Only to make my nearly 7 year old 2 slices of toast?

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Very trivial, I know (first world problem)

I make all 3 kids 2 rounds of toast, if toast is what they want for breakfast.

If nearly 7 yo wants more, AIBU to say he can have up to 2 more slices, but only if he makes it himself? Same rule would apply to his older sister, but as she never wants more than 2 slices he feels life is terribly unfair.

He is fully capable of making toast, his concern is that he makes holes when buttering it :o

Can he cook it then you supervise/help him with the buttering until he has mastered not making holes?

Why not just make more toast in the first place? Bread is cheap.
If there is toast left over you can use it for croutons on soup or turn into breadcrumbs.

Partly I think making the next 2 slices means he only has 2 more if he really wants more, rather than for the sake of it. I make him vats of porridge when he is really hungry, but he has been known to eat 8 slices of toast at a sitting if it is put in front of him by his doting paternal grandmother :o I have no wish to restrict his food, but if he makes it himself it is a natural check - as I say he is fully capable, and a bit more buttering practice is no bad thing surely...

I don't restrict my children's food. I would make a big platter of toast cut into quarters and everyone can eat until they have had enough.

Let him make it all himself. And tbh, I wouldn't let mine eat 4 pieces of toast anyway! Can't he have some fruit or porridge or something if he is still hungry? A 7 yo should be able to make porridge in the microwave - we have a box of oats with a measuring cup for a portion in it.

I don't get all this idea of not restricting foods. Kids need to learn about reasonable portions of food and a healthy balanced diet. Mine would probably eat for England if I didn't rein them in a bit. We were sitting in town the other week, and I couldn't believe how many overweight children we saw.

I don't really understand the problem. You don't want to make too much, you are not stopping him from having more, there is nothing arduous about him putting some more in the toaster! Does it matter if he makes holes? He will only learn not to if he gets experience of trying.
All seems fair enough to me. If he sulks, and won't do it, he is only hurting himself- don't let him make it your problem.

Chops I agree children should learn to regulate their food intake, but think they do it best by choosing how much they eat themselves. As long as it is healthy, whole foods they are choosing from the majority of the time.

"I don't get all this idea of not restricting foods. Kids need to learn about reasonable portions of food and a healthy balanced diet. Mine would probably eat for England if I didn't rein them in a bit. We were sitting in town the other week, and I couldn't believe how many overweight children we saw."

Babies learn to regulate their own feelings of fullness by being breastfed.

I think children can be excellent regulators of their own intake- it's a useful life skill. Rather tyhan being told they can't have any more, or to finish everything, much better for them to learn to trust their own bodies. As long as we as parents provide healthy food.

More children are obese because they have never learned to self regulate their appetite, and have helicopter mothers.

A huge plate of carbs for breakfast is not ideal in my book though.

As a child, I was more than capable of comfort-eating, or boredom-eating, or eating after I was full just because I liked the taste or texture. And I see the same tendency in my nephew.

Therefore, I disagree that children will always learn to self-regulate. I think OP is doing the right thing by getting her 7-year-old to make his own extra toast. It discourages mindless eating.

Well combust mine were breastfed and if left to it with no restrictions I would have two Augustus Gloop figures residing in my house

I guess the idea chops is that children can regulate their eating to hunger queues, which it true, until the self-regulation gets buggered up by celebratory binges or regular over feeding. Also, different genes mean some people are naturally better able to feel satiated regardless of whether they are children or not. The issue is further complicated by things like parents not wanting their children to feel hungry or poor, perhaps because they did as a child, or even for the opposite reason where the parent feels guilty for not being able to provide to the level they experienced growing up. And... Well, we could go on for ages as the issue of obesity is so complex (and yet 'so simple').

What else could be going on frog that makes your kids have a tendency to obesity? Anyone else in the family?

I think this is a good idea

I have a nearly 7 year old and I would let him make his own toast (using a toaster not a grill) although I would feel the need to supervise incase something possessed him to stick a fork in or anything

Interesting noodle. I have two slim kids who don't overeat - they don't much like sweets either so they have free rein to the chocolate drawer.

No one in the house comfort eats or over eats either. Could it be learned behaviour?

If it is learned behaviour, then I honestly don't know how. I remember being that way from a very, very early age - and my mum had three kids, and never treated any of us differently. She breastfed all of us, and also fed us extremely well (whole foods, home cooking etc.) We all remained slim and active, and stayed the same as adults, but in my case it was only through my mum's vigilance.

I have seen the same tendency in my nephew ever since he started on solid foods. I worry for him.

Mine were breastfed too. DD would cluster feed in the evenings for comfort until she vomited, until I worked it out and found ways to pacify her off the breast.

It depends how active they are going to be and if they are having snacks before lunch. If you are all going off on a 10 mile hike or an entire morning of tennis etc then 4 slices of toast is fine. Also fine if there is going to be nothing until lunch. It is all relative.

DS is 4 and generally pretty good at self regulating and eats a good balanced diet. However I will still step in and stop him/suggest something else if he is at risk of over eating. I think complete free reign wouldn't work with most children.

I think it's ok to have him make more toast if he likes as in Ynbu but personally I think 2 slices is enough and is be tempted to tell him to have fruit or yoghurt instead if still Hungry. At this age his eyes may be bigger than his belly!

I'm a grown up and don't ever have more than two slices of yoast. I think it's fine that you make him cook it himself.

As a kid/teenager I could (and would) eat a lot of toast. As an adult I've realised I need to add a bit of protein to make toast filling. What is he having on the toast? A bit of cheese, boiled egg or peanut butter might help to fill him up.

terror - I agree. I always include protein at breakfast time. Bread or porridge just doesn't cut it.

I was breastfed and given healthy, home cooked meals. My mum and sisters are very slim and active. I used to secretly raided the cupboards and binge and struggle with this behaviour and my weight to this day. I think you can do all the right things as a parent but children's personalities vary and it doesn't always work.

I definitely wouldn't allow unlimited toast - I let my 3yo eat as much breakfast as he wants but not all the same thing. So cereal, toast, yoghurt, fruit rather than all toast (he doesn't eat all those things, but they're the options).

Yanbu, he doesn't need more than two slices of toast, and making it himself is good buttering practise. To be honest unless you think he's having a growth spurt I'd be inclined to point him in the direction of the fruit bowl.

I agree that most kids will self regulate, but if a parent constantly gives their child massive portions of food, then they will learn that that's normal.

So many people do give enormous portions and don't even realise it. Of course the kids will be skinny because they're so active, but once they hit late teens/early 20's the weight piles on.

Also yes to adding an egg to the toast.