Moderately Confused by Jeff Stahler for March 20, 2021

I happily cleaned my plate at Grandma’s house…

My Grandma had ways of cooking cholesterol that would make your heart cry…

Try Grandma’s broccoli flavoured ice cream.

Mom was like that. A child of middle income post-Victorian era parents who had strict rules about food, she made up the menu, served what she prepared, and she expected me to eat everything on the plate. To this day, my wife smiles when I finish off the last bit of whatever on my plate. And we always got a laugh when Mom visited and she heard my wife asking our sons what they wanted for dinner. I NEVER heard of such a thing!! Asking children what they want for dinner!! She was a fun mom.

My grandparents came from Poland where a meal on the table every night was not guaranteed. My parents were children of the Great Depression: ditto.

So I was raised in a house where to waste food was a sacrilege.

I had friends of various ethnicities. It did not matter if they were Irish, Italian or Jewish; all their grandmothers used the same three-syllable word at mealtime, “eateateat” and it didn’t matter if English was not their primary language – they knew that much English to shout at the kids.

Now, thanks to Tupperware, freezers and microwave ovens, I no longer feel compelled to finish all the food that is prepared. The other day I had a lunch that consisted of a chicken sandwich, and about 4 forkfuls each of sweet potatoes, corn and spinach.

I also have a recipe for “hot dog stew” made from bits and ends of cheese (with the mold removed) and various left-over kinds of macaroni and a few other odds and ends found in the refrigerator. My kids and their friends loved it.

About once a week or every two weeks, my wife and I play a game called “clean out the refrigerator.” It makes for the most interesting meals.

I have been lucky. I have never known hunger except by my own choice or very temporary circumstances. It has never been a chronic condition for me or my family. I know people for whom this is not true.

Meanwhile, across the street at Grandpa’s Cafe, “Eat your dessert first”.

I taught my kids to eat what they had on their plates and they still do, along with my 4 yr old grandaughter. My daughter in law doesn’t and has taught her kids the same. I take their leftovers for my dogs!

A variation of Hansel and Gretel.

Dogs need dog food.

Some believe that the parental edict to eat everything on your plate has done more to foster obesity than any other admonition. To maintain proper weight, the trick is to stop eating when you are no longer hungry and not continue because you are bored or you must clean up your plate.

That’s more like Mom’s Diner, Grandma aren’t so strict.

My Mom famously told my two boys when she was watching them, “If you don’t finish your ice cream, you can’t have any candy”.

Should be “Mother’s Diner”

I once asked my waiter at a Chinese restaurant for some more white rice and pointed at my plate and he said: “you no finish what’s on your plate yet”.

As my kids were growing up, I asked them to at least try new things. If they honestly tried it, and didn’t like it, I was fine with it. I just didn’t want to hear “I don’t like that,” if they had never tried it.