When you were a kid, how many times did your parents tell you to "Clean your plate?"

They might have told you there were starving children in Africa, or that you wouldn't get dessert unless you finished.

It turns out that being a member of the clean plate club in childhood could, later in life. Earn you a membership in overeaters anonymous.

Researchers at Cornell University found that preschoolers whose parents regularly forced them to clean their plates asked for bigger portions of sweet cereal at snack time. In other words, they lost the ability to control their own portion sizes.

The researchers say, instead of forcing your kids to eat everything on their plates, start them off with smaller portions and a bigger variety of foods. Then let them decide if they're hungry enough for more.

Try it, and your kids will benefit in the long run—and you'll benefit in the short run by making meals a bit more peaceful.