DD and late night snack

Difficult one because at only just 8 she's still got quite a small stomach and maybe is genuinely eating enough dinner so that she's full but then is still getting hungry later. Some children need to eat little and often rather than 3 big meals.
But if she's in bed at 7.30 and still awake at 9 saying she's hungry then that does sound like trying it on!
What time is dinner? If you eat quite early it could be that she's hungry by bedtime. It could also be time for a later bedtime if she isn't falling asleep easily. A small not very exciting snack at 7.30 then bed at 8 could work better?
My almost 10 year old still likes a glass of milk and small snack before bed, dinner usually at 6pm then snack around 8pm and she's usually asleep before 9pm. Snack is usually non sugary, cheese and crackers or slice of toast etc and only milk or water to drink. She eats well at dinner time and is active and a healthy weight so not over eating.

It’s a bit odd to have a no pressure take it or leave it approach to tea if there’s a ban on supper after that. Particularly if she doesn’t go to sleep before 9 I still think you should allow supper, even if it is leftover tea. Do you never snack after your tea?

I always gave my children supper, normally some weetabix or crumpet or toast or teacake, nothing that would have them bouncing the walls. Normally about 20 mins before going to bed, with a warm drink.

I was once told (so don't shoot me if i'm wrong) that babies/childrens stomachs are the size of their fists, and that although the stomach can swell to accommodate more food/fluids, some children need to eat little and often.

If she doesn’t eat her dinner save it and offer her that if she says she is hungry again that evening.

Also she should be asleep before 9pm. That’s a late bed time.

Why do you bin the rest of dinner if she’s often hungry later? Couldn’t you put it in a small bowl in the fridge and reheat and offer it again?

Maybe she’s ‘hungry for snacks’ not ‘hungry for dinner food’ and if she knew she was getting the leftover dinner she’d either refuse (not really hungry) or eat it (actually hungry).

@JimHalpertsWife it's been a long night. 🤣 I thought this was a day+ old

Give them time, she only posted last night

Did OP ever reply on this thread?

My DS has a bowl of cereal or some toast before bed at night. Some kids will prefer little and often eating habits, agree with PP that she knows and needs to listen to her needs.

I am a strong advocate for encouraging children to learn intuitive eating. They don’t need to finish their plate, they know when they’re full and hungry again. It’s very important not to encourage disordered eating and hang ups around food. If she’s hungry, let her have something small/healthy. If she doesn’t want a slice of toast or similar appropriate “supper” then she isn’t hungry, just craving.

Have you considered that her bed time is too early? You said 7:30? Rather than her lying awake until 9 and then wanting to eat it might be better to offer her a supper/snack at 7:30 and then wind down to get into bed and sleep for 8:30

What time does she have dinner, and what time is lunch? Does she usually eat anything between lunch and dinner?

Best way to have a kid end up struggling with obesity is to make them eat more than they're hungry for at meal times, and restrict food when they are actually hungry.

Youre simultaneously teaching them to eat past their fullness signals, and teaching them that food is scarce. When she's old enough to be getting her own food, the combination of what you have taught her is going to end up in overeating.

Dont make her eat when she isn't hungry.

Let her eat when she is hungry.

Not all food will keep you awake. Hunger will more likely keep you awake. A satisfied tummy will help you sleep, especially certain foods (Google will help).

It's important she learn to properly listen and respond to her bodies cues. Hunger, fullness... And that you allow her to learn this rather than trying to override nature.

We didn't evolve to eat at set meal times three times a day.

Seriously, and people wonder why everyone's getting fat...

I would suggest juggling the timings. Perhaps dinner is too soon if she has had food at the after school club. Maybe bedtime is also too soon if she is waking up within an hour or so?

Also, in last night's scenario, the yogurt and the apple could have been kept back for supper.

As a child around that age, I had a hot school dinner at lunchtime, a snack such as a couple of biscuits around 3.30 after school, meal around 5.30 which tended to be sandwiches or salad in the summer, and beans on toast or similar in the winter. Then there was a snack before bed, quite often a sugary one as times were different.

There is nothing wrong with supper as such, by the sound of it your daughter perhaps has too much food offered within a short space of time, so spacing it out might work.

She's hungry. She must be young to go to bed so early.

Give her supper before bed. Plan for it so it doesn't delay bedtime.

Young kids eat every couple of hours still.
Breakfast
Mid morning snack
Lunch
Afternoon/after school snack
Tea
Supper

Make sure it's not junk (including crisps) as treats then you need to find your child more.

I'm a night snack person, so is my Dad. Doesn't really matter when we eat or what we've had for dinner (within reason) we will be hungry by bedtime and unable to sleep if we don't eat supper.

It is, I suppose, a habit, but that doesn't mean she's not hungry. Your body learns when you usually eat and releases hunger hormones around that time.

Being older and struggling to maintain my weight more, I just adjust my portions at other times to account for a chunk of food before bed.

Give her some toast before bed every night, at least then she’s not asking for other things.

Yep. If she's truly hungry she'll eat.

We always had supper at that age as I was hungry before bed. I would give her something.

I would ask this too? My daughter (same age) always have fruit after her shower about 8pm and then if she wants it crackers or toast.

I never say no but offer boring snacks.

Brown bread (we don't eat white bead) with butter or oats with milk.
I don't want children to go hungry but it's not a midnight feast.