Evening star., 1937-12-04
Teach a Child
To Like All
His Meals.
Guard Against Any
Hints on Fear of
Food at Table.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

FEAR and food will not mix, which
is one of the reasons we have a
lot of trouble with children and their
eating, in some families
Cabbage? I don't dare eat it. 1t
almost killed me the last time ate
it. Ill just take baked potato"
MY dear. you'd better not touch
that 1t has sauce on 1t and you
know what sauce does to you. Better
eat it plain"
rs there sugar in this? If there
is can't eat it. The doctor said that
sugar would about finish me. No!
No cake. I'll just eat wheat bis
cult. I can't afford to cut my life
short for the sake Of nibble. Where's
my buttermilk?"
This may be necessary There are
people who have to live on a diet for
this reason or that, and they ought
to stick to what they believe is good
for them. What is not right is al
lowing children to hear them talking
about the dangers OF perfectly good
food and soaring them out Of eating
whatever they like
Cabbage is perfectly all right for
those who like it. Children can eat 1t
with benefit There is nothing wrong
about = good sauce for . pudding OF q
vegetable, provided 1t has been made
properly. which Is usually the case.
Cake is good to eat and so are cook
les. But when children hear 20
much about the danger OF eating they
are likely to copy the manners. culti-
vate the fears and become food fuss
ers before their time.
Grown people who have to have
special diets ought to arrange for them
before time and eat their meals at
table cheerfully as though they liked
them for the sake of the children who
are listening and watching. Eating is
q habit that everybody enjoys until
fear spoils it. Children are not afraid
to eat, but when they hear fear ex-
pressed all about them they think
there must be something about it and
assume the attitude, if they have not
the actual dread. Sometimes they take
of the situation to select
what they like best to eat and neglect
the rest.
Children cannot always eat what is
on the table for the grown-up folks.
The easy way out is to arrange the
menu so that there are dishes that
old and young can eat and enjoy.
When that cannot be done the chill
dren's menu should be served them
without comment. What Is intended
for adults only is served them without
remark. II father likes hot peppers
with his roast beef he Is entitled to
them, and I cheer his courage, but
that does not say the children can
have them. A casual attitude at table
concerning such things will soon reg
lister perfectly.
When two sets of dishes have to be
the reason is not to be ex-
pressed in terms of fear for the chill
dren. When they grow up and have
matured stomach that takes kindly
to burning peppers, they can have
them and enjoy them. The only
thing that needs to be said is, "The
peppers are for father. You would
not like them" II the child insists, q
snippet Of one on the edge of his
Tongue will convince him, and that
without fear. No further notice should
be taken Of the matter, lest he feel
he Is being dared to taste the things.
The best attitude to set in q child's
mind toward his food is that 1t looks
good, tastes good and is good. Guard
against any hint Of food fear ut the
table.
Mr.. Patri has prepared = leaflet !
entitled Crying Children" in which |
he tells parents how to cope with the |
crying habit In children. Send for It. |
Address your request to Mr.. Angelo |
oatri Child Psychology Department |
# this paper. Inclose self-addressed,
'tamped (3-cent) envelope.