Help with child's eating

Miss_Cinnabon

Felicity wrote: »

Hi, I am going through the same thing at the moment, albeit with a toddler.

He will eat 2 weetabix for breakfast, then nearly an adults portion of (spag bog, chilli and rice, fish with potatoes and veg etc.) for lunch and the same for tea.

After lunch he is constantly asking for more food so I start with cherry tomatoes (he would eat half a punnet), then a large rice cake, then an apple, then a banana. Plus lots of fluids as sometimes that can confuse children (as well as adults) ie they don't know if they are hungry or thirsty.

If he wants to eat I let him but it all has to be healthy and stuff (outside of his main meals) with not much fat and not too many calories in it.

He is a healthy weight so I just keep feeding him!

Have you tried restricting him to the fruit bowl as somebody else mentioned, or snacks such as carrot sticks, tomatoes etc?

he loves his tomatoes, often pinches them from fridge! always got healthy foods on hand and only have chocs/sweeties in house as a treat, he is even pinching my sons dextrose tablets! which is not on as my eldest requires these if he has a hypo

lawz21

Hi,

I was just wondering if he's drinking enough? Sometimes we confuse thirst with hunger. Maybe make him drink some water if he says he's hungry (and you know he's just eaten) and if he still hungry then give him some food.

Miss_Cinnabon

yes he drinks loads, at one point we had to get him checked out for diabetes, had to ask our eldest son's consultant for advice, he still drinks loads, will have a drink then want another then another

Milsey-Girl

Hi Princess

My youngest daughter (almost 6) has a very healthy appetite and will often have 3 or 4 bowls of cereal in the morning. She is though, very active and enjoys lots of fruit snacks throughout the day and loves her vegetables so is very slim. I have noticed with her though that she sometimes asks for food when she is bored - if it's a nice day and she's out playing a lot she barely mentions food but if we're indoors and I'm busy and her elder sister is unable to play with her, she constantly asks for something to eat or when the next meal is.

I'm assuming your son isn't at school yet? I wonder if it's just become a bit of a habit with him and when he starts school and is busy doing other things his mind will think about food less?

Good luck.

x

jenhug

my daughter (7) is the same, she is very tall and slim but how I don't know because she eats LOADS.

I find if she has something like pasta for breakfast (i know, weird, but she is also fussy!) it does keep her fuller than breakfast cereal.

You could try him on porridge with a chopped banana mixed in, its great for energy and keeps me full up all morning I know that!

Do you find he has constant energy? My friend has a son with ADHD, may be worth a look as he was much like this.

Miss_Cinnabon

yeah constant energy but not adhd, just a lively 4 year old:rolleyes:

he didnt eat much lunch, was picking at it mainly, did go back to it though, demolished off a plate and a half of macaroni cheese for tea (his fave) keeps asking for yoghurts and was getting annoyed when i kept saying no, he gets snack mid morning and mid afternoon too

hasnt been too bad today, just so tiring having to distract him all the time, hoping tomorrow will be a good day