Eat what's set before you.

[Lovelife090994]

In many households especially in the Southern US and in many African-American homes kids, teens, and anyone who is living there or even a guest has to go by the rule, "eat what's set before you." My mother came from a strict and less financially equiped home and it was eat what was cooked or go hungry, or even have your breakfast waiting on the table all day if you don't eat and no other food until you eat it. Apparently my mom as she told me grew up in a house with many siblings and a father and brother who ate most of the food. So eat what's set in front of you is more for kids and when times are too hard to be picky.

I was raised on this strict doctrine, but I agree that kids should eat what their hard working parents have cooked especially when you can't be picky when the money is tight and getting tighter. Do you agree with the eat what is set before you? Another note, the exception to this and most families would agree is "eat what is set before you unless you are allergic, in which case you will be served something you can eat." So, is this too old-fashioned for you or a way to have it where after people cook the plates aren't pushed off the table?

[Horatio Nelson]

In many households especially in the Southern US and in many African-American homes kids, teens, and anyone who is living there or even a guest has to go by the rule, "eat what's set before you." My mother came from a strict and less financially equiped home and it was eat what was cooked or go hungry, or even have your breakfast waiting on the table all day if you don't eat and no other food until you eat it. Apparently my mom as she told me grew up in a house with many siblings and a father and brother who ate most of the food. So eat what's set in front of you is more for kids and when times are too hard to be picky.

I was raised on this strict doctrine, but I agree that kids should eat what their hard working parents have cooked especially when you can't be picky when the money is tight and getting tighter. Do you agree with the eat what is set before you? Another note, the exception to this and most families would agree is "eat what is set before you unless you are allergic, in which case you will be served something you can eat." So, is this too old-fashioned for you or a way to have it where after people cook the plates aren't pushed off the table?

Hell naw.

That's how my family is at meal time. I am not picky at all, so it's not a big deal for me.

[Lovelife090994]

Hell naw.

That's how my family is at meal time. I am not picky at all, so it's not a big deal for me.
Despite my leaning to vegetarianism I am not picky either. Especially on holidays with my family and great food with few vegetables and many delectables.

[Dalcourt]

In many households especially in the Southern US and in many African-American homes kids, teens, and anyone who is living there or even a guest has to go by the rule, "eat what's set before you." My mother came from a strict and less financially equiped home and it was eat what was cooked or go hungry, or even have your breakfast waiting on the table all day if you don't eat and no other food until you eat it. Apparently my mom as she told me grew up in a house with many siblings and a father and brother who ate most of the food. So eat what's set in front of you is more for kids and when times are too hard to be picky.

I was raised on this strict doctrine, but I agree that kids should eat what their hard working parents have cooked especially when you can't be picky when the money is tight and getting tighter. Do you agree with the eat what is set before you? Another note, the exception to this and most families would agree is "eat what is set before you unless you are allergic, in which case you will be served something you can eat." So, is this too old-fashioned for you or a way to have it where after people cook the plates aren't pushed off the table?

I've lived with a foster family that went by this doctrine when I wad younger, as I'm not picky for me this wasn't a problem and I totally understood them. They had to feed quite a lot of people on a budget...but they weren't mean or so if one really didn't want to eat the food at all the Mom gave in later and made a sandwich or so....
At home it's usually me who does the shopping and cooking so there I don't have this problem....and my Dad never complains about the food to me cuz I think he was raised on the eat what's set before you thing by my Grandma.
My personal feeling is that in a family you should know each other and if you really insist on cooking things that other family members don't like to eat, you should let them have something else...offering them a sandwich or some cereals instead usually is enough to avoid drama at the dinner table or spending too much money on food. So I could say I agree to a certain extent...with the exception that I feel peace and respect at the table is more important than forcing someone to do something.

Oh, and as a guest I usually eat what I'm offered even if it is stuff I don't really like...it's just a form of politeness.

