children snacking between meals - tips?

[jua890]

DS has always snacked a bit between meals, he's 6 so I think he's of the age now whereby it's no longer necessary (possibly it never was necessary but when he was smaller e,g toddler we got into the habit of it..). Invariably I will give him crackers, fruit etc.

I think it's sensible for me to stop but he whines like anything when I refuse him food. Often he's angling for something "breadlike" and won't accept fruit and then I say no wait for dinner.

Can you tell me what you do for your DC of a similar age if hungry between meals? Do you give them snacks eg. fruit or are snacks banned completely? If they whine do you have any tips?

Fruit and veg are available always for snacks. They do have a snack after school which varies from fruit right through to a pot noodle depending on how hungry they are

My 6 year old goes into the kitchen and gets himself a snack from the cupboard or fruit bowl, but that’s not what you’re wanting to hear! I snack between meals so I can’t really insist he doesn’t. Unless it’s really close to the next meal obviously.

I always say there's plenty of fruit and plain crackers available. Either they are hungry and that's perfectly fine or they're trying it on to get a treat and they don't choose either option - which means they weren't actually hungry in the first place so they can easily do without

I'd say it depends how active your 6 year old is. Most I know run around like loons and some extra carbs do them good.
Is your son gaining weight or refusing meals? If not keep giving the snacks?
For transparency- my nearly 2 year old only gets snacks when we go to a playgroup. Even then I limit it, otherwise she refuses lunch, and then is awful because she's hungry later, but another snack means she won't eat dinner....
So I tend to move main meals forward to avoid snacks if possible

My DC usually only have fruit or veg if they’re hungry between meals. I think snacking can become a bad habit (very few people actually need to eat constantly). I rarely snack myself and don’t encourage it. Having said that, if they are genuinely hungry, they know they can help themselves to carrot sticks or something from the fruit bowl.

I dont think a bread like snack is a problem as long as they still eat ok ish later?

I think a bowl of cereal, slice of toast, Crumpets, teacakes, fruit or yoghurt are all ok snacks.

Is there a particular reason you are bothered this,

I think we hear far too much stuff about low carbs etc. IF there isn't a weight or really obvious nutritional problem with your child then I would try not to over think it.

I don't really have a rule on it. If they say they are hungry and it's more than an hour until the next meal then they can Have some fruit or a rice cake with marmite. If they moan about those options then they're probably not hungry.
They tend to ask for an after school snack but don't ask at the weekends.

Breakfast, morning snack of fruit/veg, lunch, afternoon snack of milk/biscuit/cheese string etc. Dinner. Offer of supper (toast/cereal/noodles/soup).

Usually morning snack is ignored, and supper isn't wanted, just afternoon snack and 3 meals. But all offered due to "hungry days"

Mine don't tend to ask for snacks, but they have free access to the fruit bowl. I will give them something like breadsticks, cheese etc if they say they're hungry, but nothing "exciting" and not if it's too close to a meal.

After school snacks tend to be a bit more substantial and "exciting" - eg a cereal bar, raisins or mini croissant etc.

My DS is almost 6, really active and eats loads. He doesn't have mid morning snacks as he eats loads at breakfast time but when he gets home after school he has fruit, raisins, cheese and crackers. He eats all his dinner.

I've always allowed snaking. The only thing is that I do try is for things to be nutritious. Some children find big meals a bit too much.
A typical meal would be a plate with bits.

When DS1 (6) is in a hollow legs phase (usually meaning he’s about to grow again) then I offer fruit or cheese. But when he’s like that I know he’ll out eat me at real meals too. Then he’ll be back to normal portions and unfussed about snacks. I snack (always have) and am comfortably a healthy weight without worrying so I don’t feel any need to worry about my close to underweight DS.

What time does he wake, sleep and eat?

Mine are older but need a snack after school (dinner is at 6:30) and when they used to wake early (5am/6am), they needed a mid-morning snack too.

BlueJag - is that your photo? If so, can I ask how old your child is and do they eat all of it? I have toddler twins and they can put away so much food it scares me sometimes! They’re not overweight at all though and never stop moving.

What’s the main part of that meal? Don’t have my glasses and can’t make it out - looks like dim sum

OP, my boys are still very young but one has a condition that means he needs very regular carbs - I worry about this a lot, they’re so used to snacking

Blue jag - my kids would love that dinner. We often have random bits and bobs like that. The kids call it Tapas even though it's usually not Spanish food.

@SinkGirl @goldengummybear
Hi DS is 13 now and the little pocket are gozas they are Japanese dumplings. Also has beetroot and feta cheese squares.
I basically put anything I can think off. Tonight he had similar but with chicken breast, sweet corn and a little bit of cheese.
I found early on that he isn't a huge eater but a buffet seemed to entice to eat.
I also make tacos for dinner.
As long as the snacks are nutritious they can eat plenty.

@SinkGirl yes it's my photo. That was dinner the other night. A friend was asking me what ds had for dinner as she needed inspiration.
He also loves sushi.

I think once they start school they often need a snack after school. I dont think fruit and veg is that satisfying either, so half a ham sandwhich, cheese and crackers, crumpets, hummus and crudites/breadsticks etc are often on ofter after school here.

We love gyoza too. Yum... Those trays look fab for all the separate foods.

Im not sure why you'd stop at 6, I think as they get older it becomes more necessary, especially if theyg have the small meal portions a lot of infant schools give.

Also, I have anxiety around eating disorders so read up on best practice - they nearly all say to follow hunger cues, so respect when they're hungry. Dont teach them to overrule hunger signals or to eat when full.

Mine will both stop halfway through a meal or cake if full. But know if they are hungry they can have something. I might ask what it is they're hungry for - fruity something, bready something, crunchy something etc.

I love the trays too. My youngest doesn't lile things touching.

I do need yo shake up my meal ideas though.

Yeah my ds has 3 snacks a day - so basically 6 mini meals really.

Can range from fruit, hard boiled eggs, cheese, toast, muffins, peanut butter sandwiches, crackers, ham, kit Kats, jelly.

As long as he's getting plenty of fruit and veg in his diet I don't see the obsession with only offering kids fruit as snacks : at that age they burn calories at a rate of knots and need all the energy they can get!