Nutritionists told why children should not be forced to finish everything from the plate

You can't force children to finish their meal. This is what nutritionists say.

According to them, this can make children ignore hunger and refuse healthy foods.

According to the director of research at the Center for Taste and Nutrition Sciences Sophie Nicklaus, it is necessary to remember that the size of a child's stomach is smaller than that of an adult. Children should not be served large portions of food, she clarified.

Experts note that children have distinct signals of hunger and satiety from birth. For example, babies stop sucking until they are hungry again.

Forcing children to finish eating can lead to excess weight not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. A survey of overweight women showed that in childhood they were forced to eat everything. What was served during lunch.

In order for the child to be full, it is necessary to ask her "how hungry she is - like a mouse, like a cat or like an elephant." Using animals of different sizes will show the child's satiety level. Experts of the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Products told about it.