Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to think that this isn't the norm? Perhaps it is? Ds and food.

82 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 07/04/2014 19:10

I've a 5 year old growing lad, big for his age (very tall and gangly).

He never, and I mean never stops going on about food.

I'm sure it's not just me because other people have noticed and commented that he's got a 'sweet tooth', a 'good appetite'. People have even joked blimey don't you feed him.

He associates everywhere we go with food. Cinema, shopping centre, he knows where the man is who gives pretzel samples, supermarket he always wants the free samples not to mention drooling over and grabbing everything we see, visiting people.

I think I feed him well, mostly healthy, plenty of food, junk too and never demonise junk food, here we gave a takeaway most weekends.

Example, today he's had shredded wheat for breakfast, he has toast and fruit for morning snack at school, lunch was 2 small wholemeal ham rolls, a piece of cheese, yoghurt, cucumber and carrot and a pear. He came home and took another yoghurt, a milkshake, and a scotch egg (he doesn't usually have so much junk after school), then he had leftover lasagne and a bowl of salad for tea followed by a plum. Yet he then had a tantrum over some leftover galaxy bar, and has just been in the bin, yes the bin and took out an empty popcorn bag.

The first thing he says when he opens his eyes, comes out of school, before he goes to bed is can he have a snack, he talks me in circles about how he's only had 1 snack, or half of this, so he can have a piece of that.

We can come out of a restaurant and he will immediately ask what's for tea. I say that was tea, but he wants tea at home too. I've caught him sneaking chocolate into his lunchbox even though he knows Fridays he can have a chocolate at school.

I promise he gets enough food, more than enough, and he's not fat in the slightest, but I think that's more because I don't allow him to go overboard. But it feels like a constant battle.

I'm at the end of my tether with this.

If people say it's normal though I will shut up and go away.

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 07/04/2014 19:51

ds has toddler diarrhoea. rapid digestionary transit. he eats what I consider a lot. breakfast is two weetabix, with milk and possibly a sandwich of two slices of bread. snack at school, lunch, snack at home time, starving for tea... but not as often or obsessed as you have described.

I would go and get it checked out.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/04/2014 19:55

My DD eats like this.

She is 7 and tall and skinny.

I think it's just a rapid growth/fast metabolism thing.

Pyjamaramadrama · 07/04/2014 19:56

Ooh lots of replies, yes I am worried he developing an emotional/compulsive eating pattern.

He is very tall although there are a couple in his class the same height.

The popcorn packet was on the top of the almost full bin, but even so, considering he'd just finished tea.

I've asked him just before bed if he was still hungry, he said why do I ask, as if to say it depends what's on offer.

OP posts:
Pyjamaramadrama · 07/04/2014 19:58

Thanks peaces, we're not big meat eaters although we do have fish so protein could be lacking,

I will definitely try eggs for breakfast, we do have eggs at the weekend.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/04/2014 20:00

It doesn't sound horrendous but I probably would up protein than anything else. I really wouldn't be worried but get it checked out if you are.

Keep a food diary for a few weeks.

Pyjamaramadrama · 07/04/2014 20:07

Btw I don't think he's eaten too much/little today.

Could be healthier but Mondays are always leftover days as I do food shop tomorrow. It's more what he's asked for/would have eaten/going in the bin.

OP posts:
DoJo · 07/04/2014 20:26

Have you tried just feeding him more (healthy snacks of course) to see if there is a point at which he is sated and stops asking or seeking out food?

BertieBotts · 07/04/2014 20:28

My 5yo is similar but he doesn't sneak food.

He tends to ask for food when he's bored. Or I get him to stop asking by saying "Dinner is at X time, no more food until then".

StrawberryGashes · 07/04/2014 20:39

My son is like this, in between meals he has to constantly graze. He is not over weight at all, and I've taken him to a paediatrician and a dietician who said his diet was fine and there were no problems.

GreenLandsOfHome · 07/04/2014 20:45

Ds1 is the same (age 6)

He will eat constantly, from morning to night, if given the chance.

Eyelet · 07/04/2014 20:52

I can't read all the thread but could you increase his protein and also ensure he is drinking enough?

