to think if you're going to ply your child with bread rolls every meal time...

[00100001]

... that you shouldn't complain when they don't eat their "proper" meal?

My friend has a 2.5 yo boy. who is given bread with his meals, a slice at the beginning, then more is summoned if he eats it all. Then mum wonders why he hasn't eaten the rest of his dinner!

Is it just me, or would you think you'd leave the bread out altogether? And then of they have finished their dinner and still want more, then that's the time to bring out the bread? Or just stick with the first piece and don't offer more?

[Gatehouse77]

Yep, bread and butter is offered after a meal here if they're still hungry.

I wish I had more willpower at some restaurants as I'm guilty of eating too much bread but still eating everything else after too!

[FutureGadgetsLab]

Depends if that's the only way they can get him to eat any of his food.

[Oysterbabe]

I'd probably mind my own business to be honest.

[GreatFuckability]

well it depends. The problem is when you have a child who wont eat it can be really easy to fall into a bit of a vicious circle where they dont eat, so you give them what they WILL eat, but then they are less hungry so its easier to refuse the food you'd like them to eat. but its very hard and emotive for parents to watch your child not eating.
my eldest was a food refuser, so she would drink milk as she was hungry. so i was advised to cut out the milk, and she cried and cried and still refused to eat. its very hard to watch your child cry with hunger when you know you can give them something they will eat/drink.

[imwithspud]

I agree, we don't often serve bread with meals at home unless its part of the meal like a sandwich at lunch or something but if we go out to eat and there's bread I have to limit my dd's as they fill up on it so easily.

[BitOutOfPractice]

The only meal served with sliced bread and butter here is chip shop chips

That is actually the law - tell your friend that

[00100001]

I shall Boop!

He will eat other food, I think it is just habit, and that they know he will eat it. I'm not suggesting starving the boy. just saying that maybe the bread is filling him up and he prefers it, and that is the reason why he doesn't tuck into his (known liked) food?

[BitOutOfPractice]

Actually, I told a fib then. It is also acceptable to have a have a slice of bread and butter to mop up excess gravy at the end of a meal. I haven't done that since childhood but now I've thought of it I shall do it tonight

So now you know BOOP's Complete Law of Mealtime Bread and Butter. You're welcome

[formerbabe]

Gosh...I have enough stress getting my dc to eat their dinner without worrying about other people's kids!

[LadyAntonella]

I'm with oysterbabe.

[lljkk]

It's frustrating to watch people do daft things. Have you actually suggested to friend that the bread fills the boy up?

At 8yo DS has a tiny appetite & I wouldn't offer a bread roll unless that was meant to be his main meal.

[NinaSimoneful]

Well said GF

[MissPunnyMany]

My almost 3 year old is a fussy beggar, there's no way I'd give him bread with dinner as he'd eat that and refuse everything else and then it would become a 'thing' where he would tantrum if he didn't get bread with his dinner......

I've been known to give it to him when I know darn well he won't eat a certain meal and the rest of us will, but otherwise, no.

I'm not in the 'but he'll be hungry' camp as he eats a big breakfast and reasonable lunch but rarely touches his dinner unless its pasta or something like pizza / fishfingers which I rarely make as I tend to cook from scratch out of habit. He likes dinner to be a battleground so we just don't engage and hope he grows out of it!

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

Bread before his meal? If she can't see the corrolation between that and him then not eating his dinner I'd be worried about her...muppet.

[acasualobserver]

If the bread is in addition to other starch then I think that doesn't make for a balanced meal.

[NickyEds]

If I gave ds bread with every meal all he would eat is bread. He's not a bad eater generally but if bread is offered he'll eat that over anything else.

Bread is mandatory with chippy tea and for mopping up purposes, so stew, tomato sausage casserole and, best of all, fry up.

[RockMeMomma]

I love how judgemental you are op. It's such a time consuming trait, I'm surprised you have any time to be on mumsnet. Maybe one day, you'll have children of your own and you'll be too busy to judge others then

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

A bit off topic but I once had to sort a bit of an issue between some young teenage staff at work. It turns out that one of them was getting a hard time as she'd said that sometimes they have toast with their dinner instead of bread and the others were saying she was a weirdo etc. :o

All resolved when I suggested that they try having toast with macaroni cheese instead of their usual bread and butter.

OP if your friend brings it up in conversation you could casually say "do you think he is maybe just filling up on the bread as it's easier to eat?" Otherwise I'd let it go, she'll figure it eventually...

[00100001]

I only have time to be on Mumsnet and judge everyone, because my kids are busy eating bread rolls. Keeps them quiet.

[00100001]

I would eat just bread and butter too, if given half a chance. Bloody love the stuff :)

[00100001]

nicky have you let BOOP know about your addition of fry-ups to The Law??

[JonSnowsBeardClippings]

I sometimes find I've gone all day eating almost only bread. I bloody love it and will choose it over lots of other things. But I'm an adult! She's being a div.

[BarbarianMum]

I serve bread with meals a lot (it's a Spanish thing) but kids know the rule is 1 chunk only until meal virtually gone, then a second chunk to mop up the juices.

[Hastalapasta]

I would maybe mention how full I get at restaurants if I get offered bread before the meal arrives... Assuming it comes up in conversation!
I learn a lot about different parenting methods from talking with friends and from reading posts on mumsnet. I would not be picking up fab hints and tips if I went around minding my own business