Having seconds before finishing rest

[theprettywreckless]

Which opinion would you think would be unreasonable?

A: child wants more chicken but hasn’t finished their veg. They have seconds of chicken and don’t end up finishing their veg.

B: Child shouldn’t get more chicken until they have finished their veg. Doesn’t finish all of their veg so doesn’t get more chicken.

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

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

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

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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)

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