All dc are piling the weight on during lockdown

[Mummypig2020]

My dd12 and ds10 have put so much weight on. Iv really noticed it on ds 10 the most. We haven’t changed our food habits but obviously he’s just not doing much exercise!

What do I do? I feel awful :(

How much is a lot? Mine are slightly pudgier but nothing much to be concerned about yet.

They probably have changed their eating habits as well and now you’ve noticed, perhaps look at healthy swaps you can make and be realistic about their quantities of snacks and meal sizes.

Not here! Me maybe.

At this age, I'd talk to them about this openly. I wouldn't say I've noticed they've gained weight, but I would explain that if you're less active you don't need to consume as many calories. Then I'd cut down on portion sizes and snacks (by cooking less and having fewer snacks in the house to make it easier for them).

This could be a good time for them to learn the message that they can't eat as much and stay healthy if they're less active. I didn't learn that till I was in my 20s!

If they were eating a healthy diet before lockdown then they really shouldn't be piling weight on in lockdown eating the same food, irrespective of exercise.

What does a day's meals/snacks look like? You're either going to need to reduce portion sizes/snacking, or rejig the macronutrient content of your meals by, for example, increasing the volume of veg on plates and reducing carbs/fat.

No. They’re gone from having 2 cooked meals a day (home and school) to one. If anything, they’re looking skinnier.

We've all lost weight. We are only eating when we are hungry.

It's horrible when it creeps up. My 12 year old got pudgy in Y7 as he had access to the lunch card so indulged the novelty of chocolate milk and pizza as well as lunch.

I was very straight and told him he'd put weight on and we needed to come up with a plan. So we agreed he could buy a treat on Tuesdays (his choice) cut down after school snacks and started filling the fridge with lettuce, grapes, Frubes and stuff he liked. Also cut the grated cheese on pasta down, I poured his cereal - things like that. It was at a stage where small changes really helped and we started walking every day to chat.

My 7 year old has. I don’t weigh her but I can see it. There’s more food around, we’re snacking more too plus less exercise. I also noticed she’s clearing her plate at every meal which she didn’t necessarily do before.

I would not mention it to them. I think it's important that children have a healthy relationship with food. Food can become a big issue, especially for girls as they get older. I would cut down on portion sizes and snacks and put emphasis on being healthy, not necessarily losing weight. I say this as a child that went on to have an issue with food because ever pound I put on was brought to my attention. Your children are young and as you are the one that cooks and brings food into the house, I would make tweaks to that rather than putting it on them to address. Don't beat yourself up, it's a difficult time for everyone - children included.

Mine has actually slimmed down - he's 13 and buys crud on his school lunch account, so 3 proper meals and no snacks combined with doing a decent amount of exercise every day (indoor bike or long walk) means he's looking good

Mine did a lot of walking to and from school plus a lot of sport. Told DH to buy less crap and when it's gone it's gone...

I don't understand why posters are coming on this thread to tell the OP that their children/household have lost weight. Surely that is just going to make her feel even worse?! She's asked for suggestions on what to do regarding her children's weight, not have the issue rubbed in.

Mine (secondary) are losing weight as they have having home cooked rather than school meals, also no eating out which has made a big difference to all of us. We are trying to do more exercise as well.

My son is 9 nearly 10 and I can notice he’s looking a bit more chunky. He’s always hungry, this morning cereal then he wanted micro chips later on then 4 bits of bacon then more cereal later. I think it’s boredom. I’m not worried as he’s very active normally, when things go back to normal he can enjoy his clubs and playing outside again.

Ds 15 has actually lost weight, however he has shot up in height too but he's just not eating as much because he's so inactive.

Do they help themselves to food all day?
When I was a kid I wasn't allowed near any food or the kitchen. My mum made meals and that's all I got. We couldn't afford for me to pick all day.
She didn't keep biscuits or cake in the house.
If it's not in the house then they can't eat it.
You are the parent, dish out the food as you see fit,

I've put weight on and know it's because I've been snacking a lot more.
How about getting everyone to do Joe Wicks - every day - making it fun.
Go on a family walk every evening - within the guidelines. My DD goes out with her dad every evening.
And as pp said making healthy swaps - and keeping apples/bananas out for mid-morning/afternoon.

Mine are just as skinny as ever, especially dc1 who takes medikinet for adhd. He's as thin as a rake and I wish he would put some weight on!

Dc2 just moves all the time and is constantly jumping about and doing flips and stretches etc.

Dh and I, on the other hand, have piled the timber on over the last few weeks. I keep trying to eat properly but because I'm bored I'm drawn to the fridge and cupboard.

Do they have fitbits or step counters? D'S has one and has really got into beating his personal best (24k steps so far). He wasn't remotely interested in fitness before!

Mine have definitely put on weight. They were previously very active and now all they do is bounce around on a trampoline for twenty minutes. They are also constantly saying they are hungry. I have put weight on too.

I don't understand why posters are coming on this thread to tell the OP that their children/household have lost weight.

Don't you?

My DP does the shopping. We're lucky enough to have a sort of pantry walk in cupboard that we usually use for school bags, coats tools and stuff like that. He has fairly covertly cleared a space in it for food. Then the kitchen cupboards don't ever look full. In fact, they look quite bare! You would be amazed at the psychological affect of this. Im sure my children are eating less because they just don't 'browse' like they did before. (Because there's nothing to browse on?!). Every couple of days he puts few things into the kitchen. It's been weeks now and they haven't noticed.
Sounds strange but try it!

So what does a typical days meals and snacks look like?

@purrmuda we've done that but that's because my head sees food and just eats it. When I'm out at work I don't think about food unless I'm actually hungry, currently I'm boredom eating so we've been keeping the cupboards quite bare, it is helping.