How about instead of trying to entertain your kids with shapes and other enticements, why don't you offer them the choice of either eating what you've prepared, or going to bed hungry.

Anyone who has seen even a small part of the world has seen firsthand how hard a great portion of this planet struggles to eat everyday. Our children are spoiled and nitpicky and don't realize how hard and deprived their lives could be.

I think a few missed meals would do more for your food consumption issues than the games you currently play.

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WOW!

Who stole your maypo this morning Franz?

Heather, I think it's nice what you do for the children, and it sounds like you are being a good mom.

Keep up the good work!

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You know, Franz, while I sympathize with the plight of those who have less than they need to live, I don't think my two-year-old thinks too much about it. I give my time and talents to help where I can, but depriving my child isn't going to put food on anyone else's table.

I do not cater to his whims, and I do agree that he must eat what is presented to him or go without. But that does not prevent me from presenting him with things that will make eating an enjoyable experience. If cutting cute shapes in his PB&J or making raisin smiley faces on his toast is all it takes to turn him into a selfish, uncaring monster, I'm not sure there's much I can do to prevent it.

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You know, Franz, while I sympathize with the plight of those who have less than they need to live, I don't think my two-year-old thinks too much about it. I give my time and talents to help where I can, but depriving my child isn't going to put food on anyone else's table.

I do not cater to his whims, and I do agree that he must eat what is presented to him or go without. But that does not prevent me from presenting him with things that will make eating an enjoyable experience. If cutting cute shapes in his PB&J or making raisin smiley faces on his toast is all it takes to turn him into a selfish, uncaring monster, I'm not sure there's much I can do to prevent it.

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Sorry for the double post.

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I think parents go overboard in how they deal with food and their kids. My parents and their parents just set food out on the table and expected us to eat what was there or go without. While a little kid may not care about poor people in India or Sri Lanka or Africa, it's important for them to realize that they/we are incredibly lucky to live the posh, wasteful lives we do.

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Above mentioned moral issues aside (though I think its good to instill good habits before they understand them), I would be concenred with the excess waste created from the non-cutout areas of the sandwich. Personally, wasting food (not implying that you do) drives me nuts. If I were doing this, I would find myself trying to eat up all the trimmings.
ugh. *holds stomach*

How about something a little more creative like making puzzle shapes (ok, so now this is wrong because it would be encouringing them to play with their food. sue me.) but this way the entire sammich would be used. Educational food?
hmm. *rubs chin*

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According to a news report I saw here in Japan, carrots are somewhat unpopular with Japanese kids. One school lunch kitchen saw success in getting kids to love carrots by cutting them into star and other interesting shapes for curry day. They marketed the carrots as something lucky and special, and got the kids excited to eat carrots. So now the vast majority of the kids at that school genuinely enjoy carrots. Trickery can't be all bad, now can it?

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