Is it right to force children to eat everything on their plates?

No. They'll eat when they get hungry enough.

On TV, there was this guy who weighed like 500 pounds, and his parents had done this. So I wonder if it can actually cause obesity.

No. We stop eating when we are full. It isn't right to make a kid keep eating when they are full. If they make a habit of leaving leftovers, give them smaller portions.

I don't know about "right", but this sounds like something that wouldn't work very well.
Even if the child had an eating disorder, I doubt this would solve the "problem".

NO!!! I hate it when people do this, it is just wrong.

No; they really might not be hungry, or they really might hate some item. It's fine to make them at least taste a little bit of everything, though, if the issue is that they're being picky.

No. There's nothing wrong with laying down some rules about meals, but forcing a child to eat more than they want to is unlikely to be doing them any favours (unless there are other causes for concern such as excessive weight loss/failure to gain weight, and even then, turning mealtimes into battlegrounds is likely to be the wrong thing to do).

I was taught by my parents to eat everything you put on your plate....being wasteful isn't right. Take what you feel you can eat.

Naw... If the kid isn't hungry, it's OK but not if it's because they're loading up on snacks and junk before hand. The snacking should be cut out.

I used to keep a bowl of fruits at all times on the table and my son Matt was constantly in it. When mealtime came around, I never had to fight with him to eat. He had decent portions too. To this day, he's not an ounce overweight - he looks fit and healthy. Good eating habits instilled very young in life stay with you forever. I never catered to whims when they were young. One day they like peas the next day they hate them? Too bad, that's what's on the menu tonight; you don't like it - pass and you'll eat what I serve you when you're good and hungry. One nasty thing you can do for your finicky kids is to ask them what they want to eat and then prepare it for them. Home is not a restaurant...

Yes. Children need to be taught to not be wasteful and to be grateful for everything they have. You can force a kid without literally forcing a kid to do something. For example, if I didn't want to finish everything on my plate (mind you it was because I was a brat and not because I was stuffed full) my parents would not let me leave the table until i did. Or they would discipline with excessive chores.

I would encouage children to eat everything on their plate, but not force them.

It's not right to force anyone to eat everything on their plate.

Depends. You shouldn't make your kids overeat. If thats the case, don't do it. Its bad for them. Otherwise its ok.

No, absolutely not. HOWEVER it is right to force ( I do not like that word) them to TRY everything on their plate.

> On TV, there was this guy who weighed like 500
> pounds, and his parents had done this. So I wonder
> if it can actually cause obesity.

I seriously doubt that caused his obesity. I'd say there was a whole lot more going on there. It may very well have contributed to it, but not as root cause, no.

Is it a plate of chicken fingers, fries, and mac&cheese? Is it lean meat and vegetables? What else have they eaten today? How active have they been and what is planned for later? Has the child been having regular bowel movements?

I think about all of this stuff when I feed my kid. I especially consider the pooping when I decide what to feed her. More fiber and vegetables during those times. My kid has issues with that.

All that being said, I can't remember ever having her CLEAR the plate. I usually just have her finish her vegetables though.. if she ever wants to leave the table early (which is almost unheard of).

It's important to make sure children take in the appropriate amount of food to keep them going - and to not just eat the things they like rather than things that are good for them. But I don't see the need to force them to eat everything on their plate if they are full.

No. That's why now I'll eat, even when I'm full, just so I can finish what's on my plate.

Generally, yes.

With so many people on this planet starving and hungry, it is an insult for people to throw away food.

There's the option of wrapping it and putting it in the fridge for tomorrow.