Therefore, she says, you're setting up a negative feeling about the good food, because you're forcing youngsters to finish that rather than the things they enjoy. You end up sending a message to your child that the healthy food is a punishment. If your kids can't leave the dinner table before they've consumed every last morsel of broccoli, they probably won' t want to eat it the next time it's served.