Bonn - "Clean your plate" might be a well-intentioned command, but it is harmful to many children.

It's much more important that children learn flexible control of their eating habits and maintain a healthy sense of when they are hungry and when they are full, according to Germany's consumer information service in Bonn.

For these reasons parents should tell their children, "Take only as much as you would like to eat." This rule is especially important when food is plentiful and the prevailing lifestyle is short on activity.

Forcing a child to eat foods he or she doesn't like can be counterproductive. In worst cases it can lead to an eating disorder, the consumer information service said. It's better to let a small child try a little and decide themselves.

If necessary, the child can be allowed to skip a meal or simply have a slice of bread or piece of fruit if he doesn't like what's on the table. Substituting sweets for nutritious food is taboo. Missing a meal is not a problem and happens simply because children sometimes are not hungry. Their appetites can vary depending on the type of day they are having, their temperament and the amount of activity they have had. (dpa)