To what extent do you regulate your child’s food intake?

[SomeCatsLikeCheese]

After seeing some of the recent threads on food on here, I’m curious as to the extent other people regulate their DCs’ food intake. Do you genuinely let them eat unlimited amounts of certain/all foods? At what age are they allowed to help themselves without asking?

DC1 is 5.5 and I struggle to know what the balance is on this. There are certain foods that he would eat in almost unlimited quantities if allowed, but he would restrict himself to those foods only, given half a chance. So for instance, he would eat three apples in a day rather than an apple, a banana and a pear. He is naturally fussy and has form for “going off” things he used to like.

I am curious as to whether other people would genuinely let their child eat eight pieces of fruit per day, etc! There’s only so many apples you can fit in a fruit bowl...

Yes, I agree with that too. I'm one of the "smug" relaxed parents upthread (I wasn't trying to be smug, just sharing my personal experience) but I don't think one size fits all. Kids are all different and need different approaches.

I guess I'm just trying to say that if you do have a child who is good at self regulating, let them. Don't interfere for the sake of it.

I don't let my children eat whatever and whenever they want. The dentist has always been very clear that its bad for dental health to eat many times in a day so no snacking whenever they feel like it, just four meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, supper) and afternoon snack, and occasionally morning snack. We decide together what they have for snack and supper (I offer options and they choose, or they make a suggestion), there are limits like if they choose biscuits then its two biscuits, not as many as they want.

I don't regulate their in take but I do regulate what they are given. So I provide a nutritionally balanced meal, served from bowls at the table and they can eat as much or as little as they like until it's all gone. If they've eaten it all and are still hungry we have veg sticks, fruit and bread& butter. Pudding is served alongside dinner. My kids (2&5) often eat some dinner, then dessert then more dinner.

We have a snack drawer they can choose from but have to ask, but it's only denied if dinner is less than 30 minutes away and it's at least 30 minutes since their last meal (if they didn't eat it). Both children are healthy weights and aren't fussy eaters so I think I'm lucky (I don't think it's anything I'm done). If my kids don't eat their meal, alternatives aren't offered.

I don't like anyone (adults or kids) taking food with out checking as it's often designated for a purpose, I'm not controlling around food but if something is eaten without me knowing that I then need for our next meal it's really frustrating!

@Natsku

I don't let my children eat whatever and whenever they want. The dentist has always been very clear that its bad for dental health to eat many times in a day so no snacking whenever they feel like it, just four meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, supper) and afternoon snack, and occasionally morning snack. We decide together what they have for snack and supper (I offer options and they choose, or they make a suggestion), there are limits like if they choose biscuits then its two biscuits, not as many as they want.

LOL..."it bad to eat too many times in day."

Followed by..."my kids eat 5-6 times day"

5 times a day was the specific limit the dentist suggests tbf, each time to be immediately followed by xylitol gum or pastilles.

Mine are 3 & 8. They have normal healthy meals and normal healthy snacks between meals and if they want more they can have as much fresh fruit and veg as they want. They eat lots of fruit and veg (baby tomatoes, cucumbers, frozen peas, berries, grapes, snap peas, etc) in addition to snacks like crackers, yoghurt, cheese, etc. They generally also almost always clear all the veg on their plate first at every meal before they start on the more interesting stuff, I really think this is because they’ve tried so much fruit and veg that it’s very normal for them to get stuck into it first.