Motherhood | On Food

You know those parents that say they don't cook separate meals for their kids? They eat what they're given or they don't eat at all? Yeah, I hate that. It is the antithesis of who I am as a parent.

The overcooked tuna bake.

The squash.

The yoghurt with bits you got force fed until you vomited and then you had to finish the tub.

The mouldy sausage sandwiches you hid, because you hated them, that he forced you to eat. Soggy because of your tears.

Vegemite and cheese sandwiches.

Not being fussy. Just having a preference.

That has never been a part of B's life. She has always had the option to eat what we were having and then, if it didn't appeal to her, she could pick what she wanted.

So am I creating a spoiled child? No, I don't think so. Here's why - nobody should ever be expected to eat something they don't like or enjoy. They shouldn't have to clear their plate out of some outdated idea of what polite means.

I believe a lot of unhealthy relationships with food come from childhood. The eating what you hated. Clearing your plate even when you were full. Not being able to listen to what your body wanted or needed. Impress the adults. That's all that matters.

Of course, the inevitable questions come:

Well, how do you get her to eat fruit and vegetables?

She just does, always has. Does she eat veggies with every meal? No. Do I sometimes have to say - do you want to add veggies to the side of the mac and cheese? Sure, but also - she loves salad (hates dressing) and eats fruit every day. This has never been a struggle.

How do you eat together as a family?

If you're multitasking for one meal, is it really that hard to multitask for two? Well, my Husband does the cooking so I don't have the answer to that but we're not complicated people. It's not that difficult. Sure, we're all time poor and sometimes we don't eat together but you can have separate meals and eat at the same time.

So what are your thoughts?

Is eating separate meals creating bratty kids? Or are we finally breaking cycles and making food safe?