[Capto]

I eat what I cook.

[Typhlosion]

Was I raised to do so? No. My parents were very flexible when I lived with them.

That, and meals were completely different from the norm: my parents didn't cook for themselves, so food was up to kids' preferences. Kids were picky, so at the end of my home days there were a choice of 5 everyday meals (pea soup, rice & beans, pasta, pancakes, lentil burgers) and few special occasions (lasagna, pizza, stuffed bellpepper, cake). And that's at its maximum. My parents busy-ness is also a factor, my mother sometimes has to work until 3 because of overflow. If 5 is little, my sister eats only three :L

As a guest, I usually do not eat the food if it isn't vegetarian, and I do so because my friends are very accepting of this.

[Miserabilia]

I mean if I don't like it they won't force me, but I'm supposed to eat what they prepare; it's the decent thing to do.
Even if I don't like it, I'll eat it because it's rude to do otherwise.
I can let them know later on that I didn't really like it and they may cook that particular meal less often.

[Gamma Male]

My mom stopped cooking for me when I became vegan. Not that we ever really had an official "everybody sit down and eat dinner at the long rosewood table!" type thing anyway.

[Cygnus]

My parents don't really mind, I don't always finish my breakfast and they have accepted that, but I usually finish the two other meals I have during the day, unless it truly (truly) sucks or it will get me sick.

Despite that the best preventive measure you can do is serve yourself less food than you'd be used to, and only serve more if you are hungry after eating that, it works in my house. That is if you're eating at home, you can't really do that in a restaurant, but you can avoid aperitifs and eating bread and such to leave an open space for the main dish.

[BuryYourFlame]

Yeah, definitely. If I didn't want what was for dinner than I wasn't getting anything else. I got used it and I think it made me a better person in some ways and appreciate food more.

[backjruton]

If I did agree I would probably be having more interesting foods but no thanks because my dad only cooks things we actually like or at least tolerate rather than make things he knows I won't eat because with me, most of the time there's no point arguing back... :lol:

[conniption]

I usually eat what ever my mom makes, because I like her cooking, but if I'm not in the mood for what she made, I'll tell her and she'll make something else or we'll go out and buy something.

[Human]

I'm not a picky person by nature but if my parents give me something I've told them i dislike I'll be annoyed

[Melodic]

My family in the South do that... however my mom raised me to eat whatever.

[Emerald Dream]

This was true when I was younger, and I actually sat down to eat dinner with the family. Now that it's just my mom and I, most of my meals are prepared by me and eaten alone so it doesn't really matter.

[Ethe14]

I was not raised with that principle, but if money were ever tight I am sure that's how it would work in my family. I'm a picky eater and so is my brother so my parents are just used to making things that we will eat.

[chrisf55]

I was taught that it is rude to not at least attempt to eat what is presented to you. Most people understand that some have different tastes however, and wont get overly offended if you can't eat it. I've tried to eat some things at people's houses and my body just wouldn't let me eat it, all of them understood.

[ksdnfkfr]

like a lot of kids with autism i'm really sensitive to flavor and texture of food, so i'm particular about what i can eat, and usually like to eat the same things on a regular basis. so i'm usually fed separately. and usually when a guest, my mom brings food for me to eat separately.

[Jean Poutine]

I wasn't raised as such. My mom often cooked me specific meals when I found that what she ate was unpalatable. I'm very sensitive to textures, and I used to be a really picky eater, so there are a lot of foods I wouldn't eat. For example, I can't stand yogurt with fruits in them (the fact that I expect something smooth and silky and there's gobs of hard shit in it makes me nauseous), so my mom bought me vanilla yogurt, which I love, and kept the strawberry ones for herself. When she ate shepherd's pie and mashed vegetables (which I detest, and still do), she'd cook me pasta, pizza or burgers. Carrots and most other vegetables were absolutely out of the question, so I'd get fruit instead for the vitamins.

When I'm at my girlfriend's parental house, I'm not nearly as picky. Her mom loves to make me taste different vegetables and foods I otherwise wouldn't even touch with a 1000 feet pole. It's become the running gag for her mom to cook something and my girlfriend to ask her not to tell me what's in it. I make it a point of honor to empty my plate, even if I find it weird or distasteful at first. To be honest, it's broadened my horizons a lot as she cooks very well and while I found it unsettling the first few times, I quickly got used to it and I love eating at their place now. It acted as a sort of therapy as people with Asperger syndrome are all really picky eaters, but I've grown out of the diagnosis since I started living alone and not being so complacent about a stupid label. I've heard the expression "success story" a lot when it comes to my battle with the syndrome and this is just one of the facets.

Since I used to complain that carrots tasted like dirt water, she cooked some up for me and I love the way she does them. She even cooks carrots every time I'm over. My girlfriend's mom used to cringe when I put ketchup on my French beans to mask the taste, but I also got used to it.

I live alone now so I mostly eat whatever I want, and when I'm over at my mom's I adopt the same attitude as with my girlfriend's parents. When I'm a guest, my personal preferences go down the drain and I just eat whatever's in front of me, except a few very no-nos like shrimp. I think it's extremely rude to turn down food unless you've got a great relationship with the cook.

[Lovelife090994]

I wasn't raised as such. My mom often cooked me specific meals when I found that what she ate was unpalatable. I'm very sensitive to textures, and I used to be a really picky eater, so there are a lot of foods I wouldn't eat. For example, I can't stand yogurt with fruits in them (the fact that I expect something smooth and silky and there's gobs of hard shit in it makes me nauseous), so my mom bought me vanilla yogurt, which I love, and kept the strawberry ones for herself. When she ate shepherd's pie and mashed vegetables (which I detest, and still do), she'd cook me pasta, pizza or burgers. Carrots and most other vegetables were absolutely out of the question, so I'd get fruit instead for the vitamins.

When I'm at my girlfriend's parental house, I'm not nearly as picky. Her mom loves to make me taste different vegetables and foods I otherwise wouldn't even touch with a 1000 feet pole. It's become the running gag for her mom to cook something and my girlfriend to ask her not to tell me what's in it. I make it a point of honor to empty my plate, even if I find it weird or distasteful at first. To be honest, it's broadened my horizons a lot as she cooks very well and while I found it unsettling the first few times, I quickly got used to it and I love eating at their place now. It acted as a sort of therapy as people with Asperger syndrome are all really picky eaters, but I've grown out of the diagnosis since I started living alone and not being so complacent about a stupid label. I've heard the expression "success story" a lot when it comes to my battle with the syndrome and this is just one of the facets.

Since I used to complain that carrots tasted like dirt water, she cooked some up for me and I love the way she does them. She even cooks carrots every time I'm over. My girlfriend's mom used to cringe when I put ketchup on my French beans to mask the taste, but I also got used to it.

I live alone now so I mostly eat whatever I want, and when I'm over at my mom's I adopt the same attitude as with my girlfriend's parents. When I'm a guest, my personal preferences go down the drain and I just eat whatever's in front of me, except a few very
no-nos like shrimp. I think it's extremely rude to turn down food unless you've got a great relationship with the cook.


A diet like yours could be the result of medical reasons which transcend the need to eat or accept what is set before you. Your diet being picky sounds expensive. In most houses especially back then in America like say the 70s and now a picky child wouldn't eat. I am incredibly picky but I ignore it since I am not on my own and wouldn't eat since my mom cooks what she wants, likes meat, thinks I shouldn't go vegetarian or pescetarian, and also because of her health. I need to learn of more cooking. I can cook but I don't cook often. Money is hard, as is food so I often eat what my mom cooks. Often I do eat what is before me unless it really is sickening or not cooked right i.e. restaurants. Sorry for the typos.