Not only are you what you eat, but the way that you eat can also tell others a lot about your personality. If you want to get further insight into your children's personalities, all you have to do is keep a close eye on how they eat their food. The following three factors are often used by behavioral food experts to determine what a person's personality may be.
The Rate They Eat
While some people take a tremendously long time to eat, others scarf up their food within minutes. Surprisingly, the rate at which your children eat can tell you a lot about their personalities. Those who take the time to eat slowly tend to like to have more control over their lives but also tend to appreciate life more. On the other hand, those who eat quickly tend to be more goal-oriented. Still, behavioral food experts have found that the speed at which people consume their food correlates with how much enjoyment they get. Those who eat slowly simply appreciate the flavors of the dishes more.
If you're watching a young kid eat quickly, you might want to slow them down a bit. This will allow them to learn how to enjoy the little things in life.
The Way They Organize Their Plate
Another interesting thing that you can pick up from your children's learning habits comes from how they organize their food. Those who like to keep each food item separate on the plate with equal amount of space between the items tend to be more organized and disciplined. On the other hand, those who overlap their foods and let them spill into one another are known to be more free-spirited. This can give you some insight as to why your children may act a certain way.
Whether They Eat Off of Other People's Plates
Some children are more likely to eat off of other people's plate when they see something they like. For example, they might see that a sibling has some fried chicken on their plate and reach over to grab it. While sharing is caring, children who exhibit this type of behavior tend to develop boundary issues and often feel entitled. It's generally a good idea to nip this behavior in the bud and also explain to your children the concept of boundaries and personal space.
Conclusion
Subtly adjusting certain behaviors exhibited when eating can also slowly change your child's behavior. You can use the things that you learn from a food personality test from a company such as PK Newby to better understand your children and their little quirks.