Another Story From The School Of The Bleeding Obvious !

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27635861

It seems we have far too many daft indulgent parents around these days.

[ChillDoubt]

I agree. Another 'bear sh!ts in woods' shocker.

[lady-janine]

surely that study was a bit of a waste of time and money.

[Tilly2]

Obviously comissioned by The Globe Artichoke Society.

[Old_Geezer]

As I recall, when I was little, it was pretty much the other way around. Like school dinner ladies that served up stuff any normal person could not stand and then insisted you should eat it, which simply wasn't going to happen.

I'm unconvinced when forced to eat stuff it isn't a case of the brain finally deciding to always block out the sensation that is clearly unpleasant. Otherwise there is no accounting for some of the things offered as food that others claim to like.

[mikey4444]

I think the point being made by this study is that if you introduce a baby or very young child to a wealth of different tastes and textures, there is a fair chance that the child won't end up being a fussy-eating adult.Its the way I and all my brothers were brought up, and we all turned out to eat most things. Seems pretty obvious to me.

Does anybody remember a few years ago when Findus, or Birds Eye brought out frozen veg, that tasted of chocolate ? Didn't last very long, and quite rightly so. Daft idea.

[jno]

I don't find this bleeding obvious; my experience is that young kids (pretty sure that included me, but I can't really remember back that far) just don't like some things and that repeated attempts to get them to eat is just setting up pointless food wars. So it's interesting to see research that suggests the contrary.

[ummmm]

I agree jno. No one wants dinner time to be a battle of wills so many parents would give up trying to feed their child something they clearly dislike.

[roopower]

I don't like an awkward eater, one who'll eat something one day and refuse it the next but there are some things I just don't like, because of taste or texture and I don't think we can expect children to like everything. That's asking a bit much. At the moment my 20 month old grandson will eat just about anything - he loves fruit and veg and works on the principle that if his parents are eating something it's OK for him too.

[kvalidir]

Fussy eaters would be in danger of starving to death on in our house lol, that being said no-one was ever forced to eat anything they hate. I hate lots of things, mostly sweet and fried things, so I was never forced to eat them.

[weecalf]

Ok when food tasted like food but nothing in the food line has a taste now .need to bung salt on most foods to give it. Taste .guess what salt not good for you so eating is now a chore rather than a pleasure

[ummmm]

You must be cooking it wrong then!

[royfromaus]

From that article, how do you deduce that there are 'too many daft indulgent parents around these days' ?

[jim360]

It's a mistake to call this study a waste of time, I think, because just as many of those old wives' tales that people think of as "bleeding obvious" turn out to be utter rubbish. And yet, people seem to pay far more attention to studies that confirm ancient knowledge. And anyway it varies. Unfortunately, despite my parents' best efforts I am now what could be called a "fussy eater". Fighting the "food wars" might be the best strategy overall, but it won't always work.

[ummmm]

I think Mikey might be from the era that if you didn't eat all your dinner you were served it for breakfast.

[Brinjal]

Meal times when I was a child were very traumatic. My father would stand over me until I finished my veges and I would cry scream vomit but had to force them down. I still won't eat greens. I did not force my children to eat veges and today as adults they eat practically everything and tease me because I just won't eat things or try I think I wont like.

[ummmm]

I was never forced so ate the ones I liked. Mum always insisted I try one small bite of something I claimed not to like. I eat most things now and so do my kids. Forcing them to do something just breeds a fear.

[ludwig]

The research doesn't say children will learn to like vegetables if you force them to eat them. It says they're more likely to if they're repeatedly 'offered'. In other words you keep serving them up but don't make a big battle of wills over whether they actually eat them or not. Just make them available.

This does seem bleeding obvious to me.

[mikey4444]

Thanks ludwig...its obvious to me as well. What I find amazing is that we have lots of children nowadays, that don't like any fruit (!), don't like any vegetables, but love chips, burgers, and crisps !

[ummmm]

It's the age group. You have to physically help this age group eat. If you put a plate of food in front of them the younger of the age group wouldn't be able to eat it, the older of the group would probably throw it all over the floor. The parent/carer 'has' to be involved.....and then the tension starts...

[mikey4444]

I think that the phrase that you are looking for here ummm is...bringing up children. Its seems to be a vanishing art these days.