How much do your children eat?

Claire76 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 08:54

Finlay is constantly hungry and I mean constantly! Has been for months and months, always asking for "something else" when to me he's already eaten loads and couldn't possibly be hungry anymore.

As an adult, if I'm hungry then I'll get myself something and certainly wouldn't have someone tell me I've had enough and not allow me to eat what I want, when I want, so just wondering if your children are the same and do you let them eat when they want throughout the day or do you kerb what they're having?

I do get to a point where I say no, that's enough now, you've eaten loads but am wondering if I'm actually wrong for doing this, cos if he's hungry then he's hungry so not really fair for me to say no, is it??

Bubba82 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 09:00

as you know Franky is a pain with eating atm but seems to snack through the day

i've kinda realised he just doesn't want to have to sit down and eat, he'd rather eat on the go

If Mia asks for food then i just give her something unless we're getting close to lunch or dinner time and i'll tell her she has to wait for dinner, but sometimes she says she's hungry so i ask what she wants and she says juice, do you think maybe he's getting hunger & thirst confussed? i know us adults do

Claire76 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 09:03

He drinks as much as he eats

so no, not thirsty

Just a growing lad but he's eating me out of house and home!! xx

EvansMum · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 09:27

Evan is exactly the same. Constantly eating, telling me hes still hungry, he wants something else. Most of the time I will let him have something to eat because he only has little things like raisins, grapes, a cheese string etc, but it does get to the point where you have to say that enough is enough.

I remember watching a programme that Jo Frost done a while back where she was saying that kids these days eat ALOT more than what we did when we were young. Portion sizes are alot bigger than what they used to be and children have alot more snacks, but they dont need it. I think it is probably more boredam eating than anything.

I also watched on one of her Supernanny programs where the kids had a snack jar and each morning they had to choose 3 snacks to go in the jar and then they could eat them whenever they wanted but once they were gone that was it, no more. I did this with Evan for a while because when he was at nursery the amount he was eating was just ridiculous but have stopped it now though. maybe i should start it up again really. That might be worth a try though?

acad · #5 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 09:43

My girls eat for England

, we still do snacks in-between meals, and if we have friends over then they have more then usual, if they are constant then it's crackers/breadsticks.

Claire76 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 10:33

Yeah what he's having isn't unhealthy stuff just to clarify. Some things not so good in terms of sugar like fruit bars and cereal bars but I think that's better than crisps and chocolate anyway so I'm not fussed about that and certainly not worried about obesity, he's very skinny, active and healthy and I limit the amount of "junk" he has in a week. He mainly snacks on fruit/raisins/cheese/breadsticks/rice cakes/toast/dry cereal etc.

Was more just wondering whether I'm right to tell him no that's enough, or am I taking away his right to eat when hungry iyswim? I can't know if he really is hungry or not so if I'm saying no when he is actually hungry is that not wrong? He always still eats his meals so not affecting that either. Hard to know really isn't it? How do you know if they are legitimately hungry or not

and even if he's not, do I have the right to withhold food? Should I be just giving him 3 meals a day and that's it, no matter what

Snack jar might be a good idea......

logans_mum · #7 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 12:30

Could he be having a growth spurt? I know when my two are really hungry because I will only offer them fruit in between meal/snack times and they don't want it unless they're really hungry. A lot of the time they're just testing to see what they can get! lol

logans_mum · #8 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 12:33

Mine get 3 meals a day plus a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If they're hungry in between it's an apple or banana. What about increasing portion size at meal times or does he already eat a lot then?

mrsharvey · #9 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 12:46

Jess would eat all day if she could

now she has 2 snacks a day and 3 meals Sophie is the same x

Claire76 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-03-11, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by logans_mum

Mine get 3 meals a day plus a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If they're hungry in between it's an apple or banana. What about increasing portion size at meal times or does he already eat a lot then?

He already has generous portion sizes, he just eats and eats!!

Think I might give the snack jar idea a go maybe and try and cut him down on what he's eating. Just wasn't sure if I was being mean by refusing to let him eat constantly when he might be genuinely hungry