Older kids (4 yrs+) and snacks question

camrude · April 2011

Does your kiddo ask for snacks or are they allowed to get what they want? If they can get snacks whenever they want, do you have rules around what they are allowed to have?

Zenya · April 2011

DS has to ask. I guess I let him eat whenever he wants but if it's close to dinner say he'll get the option of pepper slices instead of bread or whatever.

He's not really an eater though. It's more common for me to have to suggest that he eat b/c I see his behavior deteriorate and I know it's b/c he's hungry.

shopgirl78 · April 2011

No. Snacks outside of normal snack time are fruit or yogurt. Normal snack time is around 3pm. I determine what we eat at snack time sometimes with their input. It depends on what I feel like and/or what we have done all day.

rebbieW · April 2011

If they are hungry between meals, they ask for a snack and I give them two or three options (fruit, rice cake, boiled egg, etc.). They know not to serve themselves.

jnicks19 · April 2011

I'm probably on the more strict side. The girls don't snack much and pretty much if they do, it's something out of the fridge (Cheese, fruit, yogurt or veggie). Occasionally, they'll have something out of the pantry, like peanuts or almonds. It's pretty rare that they'd get crackers or cookies.

I'm not saying I never give that stuff but it would be more if we had guests or whatever.

jettagurl · April 2011

We don't limit snacks, but they always ask first. I very rarely say no. If I'm fixing dinner and they ask, I will give them something like grapes/apple slices to pacify them.

Once they ask, they can usually pick out what they want - more often than not it is applesauce/yogurt/apple/grapes/oranges/carorts etc. They know they are only allowed one "junky" snack per day (fruit snacks, cheese puffs, granola bar)...but they both make good choices and rarely ask for those things. Ben has recently become more inquisitive on good food/bad food and what types of things make him grow (up, not out!).

j-w · April 2011

DD is 5 1/2 and I definitely trust her to pick out her own snack. Now, if she has a snack and is still hungry, I will offer her something specific and tell her that is it until dinner time. She can reach basically everything and there is really nothing 'off limits' for snacking...fresh fruit, yogurt, peanuts, dried fruit, granola bars, Cheerios. In fact, DS is 2 1/2 and will often go and get a snack out of the pantry for both of them too.

KoriBrett · April 2011

I keep a sippy of water and a bottle of water for them to have whenever they want, anything else they have to ask for. As soon as I say it's ok they can go get it if they want - but I do have to approve it first.

joy143dh · April 2011

He has to ask first, but is allowed to get it himself. I have a reachable cabinet with the snacks that are OK (graham crackers, nuts, goldfish, cereal) as well as a bowl of fruit on the counter and yogurt on the bottom shelf of the fridge. The rule is if it is less than 1 hr before lunch or dinner, he may have fruit or a dixie cup of frozen veggies (which oddly enough, he likes). Any other time, he can choose from the other stuff.

He recently found my candy bowl in my office and has been grabbing gum out of it without asking. I'm not sure I mind as it's sugarfree, but I don't love the idea of him chewing gum at will. He doesn't sneak it though... He will come upstairs with a mouth full of it and announce (quite loudly, in fact) that he is chewing gum.

peekaboo716 · April 2011

The kids don't usually ask for snacks, since snack time is pretty scheduled into their days. If they are hungry, though, they will ask. They are not allowed to get the snacks themselves. If it's shortly before a mealtime, I will give them a little of whatever the meal is (if it's ready), or a handful of trailmix (raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, and craisins). Access to water is there all the time.

RobinSparkles214 · April 2011

DS has to ask for snacks. I rarely say "no", but he has choices usually between cheese, yogurt, fruit, or veggie.

I let him have things like gummies every once in a while too, usually after he eats a good lunch.

jlw2505 · April 2011

My kids often do get snacks themselves but I keep limited what is within easy reach for them - they can get cheese sticks, fruit, Nutrigrain bars and some other smaller snacks - nothing sugary is within their reach and they often do ask before they head to the kitchen or they come to me with food in hand and ask if they can eat it. We limit when snacks are allowed as I don't want snacks to ruin a meal.

kickypants · April 2011

They have to ask, and then I give them a few choices. I keep their water bottles on a reachable shelf in the fridge, but other than that, they know not to take anything themselves. For now, at least.

Marce921 · April 2011

DS asks, but can pretty much have whatever. I will limit junky snacks if he's had enough for the day, but often would much rather have fruit or a granola bar.

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