There was a “conversation” on Facebook about grandchildren who were picky eaters.
And that inspired some of the grandparents to share why there weren’t picky eaters at their house when they were growing up.
Here are my two favorites:
“as a child my family’s menu consisted of two things: take it or leave it.”
“my mom used to say ‘If you don’t eat it tonight you’ll get it with milk and sugar for breakfast tomorrow!”
These quotes are funny, but it is seriously true that food was not taken for granted then and you were expected to eat what was put before you (including the hard crusts on the bread) or go hungry until the next meal. I don’t remember very many “snacks” when I was growing up — just three square meals. And we were all healthy and happy — we didn’t know any different. In many ways, we were the lucky ones, compared to all the variety of food choices kids have today.
Interesting..we had these same choices at my house!
Zelda
I don’t know how old you are, Zelda, but that attitude was very common when you were growing up in the 50’s. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Oh those are funny! I know a fair number of adult kids who don’t even like home-cooking compared to junk food they consume all too frequently. I’m very grateful that both of my boys strongly prefer eating at home than eating out. And my older boy is a great cook. I just need to get him to visit more often so that he can cook for me.;)
I love those two quotes. As for snacks…you’d never know it from my dental records, but candy and soda pop were extremely rare in our phome when I was growing up. Soda pop was almost never had except on our annual family vacations, when we were allowed one bottle (it came in glass bottles back then) per day.
Hilary — You are blessed. 🙂
Linda — It was rare at our house too. And I STILL had cavities! So you’re not alone. 🙂
My mother used to tell this story from her childhood: she had mixed up sorghum and butter on her plate, then wouldn’t eat it. Her mother simply put it up in the cabinet and that’s what she was served at the next meal. This would’ve been about 1920, and it was a lesson she never forgot. I don’t remember her ever taking more than she could eat, therefore she never left food on her plate.
Alas, her daughter was not nearly so good and I was an extremely picky eater. Hypocrite that I am, I didn’t allow it in my sons, and have tried to improve my own habits. It now distresses me when I don’t finish everything and realize that my servings were too large.
Carla — The old ways may have been better — even though those of us who were the children in those “olden days” sometimes wished we could just say no! 🙂