Having seconds before finishing rest

I'd get mine to have the veg before they have more chicken

Depends if you have a surplus of chicken, and if they will eat the veg normally. With my child I'd ask them to eat the carrot and brocoli, because I know they like that. I might ask them to try a bite of the other veg, but would probably only have put one small piece of one new vegetable on the plate anyway.

Overall, chicken is healthy, and kids need protein, so if they we're willingly eating it and asking for more, I'd go with it. (And be glad they were eating something not in breadcrumbs)

In my house it would be the opposite...DS1 would happily crunch 10 carrot sticks while forgetting to eat the protein bit. In that case I'd remind him to eat some chicken.

If he did want more chicken and hadn't finished his veg yet, I'd let him have the chicken (but he has never been fussy with fruit and veg).

DS2 is very fussy with everything so I am just happy if he eats something from the plate.

It depends on the child's general eating habit. As a one off for a good eater, I'd let them have the chicken and leave the veg. Or if they were a very fussy eater and I knew they hated veg to the point of starvation, I'd let them have the chicken (although in that case I'd not be serving them portions of veg they hated).

With a child who is just being a bit fussy but I know they don't mind veg really, I'd compromise and have them eat some more veg then get some chicken.

Also depends how much other food they'd eaten. If they'd be going to bed with an empty tummy, I'd let them have the chicken.

Reminds me of Pink Floyd.

If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?
You! Yes, you behind the bike stands
Stand still, laddy!

Well if they have a healthy diet a bit off extra chicken over veg won't don't any harm.

Glad they had their chicken!

I’m in the life’s too short camp. Some days I might want extra meat, some days extra veg, some days I want even finish my serving, but then crave something sweet.

I was going to say as long as they eat well overall, but even if they are picky with food an extra bit of chicken is fine. Protein is good for you!

This is totally reasonable. Your A or B were both a bit “end member” but the scenario of child eats up all lovely chicken, ignores all veg, asks for more chicken - it’s totally sensible to say “ok but eat some of that veg first” and then give them seconds. Especially when they usually eat it well.

I wouldn’t have made them eat all the veg first because you need to make things come out even on your plate, and if there’s an extra lovely tip top favourite then it’s ok to have a bit more of it if you’re usually quite well balanced. I prefer to add bits of seconds as I go along if I know I’ll want them to make it come out even.

If they are hungry and want more chicken then they will eat the veg in seconds.

A. Growing bodies need the protein. Veg aren’t the only important part of the meal.

Eat your veg while I grab a second bit of chicken.

Either “rule” can be reasonable in a house with young kids. There’s more than one healthy approach to food.

My children are always eating their carrot and cucumber sticks even as teenagers. Not so good with veg that comes with their roast dinners. I strategically place cucumber and carrot sticks everywhere. I never insisted on my children eating veg. What is forced won't be enjoyed.

Unless there are major food issues there is a middle ground:

C - eat a small amount of each veg before extra chicken.

So if there are 3 pieces of carrot, they eat 1, etc.

I see someone mentioned plating up.

If an adult decided on the child's portion and selection, then I would never make them finish it, or refuse seconds of one thing before they finish another.
My kids always had some agency over how much of what was put on their plate, though I always aimed for them to try everything. So if one wanted more carrots and less cauliflower, or their full share of pie but only a tiny bit of potato, that was fine. Then they got to serve themselves with the amounts they wanted as they got older.

I'd do the 'just eat another (x amount) of (named veg that I know they're not averse to) then you can have some more chicken' thing.

That's fair enough if they served themselves or asked for that food. If they were served more than they wanted they shouldn't have to eat it. Sometimes my partner gives me a huge pile of pasta and I don't eat it all but have seconds of veg. If I serve myself I wouldn't waste it.

I'd encourage them to eat a bit of veg but wouldn't enforce it. I believe their bodies know what they need (if not confused by too much processed crap) and they will eat loads of protein at some meals and other meals only want veg. I offer pudding if I want to, it isn't based on eating their other food.

We don't usually do it now my child is a teen. Batch cooking means the food is divided up and if we are still hungry we get fruit or yoghurt or toast. If it's something with leftovers rather than enough for another full dinner, then seconds are available.

I think some parents serve too much first round, if the child is not finishing most of the time. Family member does this, serves double what the child eats then is there saying 'just three more' of this, or half of that. I give the same child a child sized portion and the child finishes everything, I then offer more of the parts the child would like.

Seems many parents are not struggling with the increasing cost of food, food on plates is eaten in our house, food left in the kitchen is kept as leftovers.

I never knew of seconds as a child. I'm 37 now and I've still never done it

If they don't finish their food they're full, so it's time for shower. I try to avoid discussion on it and they can make their own choices.

I'd give them an amount they'd finish at least 90% of the time. You don't have to finish but if you don't finish you clearly aren't hungry for more. I'm talking about food they are known to like not foods to try. If it's a food to try and they've tried some then seconds are fine.

Same for myself, I'd only leave food if I accidentally overserved, burnt it and it's not nice, or it's something new I've found I really don't like. I wouldn't go for seconds of something leaving perfectly good food on the plate.

If they are hungry they should finish what they already have to avoid food waste, and then if they are still hungry they can have seconds of anything that's available. It's not about good food/bad food