DD9 overeating

[user1471471539]

Whenever she has access to buffet style food at parties, visiting friends etc my DD9 will overeat to the point of giving herself stomach ache later- numerous cup cakes/ cake slices, huge amounts of bread, chocolate, biscuits, pizza

She eats a reasonable healthy diet at home, lots of fruit and veg- but bread/cake/pizza/chocolate too, just in moderation and she is a bright girl who knows what is healthy and what's not. I've never called some food 'naughty' or bad, although I guess I do say fruit and veg is good.

She is a bit overweight at the moment but is also at the onset of puberty. It would be better for her not to put on much more though I think.

I am really struggling with how to support her. It is impossible to totally patrol her food intake in these situations at this age without looking like a loon and embarrassing her and me, but I feel my stress rising and I think maybe she thinks it's a 'getting one over on mum' thing?

I don't want to contribute to or compound any disordered eating! Or is it more normal than I think? Should I let it go and let her make herself ill? That doesn't seem right either!

How often is she in this sort of situation?

I think it's pretty normal for children to struggle to self regulate around buffet style treat food and most will eat more than they would usually and feel a bit sick. Usually because of extra sweet treats etc rather than the sheer amount of food eaten.

Even as an adult I struggle to self regulate around party sausage rolls!

Unless this is a very regular thing (ie weekly)I'd just focus on ensuring that her other meals are healthy and balanced.

Thanks for your reply and you are right. I guess I need to concentrate on her day to day diet rather than stressing over 'occasions'.

Just seem to have had alot recently- get togethers, BBQs, picnics, end of term etc and she seems to want and need to eat SO much-much more than her peers or me (and I love a good buffet too). And then she feels ill and gets upset.