The FRENCH RULES FOR FEEDING CHILDREN

[mcmich]

That's interesting Wonder. I was always taught to put my folk upside down on the plate to indicate you had finished your meal.

[CreamPuff63]

very similar to Wonder actually. Was taught knife and fork together to indicate that we'd finished eating, and to rest the knife and fork on opposite sides of the plate whilst taking a break or having a long chew. Growing up, mum always served the meal on the plate but even now she has changed to putting everything in the middle and people take what they want. We were taught to chew with our mouth closed, and I have a funny vision of my brother laughing with a big mouth full of mashed potato or whatever. He used to like to shock at the table. When he was very little he wouldn't want to eat and so he had to sit at the table until he'd finished. Very stubborn, and then he'd pretend to fall off the chair with great drama. I think mum gave up on that idea after that antic. We also weren't allowed to start eating until mum sat down.

[judydawn]

That's interesting Wonder. I was always taught to put my folk upside down on the plate to indicate you had finished your meal.

Gosh that must have been a big plate Michele 

[Emme]

That's interesting Wonder. I was always taught to put my folk upside down on the plate to indicate you had finished your meal.

Same here Mcmich, the knife with the blade facing inward toward the centre of the plate,and the fork with the prongs facing downwards alongside the knife.  At exam time we were split into two groups and had to cook a 3 course meal and also serve the meal to staff and the other group.  We were marked on the food, presentation, and the serving of the food to  the guest. From memory it was soup to the right side, mains to the left and plates taken away from the right etc.   Quite often a teacher would not finish her meal but leaving some food on the plate we would have to watch to see if the fork had been placed downward, if so, we would remove the plate.  We would lose marks if we did not do things correctly. 

Marie

[Mama Fergie]

We grew up with the food in the middle of the table and we had to serve ourselves . When finished knives and forks together or when taking a break on opposite sides of the plate.
Now when we are altogether I serve the food on the table for everyone to share but I serve beforehand for the little ones to make it easier as too any of them to serve as we have 21 of us not enough space at one table.

Not only that but my kids all grew up eating what we were having and like it or lump it.
Most of the time it worked. Ok all of them had something they didn't really like but they had to eat it or miss out.
Was a blessing in the end as none of them are fussy eaters and are happy to eat 'almost but not everything'  as that is nearly impossible.
Fussy kids  in my opinion have parents that don't feed them everything because they think the kids won't like it.

[CreamPuff63]

Fussy kids  in my opinion have parents that don't feed them everything because they think the kids won't like it.

Thats it

[obbie]

Ditto MF