21-06-2004, 07:53 PM
I think I come from a background where we did eat all our food or we went hungry - we weren't given the luxury of being able to pick and choose what we liked or not. I'm sure my parents did choose meals with us in mind, but we did have to eat what was given to us.
I think it is bad manners to leave your food that your host/hostess has specially spent time and effort to prepare for you, and so would like to teach my children consideration for other people's feelings.
But saying that, I think you are right - a polite "No, thank you" is sufficient for children, who are notoriously fussy! A good hostess would have planned for that and have an alternative for the child anyway, even if it is just a sandwich!
I think it is bad manners to leave your food that your host/hostess has specially spent time and effort to prepare for you, and so would like to teach my children consideration for other people's feelings.
But saying that, I think you are right - a polite "No, thank you" is sufficient for children, who are notoriously fussy! A good hostess would have planned for that and have an alternative for the child anyway, even if it is just a sandwich!