The constant feeding / snacking of children

Oh no thats so frustrating! Could you speak to the school about her passing stuff through the gates at lunch time. Im sure they could put a stop to that.

Have worked in 10 or so restaurants and been to many more and have no idea what you’re talking about.

He didn't have a snack for school playtime? Or a post school snack? Or an Early dinner then a supper snack at bedtime?

I think babies and toddlers do need snacks but I didn't give snacks routinely to any of my children after about age 3. I particularly remember that DS wouldn't eat at all at preschool but I wasn't really concerned as he wasn't used to having snacks mid morning anyway. I do think swimming is an exception though, I always took a snack for that.

This is how my mother in law tries to treat my children. She had my 8 yr old yesterday and he's got a very fatty loose tummy today. I asked him what he had for breakfast, weetabix, ok no problem, lunch, cheese wrap and watermelon, again grand no problem. I said what did you have for snacks? A breakfast roll with sausage potato scone and ketchup, a packet of crisps, a bar of chocolate, some crackers, a crunch corner yoghurt and some sweets.

It does not matter what we say she cannot seem to learn moderation. As is at he does be constantly asking for food but in our house he'd have had the meals, then a snack of say apples or banana and peanut butter and a n afternoon snack of carrot sticks and a spoonful of humous. Way more filling and actually nutritious.

I had a rage last week when I discovered the day in the week she does school pick up she was wondering up to the gates at lunchtime playtime to give him a twice through the gates. It's infuriating because actually he is very high centiles and I'm constantly battling to reduce his calorie intake without him being a ware bit when she's doing that weekly it feels like a losing battle. She's so sneaky too. And you can say dotn use her for childcare, I wouldn't if I could get a way with it, he has an after school club at his school that he loves and has lots of friends at but she wants him ab afternoon a week.

There is also an element of lack of education / knowledge etc.
i remember watching a documentary with a low income girl (prob in her 20s) who had no idea that the drawer in her fridge was for vegetables. No one had taught her how to buy/ store and cook healthy food. Once she knew it was a game changer for her.
Of course there is also lack of caring as a reason. That one is more worrying.

The NHS recommends 3 meals and 2 to 3 healthy snacks a day for toddlers. so the snacks aren’t the problem it’s the type of snacks that are the issue. But it’s also absolutely none of your business lol

Yanbu. Just yesterday I was at school sports day and a sibling was brought along by one of the parents. They were sitting next to us. The sibling is is 3 or 4 and really overweight. The mother had brought what I thought was a packed lunch for him in a large bag. But no, she pulled out processed snack after processed snack for him to eat. I felt sorry for the kid, he has no chance of being a healthy weight.

Also my niece has snacks shoved at her constantly even when she isn't asking for them. Her mum, my sister in law then comments often that 'she wont eat meals' and 'she is just a picker/grazer'. Well she wouldn't be if you weren't constantly supplying unhealthy snacks!

Where do you know that will freshly make a steak or a curry to allow someone to taste it before ordering?

Child of the 60s here and after swimming was pretty much the only time we got a 'snack' of the crisps or biscuit type. We called it a chittery-bite, something to stop your teeth chattering when you were cold and damp and tired and hungry.

But we got free milk at school at playtime, and if we took a 'play-piece' it would be half a raw carrot, or half an apple, or a tiny pot of raisins.

We didn't have a snack after school because tea time was always 5 o'clock.

So then why are you surprised other kids snack.? And honestly if mine are having a sugary snack then after a sports club is the time for it. Also prepare yourself especially if you have a boy, mine grows at an alarming rate at 8 yrd old and both me and the other school mums despair of their constant hunger. I've started only offering carrot sticks cucumbers and apples after a certain point when it gets too ridiculous.

Et voilà, an obesity epidemic.

Whilst I do agree with the basis behind this I do disagree with your view here. Obvs I’ve no idea behind the parents thoughts here (just as you don’t) but I don’t think a restaurant is the place for kids to order new foods. Whilst it is great to try new foods, if they didn’t like it it’s a long wait and expensive to get another meal made not to mention a waste of a meal.
That’s not to say they can’t/shouldn’t try a bite of an unfamiliar food from a parents plate or try new food at home where alternative options don’t need to be ordered and paid for.

Where?

Do you have children?

Yep! I went to secondary an hours bus journey from home and I remember feeling it was ridiculous dinner was 5 instead of our usual 4pm. The world of work was a shocker

😂are you saying that crisps and chocolate biscuits is a better or the same alternative to fruit… yes it has sugar but it’s naturally occurring. Baffling

Are you a parent? Your health visitor tells you from weaning onwards you're aiming for 3 meals and 2 snacks.

Typically in our house that's breakfast of whole grain cereal.or toast or fruit and yoghurt

Snack they take to school is fruit, cereal bar, popcorn, sometimes crisps or biscuits on a Friday.

Lunch is school.lunch or packed lunch, packed lunch is a sandwich say ham, a cheese string or yoghurt, a piece of fruit and a veg.

Snack after school might be some bread sticks or crackers with humous, dinner is normal dinner, chilli and rice, sausages and mash, baked potatoes and topping etc etc

Then before bed thell have a drink of milk and maybe a slice of toast.

They're really active, walk to and from school, sports clubs 3/4 nights a week, swimming with me once a week on top of their lessons.

I was born earlier than that and remember milk at school and being given a play piece for morning break - usually a chocolate bar or a bag of crisps. A packed lunch consisted of a sandwich, another chocolate biscuit and a bag of crisps maybe an apple if my mum felt virtuous. We ate healthy breakfast and evening meal but school food consisted of things that would survive the trip to school and no refrigeration. There were 6 of us, none of whom have a weight problem.

After swimming snack was always a bowl of chips from the pool cafeteria.

.

Well done OP…here’s your medal.

Now if you could just share your wisdom with families whose kids don’t even have a bedroom to call their own never mind anywhere to put a dining table that would be great.

Jeepers the disconnect of some people with their rose tinted glasses, . 🙄

I agree OP (other than for very little kids who don't have big enough tummies to last until meals / can't always articulate they're hungry)

I've known a few parents with kids who are overweight and with dental issues, who insist their kids are natural 'grazers' when the parents are offering a full day's worth of food between meals on playdates. One where we visited over 3 hours the kids were offered smoothies, crisps and samosas

I really do not understand "snack", which is a word I hate.
Give your children a good breakfast, a decent lunch and a light supper.
No need to pile on extras, certainly not extras out of a plastic package!
Hungry between meals? An apple, banana or carrot.
Make sure they drink enough as thirst and hunger can be misinterpreted.

My kid grazes all day. Deeply irritating but she’s healthy and not overweight. Why on earth are you so invested in the eating habits of other peoples children?

Leave yourself open to the idea that life might change a lot over the next decade. Your kids are tiny.

I grew up without snacks as per most people in the 80s. Am seriously overweight now. It’s not a correlation - for me one of the things that started my weight gain was being thrilled to have my own money and more control over my food. Bought endless junk as I never had it at home. So being restrictive can backfire!

I don’t care when or what my kids eat as long as they eat their proper meals. They’re both on the thin side and eat all day long. My daughter in particular. She’s 13 and a dancer and never stops. They snack on fruit or veggies or sweets or crisps - it’s all an option. Will see how it turns out when they’re adults but for now they are able to self regulate and put it away when they don’t want more. And they eat their meals at the table in between.