Do you let your kids have as much to eat as they want?

GingerSB · March 2010

My kids are eating breakfast right now. Rice Krispies. They usually ask for a second bowl, and I always oblige when they do. I wonder if I am not teaching them portion control. I could also make them have fruit I guess, if they are still hungry, but they do eat f&v with their other meals & snacks.

Aliliv · March 2010

I usually try to offer a fruit after cereal/toast, but sometimes I give Olivia a second bowl (or second piece of toast) if she wants it. When they're hungry, they're hungry:)

AnnapolisLari · March 2010

Pretty much. I try to mix it up a little, though. If he's had a bowl of cereal and asks for more, I offer him fruit or something.

This morning, DS has had 3 breakfasts. A fruit and grain bar with juice, an egg with toast, and a small bowl of oatmeal.

He had his adenoids out Tuesday, and this appetite surge is a welcome change from the picky eating.

Mrs.JDD · March 2010

I haven't even worried or thought about portion-control, but both of my kids are in the 50th and 15th percentile for weight. I am a crazy person about teaching them to choose healthy foods, and we talk a lot about eating healthy food, so since all they eat (with the exception of treats, of course!) is fairly healthy, they can eat as much of it as they want. Claire will come home from daycare, pull out the bowl of grapes, and I let her eat them until she's had enough. Now, if she were coming home and pulling out the oreos, that would be different, and I would not let her eat them until full!

Heidisean · March 2010

She can eat a 2nd helping if she wants it. If she was overweight that would be a different story but she is less than 40 percentile. We often talk about good choices of food and that she can't have snacks all day long that are bad. If she wants a snack she gets blueberries, grapes, apples, green beans, etc and very little sugar junk snacks. SO, yes she gets more if she asks.

goodheartedmommy · March 2010

Depends on what it is--cereal? No. If they're still hungry, they can have a piece of fruit or an egg. I know they know when they're full, so I don't worry about portion control. DH and I are both not overeaters, so I think they'll be fine.

shopgirl78 · March 2010

Sugar-y cereals, pop tarts, donuts, etc...the answer is no however if they are still hungry, they can pick a fruit or yogurt.

brightning · March 2010

As a general rule, yes. She never gets 2nds of sweets, obviously, but pretty much anything else I'm fine with. She knows when she's hungry. Usually she asks for more fruit.

newwifey · March 2010

For my older one, 5 1/2, yes, I am portion controling more these days because she has shown me that she will eat even when not hungry-- like bcause she likes it or to be social with other eaters. Although she is not overweight I am noticing a pattern of her wanting to start bad eating habits that I wish someone would have told me were poor choices. So, as the others have said I would not give more cereal, I would offer some fruit. Not at all something I would have done when 2 or 3 and I honestly hadn't thought about it at all until she showed me that she was asking for more for the wrong reasons.

suzymarie · March 2010

I usually suggest something else if he asks for more (like fruit or peanuts) but if he insists, I let him have more as long as it is healthy food.

I figure he is able to know whether or not he is hungry, as long as I put healthy food in front of him, that is my job.

melmax · March 2010

Yes, I do. DD is a super picky eater, so I would never say "no" to another bowl of cheerios, another yogurt, another orange, more bread, another piece of cheese, etc. I'm a pretty healthy eater, so we don't have lots junk in the house. I do have Goldfish and cheez-its, but no sugar cereals or other sugary snacks. I make brown rice, Barilla plus pasta, white meat like chicken, etc...so usually if she's asking for more, it's generally relatively good for her.

We *do* have a treat area in my cabinets that she knows about. (hershey's kisses, etc) So when she is good, she asks for one, which I oblige, but I don't give her more than 2 treats a day, and they are always small like that.

DandR · March 2010

My kids know they can ask and have fruit whenever they want it. Its the one thing that I don't limit. I don't care how much fruit they eat and probably the only time I say "no fruit right now" is if its within 15 or 20 minutes of serving dinner.

Soooo---if they are askign for seconds or thirds of something that I don't think they NEEED more of (if it was veggies, I wouldn't care), I tell them they need to eat a piece of fruit instead.

But I never say "you've eaten enough, no more"

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