Children that are allowed to eat/graze constantly?

Gillyx

I have a 15 month old and he has 3 meals a day and a snack. Large portions though. I tried the grazing but it didn't work for him as he was filling himself up with snacky bits (fruit and crackers) and then not even trying his main meals.

He has 3 weetabix or a large bowl of porridge and a slice of toast for breakfast. For lunch he'l have a light meal, omelette, scrambled eggs, small portion of bolognese, soup, savoury rice. Fruit for afters and a yogurt. For dinner he'l have a good sized portion of whatever we eat followed by fruit and a yogurt. Mid afternoon he tends to have a cereal bar/raisins/small biscuit.

He doesn't have any milk anymore to drink either as he doesn't want it.

onlyroz

My kids get cereal and fruit for breakfast, and then nothing until lunch. They'll get a snack mid-afternoon (which would be something like a pack of mini-chedders, some fruit, or a portion of raisins) and then dinner. After dinner they're allowed either sweets, chocolate or crisps (just one of the three) and then if they still bleat about being hungry they can have as some fruit before bed. I might occasionally provide a pud, but that would be something like icecream.

But I certainly don't allow them to graze all day long - anything they are given has to be asked for politely, and I then judge what to give depending on how close we are to the next meal, or how much of the previous meal they ate.

pesky85

Robin_TBW wrote: »

I don't like the word punnet. Bleurgh.

LOL! Ok, tray of fruit

pigpen

securityguy wrote: »

I can't imagine what spending an extra four to five hundred quid a month would look like.

Next time I get a Tesco delivery I'll take a pic for you! lol.

I actually have 2 fridges (the small one is full of various medicines and treats/food the cannot help themselves to) the 6ft one is full of fruit and veg and milk and sauces and cheese and ham and bacon and leftovers and stuff they can help themselves too.

I have 3 freezers.. the small one is full of meat and little else, the big kitchen one has opened packets/bags/boxes, frozen leftovers (freezer surprise) HM babyfood and freezer crap, fish fingers burgers etc.

the outside freezer has extra bacon, bread, meat and treats (it keeps them safe)

I have a 7ft larder unit full of tins/packets/jars etc
1 corner unit full of cereal and squash.

neverdespairgirl

My 7 year old son has cereal for breakfast during the week, an apple at break time at school, packed lunch, dinner in the evening, and snack before bedtime - usually matza bread and chopped carrots.

He needs more than just 3 meals a day, so he has a couple of snacks as well. He eats a huge amount, but is pretty slim, so obviously needs it.

victory

That is a huge weekly bill:eek:

What I don't understand is why a child would need 2/3 bowls of cereal for breakfast?

My boys have 1 bowl of cereal, usually porridge, nothing much until lunch, in the afternoon it is always bananas or apple but never a punnet all to themselves, can't afford that, grapes and strawberries would be eaten the second they arrived in the house but no, a little here and there not a whole punnet.

After dinner it is yogs or fruit sometimes some toast and that is about it. Digestives or popcorn if it is cinema night,sweets at the weekend.

I agree if there is endless sweets/crisps/biscuits they will eat it all day long.

My kids have always asked if they can have so and so above and beyond what has been given already otherwise how could keep track of what you have/what to get/what has gone, it's not a free for all

geelamch

We let kids eat as they want.remember growing up hungry all day.probaly not a bad thing lol.kids are 6foot plus ,look healthy and full of energy so maybe letting them graze is a god thing.

pigpen

bumbledore wrote: »

That isn't good for their blood sugar or to regulate their appetite. Surely you should be giving regular meals and snacks if needed rather than allowing your children to eat a huge breakfast?

Why does a 2 year old need 2-3 bowls of cereal, you need to put your foot down so they wont just eat everything like that and develop a more healthier appetite. !

And you'd know what about children?

Actually, according to my sons diabetes consultant his blood sugars are perfect and his long term blood tests are better than most people without diabetes so it is actually very good for his blood sugars and his 14 year old appetite.

For your education.. it is very common that small children have a time of day they eat vast quantities and they eat very little for the rest of the day. When one of my childrens is anything other than a perfect weight for their height I'll let you cast judgement. In fact the 2 y/o is underweight slightly for her vast height, so she will eat as much as she likes for any meal, and if she wants food in between she will get it.

valk_scot

pigpen wrote: »

Next time I get a Tesco delivery I'll take a pic for you! lol.

I actually have 2 fridges (the small one is full of various medicines and treats/food the cannot help themselves to) the 6ft one is full of fruit and veg and milk and sauces and cheese and ham and bacon and leftovers and stuff they can help themselves too.

I have 3 freezers.. the small one is full of meat and little else, the big kitchen one has opened packets/bags/boxes, frozen leftovers (freezer surprise) HM babyfood and freezer crap, fish fingers burgers etc.

the outside freezer has extra bacon, bread, meat and treats (it keeps them safe)

I have a 7ft larder unit full of tins/packets/jars etc
1 corner unit full of cereal and squash.

I have a vision of one of the giant Tesco lorries pulling up with your Home Delivery, instead of the usual wee van.....;)

victory

bumbledore wrote: »

That isn't good for their blood sugar or to regulate their appetite. Surely you should be giving regular meals and snacks if needed rather than allowing your children to eat a huge breakfast? Maybe you should offer something like porrige/fruit or a more fibre filled cereal?

Why does a 2 year old need 2-3 bowls of cereal, you need to put your foot down so they wont just eat everything like that and develop a more healthier appetite. !

I agree. I just can't see how a child would need 6 weetabix, I have 2, my son has 2, my eldest 2, my OH 2, 2 is sufficient. I would not let them have 6. That to me is 3 of our breakfasts and the cereal is there for all of us not for one to eat 6.

With regards the punnets of fruit when we go to the car boot sales and they are selling them for pennies towards the end of the day we buy them and yes we do eat them all, to us it's like a fruit luxury, not a daily occurence just a little fruit treat:D