Eating too much?

addison_clark · July 2011

I have always felt that my DS would eat all day everyday if I let him. He has always been of average size but he wants to eat constantly. He will be 4 in August. Do you ever worry of your child getting overweight? I am thin and try to watch what I eat and want my children to learn that too but he is always asking for seconds or thirds. He can eat a full pb&j sandwich! How do you know when you are over-feeding your child? Or on the flip side, how do I know if I need to feed him those seconds and thirds when he asks? I cant tell what is average growth/hunger and what is just want/greed. TIA!

Mrs Manners · July 2011

I just make sure I provide him healthy choices at his meals and then he can self-monitor how much he eats. I never force him to try anything and I never encourage him to eat all of something. We also don't do dessert and often limit snacks to healthy things like raw veggies, olives, nuts or boiled eggs so that he's welcome to a snack if he's hungry. He can eat an enormous amount of food (ie. whole steak or whole double cheeseburger with no bun, an entire salad, etc). We don't eat grains or anything with added sugars at home so he isn't tempted by crappy stuff and I find that he very naturally controls his own appetite. I also find that when he's allowed to regulate his own appetite on the weekends (vs. the set schedule he has at preschool during the week), he eats a large breakfast, very light lunch and a large dinner. Every meal consists of a protein, fat and veggie and/or fruit.

penguingrrl · July 2011

My daughter will be 4 in August as well and lately I've been noticing that she'll ask for a snack if she's bored. Until now I've always offered unlimited fruit and veggies (carrot sticks, celery, steamed edamame, etc) but not I'm starting to limit because she's big (42 inches, 39 lbs, so not overweight, but large). I'm on the chubby side and working on it, and I don't want her to face the weight trouble I've had since college, so I'm hoping to create a better mindset about food than I had growing up.

Now we have breakfast around 8, lunch around noon, snack at 3:30 and dinner between 6-7. She's eating nice sized meals, but not a ton. Once in a while she asks for 3rds (or even more!) and I let her have them provided it involves all parts of the meal (i.e. she can't just have thirds of rice or pasta, but if she wants more vegetables and meat with it that's fine). She doesn't seem constantly hungry now that she's adjusted to the new routine, although the first few days were tough. If she says she's hungry between meals she is handed her water cup (which is always available and always will be).

wwnbw · July 2011

My daughters doctor told me not to give her seconds. She is 4 and normal size just on the tall side.

KL777 · July 2011

I think boys (and some girls) can have a hefty appetite. DS can eat alot. He typically eats two breakfasts a day, plus three snacks, lunch and dinner. And he's slim in size. I also make sure that he's drinking plenty of water and has his fruits, veggies, and Flinstone multi-vitamin.

I typically listen when he says he wants more of something healthy and balance out the snacks when I know a real meal is coming up on the schedule.

MrsBalletStar05 · July 2011

Have you had a well-child visit recently? That way you'd know if your child was average or overweight at least.

DS#1 ate like a pig from the moment he came out of the womb (nurses freaked out because he drank too much formula on the very first bottle) and NEVER slowed down until he hit 3. I'm talking, kid ate just as much as I did or more. I remember one evening we got take out....he wasn't even 2 yet and ate an entire chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, salad, and thick piece of texas toast. But he's never been overweight. Anyway, now the boy eats like a bird. I just figured he needed it then, and now not so much. If I thought he was overweight or close to it, I might put more thought into it all.

Want a personalized experience?

Eating too much?

Re: Eating too much?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards