child eating issues at wits end

moomoomama27

Once any medical conditions have been ruled out I would personally I would talk to a nutrionalist, Childrens nutriotional needs can be very different to adults, so it would be best to speak to a professional who can maybe give him a diet plan with foods that will keep him fuller longer!?

One thing, is he bored, do you keep him active, or are you indoors alot? Alot of children, mine included often keep on about food when they are bored. Could you try a distraction technique? When he asks for food, get out his favourite book, or sit down and colour, or go for a walk??

mummyofboys

No he is only really in on a monday.. we go to visit people on a tuesday nan ect and go to the park, wed, thurs, fri he is at nursery saturday we either go to relatives or out for the day and sunday he goes to a football class

MrsRogers

Sorry for 2nd post......

Talking about the protein reminded me of an article I read some time ago regarding Addiction to Carbohydrates.

I am not a doctor but maybe worth doing more research into. Here is a couple of links I have quickly found

http://www.answers.com/topic/description-of-the-carbohydrate-addict-s-diet
http://www.carbohydrateaddicts.com/cadfnd.html

There is no medical test to indicate carbohydrate addiction so the Hellers developed a self-administered quiz to determine if a person is a carbohydrate addict. The quiz, which is available in their books and on their Website, asks ten “yes” or “no” questions. They are:

Are you hungry before lunch even if you’ve had a full breakfast?
Is it hard to stop eating starches, snack foods, junk food, or sweets?
Do you feel unsatisfied despite having just finished a meal?
Does seeing, smelling, or thinking of food make you want to eat?
Do you eat when you are not hungry?
Do you snack at night?
Are you lethargic after a big meal?
Are you tired and/or hungry in the afternoon without a reason to be?
Do you continue to eat even when you are full?

mummyofboys

Thanks for all of your advice I will collect the blood form tomorrow and take him and await there results, in the meantime I will try and not make any refference to it infront of him. I will research more into the carb thing, and try and mix up some different lunches, I think I may keep a food diary and how he is after different meals... Maybe helpful for me and the health visitor.

iamana1ias

jay_mi10 wrote: »

The High carb thing is really intresting.. sorry if I sound thick but is there any pointers as to what I can add? I do try and mix things up and give meat at least every evening meal... He does also have alot of sandwitches at lunch... How can I improve any tips would be great..

off the top of my head:


for breakfast:
Scrambled egg and wholemeal toast
Boiled eggs and soldiers

lunches:
soups with beans and pulses
fish fingers with baked beans
pitta bread with tuna and salad
sardines on wholemeal toast
ham and eggs

snacks:
veggie sticks/cherry tomatoes with cheese cubes
hummous and veggie sticks
celery sticks with peanut butter/philadelphia
yogurt/fromage frais (not low fat)

Tish_P

A food diary is a really good idea, it will help the health visitor understand immediately that you are not depriving him.

"Carbohydrate addiction" sounds really dodgy I'm afraid, like a way to sell a fad diet book. Humans need carbohydrates and your son seemed to be eating good balanced meals, although if there is anything wrong or missing the health visitor will pick up on it from the diary.

snugglepet20

nickyhutch wrote: »

No, it isn't. It's fine to lock things away, especially if there's a risk to the child, which, in this case (sneaking down at night alone, choking risk) there is. Locking stuff away (and not just food) is a way of setting boundaries.

I think what OP is doing is fine but I do have a friend who's health visitor practically accused her of child abuse for keeping her austistic child out of the kitchen for similar safety reasons. The health visitor told her that she should never lock her child out of anywhere and to sleep on the floor outside his room. I think it was bad advice. She was very upset and felt like a bad Mum because of it and I did not want OP to get the same treatment.

iamana1ias

Tish_P wrote: »

Animal protein is not the only protein. Beans, pulses and grains, including rice and wheat, contain protein. I think that menu looks very healthy.

edited to add: I'm not saying it isn't worth a go providing the higher protein foods suggested above. Just that "porridge contains next to no protein" is false. Oats are close to 20% protein, and if the porridge is made with milk that adds even more.

Oats are 11% protein and 62% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate's effect on the body (ie raising blood sugar) overshadows the protein content quite considerably.

Wheat and rice are never good sources of protein when compared with other food products, including beans and pulses.

iamana1ias

Tish_P wrote: »

A food diary is a really good idea, it will help the health visitor understand immediately that you are not depriving him.

"Carbohydrate addiction" sounds really dodgy I'm afraid, like a way to sell a fad diet book. Humans need carbohydrates and your son seemed to be eating good balanced meals, although if there is anything wrong or missing the health visitor will pick up on it from the diary.

Not in the levels eaten by most in the western diet these days.

I wonder whether cavemen suffered an obesity epidemic :think:

Tish_P

Perhaps you should pop over and correct the USDA nutrient database then, iamana1ias.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl