Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
    
How can I avoid arguing with my child over food every time we sit down to eat?
식탁에서 음식가지고 애들과 싸우지 않으려면 어떡해야 하나요?

For many families, sitting down for a meal together often means fighting over food — what's on the menu, who's eating (or not eating) what and how much. But who wants that night after night? To avoid mealtime squabbles, try not to talk about food at the table. Merely serve the meal without comment. Of course, if your child is a picky eater, holding your tongue can require a lot of restraint. But your child will benefit in the long run if you don't harp on his eating habits throughout the meal. "It's your child's decision whether or not to eat, what to eat from what is being offered, and how much of it," says Nancy Hudson, a registered dietitian at the University of California at Berkeley.
음식을 강제로 먹이지 말고 식탁에선 음식에 대한 얘기를 절대로 하지 마세요.

But what do I do if my child refuses to eat what I serve?
하지만 내가 주는 음식을 먹지 않으면 어떡하죠?

Your mom may have rewarded you for cleaning your plate with a bowl of ice cream after dinner, but that just taught you that veggies were the punishment and dessert was the reward. Instead, try this approach: Serve at least one food you know your kid likes; don't discuss eating habits; and clear the table when the meal is over — even if your child doesn't eat all his food. If he wants dessert, give it to him without much fanfare, but vary what you serve — some nights dessert is ice cream, some nights it's fruit.
그래도 그걸 먹으면 맛있는 디저트를 준다든지 해서 음식은 벌이고 디저트는 상이라는 인식을 주지 마세요. 음식을 먹든 말든 다양한 디저트를 주세요.

How can I tell if my child is eating well enough?
그래서야 애가 먹을 만큼 먹었는지 어떻게 알죠?

Remember that ultimately, your child is the one in control over what he puts into his body. If you decide for your child when he's hungry or when he's had enough to eat, "He won't learn to recognize when he's hungry and when he's done, and you're setting him up for eating problems later, such as obesity, overeating, or controlling food," says Hudson. "Children are amazingly good at self-regulation. They may eat almost nothing one day, and then the next day they eat a ton of food." But when you look at their consumption over a week or a month's time, they do a pretty good job of getting what they need from different food groups — as long as you offer them a variety from which to choose. So, pull up a chair, relax, and try to enjoy your meal. If you do, your child will, too.
필요한 양은 애가 알아서 결정할테니 그렇게 걱정하지 않아도 됩니다. 강제로 먹이면 애가 음식조절에 대해 배울 수가 없게 됩니다. 당신이 음식을 즐기면 애도 그렇게 될겁니다.


"With all due respect, this article sounds like the author never had a child...."
애 키워본 적이 없는 사람이 쓴 글이군.

"This article suggest I serve the desert "without much fanfare" whether or not he eats his food. Well not in my house!..."
디저트를 그냥 주라고? 다른 집은 몰라도 우리 집은 아니야!

"I think that this article is missing the point and the big picture.Children need to meet basic nutritional needs. If your child only wantswhite rice at every meal advice like "your child will determine whatand how much" is absurd. Children need to be taught why it is importantto eat right and making the right foods taste good is easier than thecommercials would have you believe. Picky eaters should be givenincentives to eat right - that is what will benefit them in the longrun. A laissez faire method to teaching your children about eatingleads to health problems."
그럼 애가 좋아하는 음식 하나만 계속 먹으라고? 애들은 음식을 선택하는 데 있어 맛보다 중요한 게 있다는 걸 배워야 해. 방임은 아니지.

"...taking the plate away at the end of dinner and covering it and puttingit in the fridge (this is if they barely ate dinner). If they arehungry in an hour (which often times they are) they get to finishdinner."
다 안 먹으면 그냥 냉장고에 넣었다가 한 시간 후에 다시 먹였더니 잘만 먹던데?

"...IfI'm serving something for the first time and he absolutely refuses totaste it, then I try again the next time I serve it."
안 먹으면 먹을 때까지 줘. ㅡ.ㅡ;;

"I don't agree with this article. If we do not make our kids eat theirvegtables, they will never try them and therefore never learn to likethem...."
애가 채소를 스스로 먹길 기다리다간 영영 맛도 못 보게 될텐데?

"Are you telling me that i should give my 3 1/2 year old son dessert ifhe doesn't eat his dinner night after night? meal after meal? idisagree. if he chooses not to eat, he has to sit quietly throughdinner and not have any dessert. we don't have dessert every night tobegin with, so its not a reward for eating dinner. its a sometimestreat, just like birthday cake or the occasional lollipop."
나더러 애가 밥을 다 안 먹어도 디저트를 주라고? 매끼마다? 동의 할 수 없어. 밥 안 먹으면 디저트도 없는 거고 더구나 우리 집에 항상 디저트가 있는 것도 아니라서 매끼마다 보상으로 줄 수도 없어. (짱이야 ㅡ.ㅡb)

"I completely disagree with allowing desert if dinner is not eaten. Thisis teaching the child he or she can bypass dinner and still get thatlate evening snack, which is not a good habit in my opinion. Dinner iswhen dinner is served. If a child does not want to eat, then breakfastis in the morning. This strategy has worked wonders for my 4-yr-old andour dinnertime."
저녁은 저녁 때, 아침은 아침에 먹는 거지. 후식은 밥 다 먹고 먹는 거고.

"This article is so true. It is their decision. We adopted this newapproach and my 3 yr old will recite the rule back to me about it beingher decision. I found when I went to this approach rather than theconstant negotiating of how many bites my daughter needed to eat beforeshe could get a treat, my meal was so much more enjoyable - and so washers. She will in fact turn down the tempting cupcake because she justisn't hungry. I never thought that would happen...."
글대로 해봤더니 우리 애는 음식을 더 잘 먹더군. 오히려 배가 불러 후식을 줄일 정도야. 세상에 이런 일이... (위 방법이 아주 틀린 건 아닌 듯.)

"...In the article it says they know when they have had enough to eat, butmy daughter will say she is full and 2 mins later wants a snack eventhough she didn't finish her dinner...."
윗 글에선 애가 얼마나 먹을지 안다고 했는데, 우리 딸은 밥 먹기 시작한 지 2분 만에 배부르다고 하고선 후식을 요구하는데...

주욱.. 이런 얘기들... ㅡ.ㅡ;
역시 밥 먹이기는 쉽지 않아. 그래도 한 번 시도해볼까? 가뭄에 콩나듯 성공했다는 사람이 있긴 하니까.
재미있는 건 아래 <아이를 스포일하지 않는 법>과 방법이 정반대라는 것. ㅡ.ㅡ;