I think the problem is that parents see food and loading you up with it as "love". I know that my mother did this, it stemmed from the war and giving someone your ration was seen as an act of love.
And yes we should say no, but we're conditioned to accept what we really don't want to eat to avoid upsetting folk.Sometimes it's just "easier" and staves off confrontation.
I agree with you Judy. I am a child from that era and my parents used to save their sweetie coupons, along with sugar, butter and cheese coupons for us kids. It was a selfless act on their part, born out of love for us.
Every morning when we went to school there was a chocolate bar for us to take to school, so the pattern was set.
I suppose at my age I am the same generation as your parents Medusa, but I do understand 100% how you feel. It must be infuriating for you especially when they do not understand the principles of what you are doing.
Mel
My 2 are teenagers and yet mum still brings chocolates and cakes and stuff for them when they visit. As if they don't have any of that in the house anyway!
When I was a child I always had to finish what was on my plate. Didn't matter if I was full or if it was the kidney beans I loathed. Waste was wrong. I appreciate they grew up with rationing - like judimac's parents - and understand where they come from yet I still find myself forcing food down when really I'm full. It's almost subconscious. I have to be very aware when I'm eating and I've been so careful not to have my two carry on eating when they are full.
That struck so many cords for me. It just was not allowed in our household to leave anything. Unfortunately that has stayed with me and I sometimes struggle to finish everything on my plate. If I do leave something I have a feeling of what can only be termed as a sense of failure.
Strange isn't it but I have never understood it until you started this thread. It will be interesting to see if it makes a difference to me now the "light has been turned on ". I always thought it was because I was a piggy person.
And yet regarded as one of the healthiest diets we've ever had Reg.
My father was born in 1936 and remembers the taste of his first banana. Sweets were rationed until the early 50's - when my folks were teenagers.
My parents cannot abide waste. I usually make a huge pot of bolognese so I can freeze some. Dad can't seem to understand that and always has seconds as "it's a shame to waste it".
Oh my God !!!! I grew up with those words ringing in my ears and even now if DH has left something on his plate I will automatically eat part of it or it has to be reconstituted as another meal.
ohh and when i was eating this caramel egg this morning my mum did a shocked face and tutted......you cant give me a chocolate egg and expect me to just look at it!!!
Now that made me laugh !!!!
This is a really interesting thread on many counts and just to expand a little...........
At work, the guy who has the unit opposite me and who is a great bloke. I am very fond of him and we have such a laugh together but I honestly want to knock his block off when he passes comments on what I eat.
I always take a salad of all free and s.s. foods, a yogurt, a container of fruit salad and perhaps a piece of fruit.........all free food. He can not get his head around this and has to make some smart Alec remark like the oh so unfunny " eating again !! Thought you were on a diet " I swear I want to take up one of the antique pistols I have for sale and bloody shoot him !!!!
I have tried to explain to him that the biscuits he scoffs, be it only 2, with his sugar laden tea, might look like nothing, but in fact contain more harmful calories than about 3 days supply of my food........ he just does not get it.