Our three year old has today eaten;
2 bowls of corn flakes
a banana
a whole scotch egg and small bag of crisps
an apple
a Fruit pot
Portion of smoked salmon
half a dozen rich tea biscuits (not all at once!)
half a chicken breast
portion of pasta
Portion of veg

Pyjamaramadrama · 07/04/2014 21:12

I say to ds no more snacks, dinner is ready by 5.30, but he keeps arguing and pleading.

OP posts:
tiredandtiredandtired · 07/04/2014 22:12

Today my 16 month old had

Porridge
Portion of grapes
Nectarine

Blueberries
Small piece of cheese
Breadsticks
Banana

Macaroni cheese and odd few chips
Small pancake
Organix puff crisps

More grapes, half a hot cross bun

Ham, houmous, carrot sticks, cucumber, pitta, and yoghurt

I think I feed him too much sometimes but he isn't overweight and on the go constantly!

chocolatelolly · 07/04/2014 22:15

I would suggest adding more protein to his breakfast, such as scrambled egg with the toast or beans.

Selks · 07/04/2014 22:17

Maybe he is just hungry. I would suggest feeding him more.

LizzieMint · 07/04/2014 22:19

that dinnertime would be way too late in our house, particularly since starting school. We used to do tea at 5 but now DS is at school I start cooking the moment we get home and tea's usually 4 or just after. If mine had to wait until 5:30, I would also have endless begging and pleading because they are hungry. (even with post-school snacks)
Is the gap between lunch and tea too long? My DS also has snacks after tea (around 6pm) as well - I'm now thinking I should write down what he has in a day!!!

chocolatelolly · 07/04/2014 22:21

Sorry just seen I've said what's already been said. Children need protein and fat. Lots of carbs and fruit won't fill them up.

jendot · 07/04/2014 22:33

It's because he can't have it..... He wants wants what he can't have. It's human nature.
We solved it by having 'free' foods. Fruit, carrots, cucumber, rice cakes, plain crackers, milk... Both ds could help themselves to these foods whenever they wanted ( with the exception of 1 hour before lunch or dinner and after 6pm) they went crazy for about 2 weeks and then only ate these foods when they were hungry.

DomesticSlobbess · 07/04/2014 22:42

DS is 3 and is always asking for food. And not junk or sweet food in particular. Often it's a banana or a yogurt. He'll have a snack and then ask for something else immediately after. I say no to snacks if it's close to a meal time or soon after. And while he's eating dinner he'll ask what he's going to have after dinner. It's never worried me, he's skinny and tall but always finishes his meals and isn't remotely fussy. So it's not a problem for us.

DamnBamboo · 07/04/2014 22:43

Very little protein in the food you're offering and much of what is on your list would be considered 'free foods' in both slimming world and weightwatchers.

He's hungry - feed him a little more at meals, a healthy balance of fats, carbs and proteins and see if that helps.

FWIW to all those commenting on his 'apparently big size' - my 6 year old is a very tall 129 cm with size 3e (adult) feet - and there's nothing wrong with him at all. He's got no waste fat - some kids are just gangly and tall! With percentiles, some are at the top an some are at the bottom... that's kinda how it works Hmm

mousmous · 07/04/2014 22:48

doesn't sound normal if it's all the time. dc (7y) has phases where they don't stop eating, but that's usually a week or so and then back to normal --and I have to go buy clothes a size up because it was part of a growth spurt.

it sounds like he's getting a lot of carbs, which do not make full for long.
do you have proper meal and snack times? is he bored a lot?

Barbaralovesroger · 07/04/2014 23:18

I know you think you are being healthy but read today's menu as wheat for breakfast, wheat for snacks, wheat for lunch and wheat for tea. You really need to mix up the grains as wheat really isn't that great.

Barbaralovesroger · 07/04/2014 23:19

More protein and veg I agree, less carb heavy

Beamur · 07/04/2014 23:31

If he's not overweight and asking for food, I think I'd feed him more. A single scotch egg isn't so terrible really. It does seem quite carb and fruit heavy.

GreenPetal94 · 07/04/2014 23:38

I'd get out the old "red book" and work out if he is under or over weight for his height. Unless he is overweight I'd allow him access to food and snacks so its not "sneaking food" and he can learn how it feels to be really full.

Swipe left for the next trending thread