Opposites attract?

Kairi and Alex are exact opposites in a lot of regards. Kairi is high-maintenance yet independent. Alex is easy-going but always wants to be with you. I have to trick Kairi into giving me a hug -- Alex gives them out like their candy. Kairi is not a bread fan (unless it's either a club cracker or a cinnamon graham cracker) preferring most meats and pasta over all other choices. Alex does not appreciate meat, rarely likes pasta, but instead craves bread and crackers. Of course they do have things in common, but the majority of things go in this direction. Their opposite opinions on food are so distinct that Chris and I have joked on more than one occasion that we should just make one plate for the two of them, and then they each can eat what they'd like. It'd make for no fighting over food and their plates just might be emptied for a change by the end of the meal.

Recently, I've been more and more surprised by their plates after lunch, though. Typically, we start the meal all eating together. Then after I'm finished with my food, I take my plate to the sink and go get their beds ready for naps. I come back just in time to find both kids getting down from the table with near-empty plates. I've been in shock -- when did they starting eating all their food, or even the same thing?

Today my question was answered.

I was walking out of Kairi's room and into Alex's when suddenly Kairi ran straight into my legs. She was babbling in a very upset tone about her fork, but speaking so quickly that I had no idea what she was talking about. Finally she drug me into the room and pointed to Alex. He had two forks and one plate. And then Kairi finally, slowly, spits out what she was telling me:

"Mommy! Awex and me trade food! But I gib him my fork and he no gib me his! I need a fork!"

I look closer at the plates. When I left the room, all of Alex's chicken and broccoli were gone, but his pasta and corn had been on his plate. Kairi had eaten all of her pasta and corn, but had left her broccoli and chicken. Suddenly, Alex had tons of broccoli and chicken again, and Kairi had just pasta and corn. They had traded plates!

I have a feeling that this has become a regular occurrence. They're trading plates when I leave the room so that they both get what they like to eat.


Now I have to decide whether or not this is worth putting an end to. On one hand, they need to eat what I serve, and if they don't like it then they can not eat -- that's always been my philosophy and I'm not stepping down. But on the other hand -- they're not starving and trying to demand a snack as soon as they get up when they do this.

I know that there's absolutely no way that Chris would allow this to happen at supper. So do I pretend that I still don't notice that they're doing this so that they can get away with it?

Hmmm... Decisions decisions. I have no idea what to do. Input?