---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In general my children refuse to eat…"
description: "\"In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television.\" — Erma Bombeck"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png"
---

#  In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't…

![“In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television.” quote by Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png)

> “In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television.”

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Children are depicted as being heavily influenced by television, refusing to eat anything not seen on screen.

**In simple terms:** Kids mimic TV trends in food choices.

Key Takeaway

Encourage healthy eating beyond media influence.

Themes

family media influence nutrition

Mood

humorous observational

Type

family social commentary

When to use this quote

- parenting
- school cafeterias
- marketing campaigns

Key Concepts

consumer behavior child development media studies

Questions to Reflect On

- How does media shape your family’s habits?
- What strategies promote balanced diets?

A Different Perspective

It may exaggerate for comedic effect.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-refuse-1762168/) [General Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-children-1762169/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Eat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-eat-742639/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/)

## Related quotes

> [In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced in television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-anything-that-hasn-t-danced-in/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [Children refuse to compromise. Adults learn how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/children-refuse-to-compromise-adults-learn-how/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-hirschfeld/artists-are-just-children-who-refuse-to-put-down-their-crayons/)

[Al Hirschfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-hirschfeld/)

> [I refuse to eat animals because I cannot nourish myself by the sufferings and by the death of other creatures. I refuse to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sztybel/i-refuse-to-eat-animals-because-i-cannot-nourish-myself-by-the/)

[David Sztybel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sztybel/)

> [In life we sit at the table and refuse to eat, and in death we are eternally hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/in-life-we-sit-at-the-table-and-refuse-to-eat-and-in-death-we-are/)

[Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/)

> [I refuse to eat a fried egg if the white is still runny or transparent. I really can't be doing it. I always have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/i-refuse-to-eat-a-fried-egg-if-the-white-is-still-runny-or/)

[Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/)

> [I refuse to eat fuckin' cantaloupe at a bachelor party. -Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-hangover-2/i-refuse-to-eat-fuckin-cantaloupe-at-a-bachelor-party-phil/)

[The Hangover 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-hangover-2/)

> [“One cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstin-chen/one-cannot-refuse-to-eat-just-because-there-is-a-chance-of-being/)

[Kirstin Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstin-chen/)

> [I've been on the wrong end of violence, and I've done violence myself... I refuse to glorify violence in my movie and television roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/i-ve-been-on-the-wrong-end-of-violence-and-i-ve-done-violence-myself/)

[James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/)

> [Television deprives children of their imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-isaac-rubin/television-deprives-children-of-their-imaginations/)

[Theodore Isaac Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-isaac-rubin/)

> [Tonight theres a new reality show on Fox: Fast Animals, Slow Children. -Peter Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/family-guy/tonight-theres-a-new-reality-show-on-fox-fast-animals-slow-children/)

[Family Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/family-guy/)

> [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [I would never refuse to work with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-would-never-refuse-to-work-with-anybody/)

[Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/)

[William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/)

## More by Erma Bombeck

> [Cats invented self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/cats-invented-self-esteem/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [To my way of thinking, the American family started to decline when parents began to communicate with their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-american-family-started-to-decline-when/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [The woman who says, 'My kids are all speaking to one another and they love us' is a psychopathic liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-woman-who-says-my-kids-are-all-speaking-to-one-another-and-they/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [The term 'working mother' is redundant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-term-working-mother-is-redundant/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [To say, "Well, I write when I really get into it" is a bunch of bull. Put the paper in the typewriter, stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-say-well-i-write-when-i-really-get-into-it-is-a-bunch-of-bull-put/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [I used everything you gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-used-everything-you-gave-me/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [Just think of all those women on the Titanic who said, 'No thank you' to desert that night. And for what?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/just-think-of-all-those-women-on-the-titanic-who-said-no-thank-you-to/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [The mole rat is the only rodent born without a fur coat. With a good lawyer, someone would pay for that little oversight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-mole-rat-is-the-only-rodent-born-without-a-fur-coat-with-a-good/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [God created man, but I could do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/god-created-man-but-i-could-do-better/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [If the nest is truly empty, who owns all this junk?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/if-the-nest-is-truly-empty-who-owns-all-this-junk/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [Housework, if it is done properly, can cause brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/housework-if-it-is-done-properly-can-cause-brain-damage/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [Making coffee has become the great compromise of the decade. It's the only thing "real" men do that doesn't seem to threaten their masculinity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/making-coffee-has-become-the-great-compromise-of-the-decade-it-s-the/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy: Seize the Moment. Just possibly, she may be the wisest woman on this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-have-a-friend-who-lives-by-a-three-word-philosophy-seize-the-moment/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/when-i-stand-before-god-at-the-end-of-my-life-i-would-hope-that-i/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [Before we sent kids to computer camps and told them they were having a good time, there was imagination among the human species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/before-we-sent-kids-to-computer-camps-and-told-them-they-were-having/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

[Explore all 372 Erma Bombeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

## More Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Erma Bombeck"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-anything-that-hasn-t-danced-on/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-anything-that-hasn-t-danced-on/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/erma-bombeck-780_children_in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-any_555050.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In general my children refuse to eat anything that hasn't danced on television.” — Erma Bombeck",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Erma Bombeck",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In general my children refuse to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-anything-that-hasn-t-danced-on/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/in-general-my-children-refuse-to-eat-anything-that-hasn-t-danced-on/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
