To wish my kids weren't always staaaaarving!?

[Bingdweller]

Disclaimer: intended to be lighthearted and I do appreciate some kids don't have enough to eat

They are 3 and almost 6. Today has consisted of the following for each of them:

1.5 weetabix topped with milk, honey & blueberries
An apple
A banana (shared)
Boiled egg & toasted home-made bread soldiers
French fancy type cake from the local bakers
Small fromage frais
Another apple & a plum
Kinder chocolate stick
Some cucumber slices
Steak pie, broccoli, boiled potatoes
Jelly pot & custard pot (shared)
A few Haribo each

They are now asking what's for supper later on!!! Have they got hollow legs or do all children need this much feeding? They are both very lean, active and seem to want to eat all the time! Roll on tomorrow and they will be back at school and nursery!

[SilveryMoon]

That is a lot of food!
Mine are the same. They are 4yo and 5yo boys. I have no idea where they put it all! All I hear is "my tummy's rumbling" or "can I have something else" or "I'm still hungry"
They would literally eat constantly all day if I let them.

[HeySoulSister]

They aren't hungry, they are craving sugar!

That's a lot there you know!! They want more

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

They need more meals and fewer snacks.

[HeySoulSister]

And some protein!!

[bamboostalks]

Sounds like a great diet and totally normal.

[bamboostalks]

Wish my ds would eat half of that.

[MrsMangelFanciedPaulRobinson]

Wow that is a lot of food! Your weekly food bill must be high!!

[Bingdweller]

Yes, I know what you mean about the protein - however steak and egg is a fair bit for their tummies. I do watch portion control. They are the type of children who will happily graze all day yet struggle with a big meal. I have tried to cut way down on snack and increase meal sizes however despite my best efforts it seems not to work.

I'm just grateful they like their fruit & veg and are not fussy eaters. If they hadn't had their fruit snacks there is no way they would get the fromage frais, cake etc.

They do drink a lot of water which I offer and they do drink it.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Mine are the same, infact they graze all day but can never manage a full proper dinner.
Think my 7yo and 2 1/2 year old are going through growth spurts at the moment as they are always asking what can they have to eat.
My 10yo and 4yo aren't as bad and will eat a breakfast, lunch and a bit of dinner.

[sarahtigh]

my DD is 3 and she is really hungry from about 9am -4pm, not really hungry at breakfast but if at home she is hungry and wants food approximately every hour-90 minutes but she is then not hungry at dinner time.

I have started to give her bigger lunches or have cooked lunch at nursery, I thinking eating main meal in middle of the day suits most young children though not convenient for me or indeed most working parents

[HeySoulSister]

I distinctly remember growing up and never having snacks... In the 70's.... We had 3 meals a day, and ate the lot!

Trying this in these times is nigh on impossible.

[raspberryroop]

mmm makes me smile a little when people say they are happy to graze all day but struggle with a main meal. There may just may be a connection. This sort of grazing is quite bad for teeth. Try more protein 1st thing and carrots or crudité with a low sugar dip.

[Sirzy]

There seems to be an awful lot of sugar in there.

DS is 3 and today he has had -

1 slice of wholemeal toast
4 cherry tomatos
Bowl of veg soup
Packet of mini cheddars
Carrot
Apple
And about to have a slice of chicken and bacon pie followed by a yoghurt.

He would have probably eaten much more if I had let him!

[Dawndonna]

Wait until they're teenagers. One of mine has been known to get up in the night for cheese sandwiches, because he's hungry. Not a one off, either!

[Bingdweller]

I agree - there is a lot of sugar in today's meals. This isn't a typical day though - we have been rained in and have been amusing ourselves with games, painting and building a den.

It was only today I actually sat down and compiled a list of what they actually have eaten & I'm shocked TBH! On a normal school weekday, they wouldn't have have the treats they have had today. I am going to steer more in the direction of more substantial meals and less snacking though.

Thankfully teeth are in great condition, dental check-up was yesterday!

[MrsMangelFanciedPaulRobinson]

HeySoulSister, we were the same; we never really had snacks (was born in the late seventies). Occasionally my mum would bake cakes or biscuits, or sausage rolls and we'd get one as a snack after school. But that was it really. We didn't have puddings often either really.

[acceptableinthe80s]

I feel your pain, my 4 yr old's favourite phrase is 'i'm still hungry' usually straight after a big meal. I don't know where he puts it, he's also very active and lean. I reckon he eats about 80% of the food I buy.

[FairhairedandFrustrated]

Do you think if there was less grazing they'd be ready for an evening meal?

My sister's boys snack all day long, scones, pepperoni, cooked chicken etc.. But she never makes them cooked meals.

They have cuppa soup, a slice of bread & then polish off a pkt of biscuits.

She says they're constantly hungry, yet I haven't the balls to say they need fed!!! She sends 1 slice of bread folded over, a yoghurt & a bar as well as raisins or something for their school lunch, then they have pit noodles when they finish school.

There's always plenty of good in the house, so they're not limited or on a budget, it's just every parent does it differently.

[likesnowflakesinanocean]

I want some baking ideas that are relatively healthy and my plan is to have them on offer, mine are the same at 5 9 and 10 but whine constantly to leave meals, want to eat yoghurts, apple's, crisps , anything snack like

[DinoSnores]

My toddler can for a few days live on fresh air and then for a few days, it is as if I have never fed him!

[LauraPashley]

Apart from the tooth thing though, isn't "grazing" a healthier approach? As long as it is all generally healthy stuff? I think 3 big meals with nothing in between must lead to a lot of peaks and troughs?

[Bridgetbidet]

Oh god OP, that sounds fucking lovely. Will you adopt me so I can come round and you can feed me?

[HeySoulSister]

Well most typical 'graze' foods are sugar! Even fruit. Yoghurt, raisens etc... They crave more more more

Snack wise offer ham, salami,cheese,boiled eggs and watch their need to graze disappear

[Bridgetbidet]

They might be needing a more substantial lunch though, toast and soldiers is not a lot. I would chuck something easy like bit of quiche and salad in at lunchtime.

[Bingdweller]

snowflakes I often bake and will make gingerbread, tea loaf, flapjacks, courgette & cheese muffins etc. however, I am on Slimming World at he moment so haven't really done any baking for a while. This may tie in with the increase in less healthy snacks if I'm honest.

I'm determined to lose the extra weight I have been carrying since having the children and am not too far from my goal.

DH and I both carry a couple of extra stone and I'm very careful to make sure both children have a wide variety of good food in their diet. I think I have been lax in giving them sugary snacks recently because they have eaten the healthy ones IYKWIM?

Bridgetbidet - get yourself to Scotland & i'll take you in