I have a strange one. I do not compulsively or stress eat. In fact I have a terrible time eating when I don't feel hungry. I was a picky eater as a kid; thank goodness Riley did not inherit that. I became increasingly adventurous about food once I left home. I imagine it's a holdover from people aggressively trying to cure my pickiness or mistaking my small statue for malnourishment, but I cannot stand "food bullies."
It makes me crazy when people force food on me. I understand asking more than once, but no means no folks. It's hard to be polite when someone heaps food you know you won't eat after you've politely told them so. I eat until I feel full and then I stop that's all there is to it. With the exception of desserts. It just takes less to fill me up, I guess.
Overtly bullying someone into taking food they couldn't possibly finish is one thing, but there's also the sneaky bullies. The ones who know your food preferences and sneak things you don't like in to "see if you'll notice". For some reason every guy I ever dated has tried it. I always know. I have a very good nose which makes my palette pretty knowledgeable. I am also not a child insisting I don't like something because I heard someone else say it. I am a grown-up and I have some foods I don't like, just like everyone else. Grumble.
The aunt that insisted I couldn't leave the table until I clear my plate only encouraged me not to try new things. If I tried something and didn't like it I'd be sitting at the table well past the next mealtime with it. I have two very good eaters. In fact Isaac used to get rather emotional when he couldn't clean his plate (I mean licked clean). I have never had to force vegetables on my kids. Instead, I often tell Isaac "you don't have to eat anything you don't like, it's ok." This wouldn't have worked with picky little me, but he needs to know it's ok and continues to eat very well.
