To think.. there is a weird obsession with snacking?

[helpmeplease2045]

I have two DC age 6 and 3.

My 6yo has a pretty big breakfast (bowl of porridge with fruit and often second bowl of muesli or cereal for e.g.), we then provide them with a morning snack (maybe piece of fruit) for school, then two hours later they have school lunch then after school parents are handing over more snacks (ranging from fruit to biscuits, cakes, crisps, sandwiches etc), then a snack at home / at a playdate / children's party. There are snacks after activities / on the way to activities.. all this before dinner.

Sometimes I feel like it's a constant battle to stop kids from constantly eating all day! When I was younger we had bkfast, morning snack maybe on a school day and school dinners then we waited till the evening meal. I don't think little children need a constant supply of (often sugary) treats throughout the day.

AIBU to not want my small children to be eating something every two hours!?

[emanresudilavni]

Another really good point. The snacking "on the go" - literally running round with a biscuit in their hand - can't be healthy for anyone!

Why's that? I grew up in the 70s and we always grabbed a snack (toast or homemade cake, flapjack, fruit etc) as we sprinted outside to play until dinner time.

I disagree with TV dinners unless a special occasion as I like family conversations at meals but I can't see why snacking and walking is an issue. How could it be unhealthy?

I never had snacks when I was younger. If I told my Mum I was hungry between meals then of course I'd get a piece of fruit or some cheese.





And what was the cheese and fruit you ate between meals to stave off hunger called?

[tinypop4]

I think this is the topic 'du jour' on mumsnet! There is so much angst about snacking on here, although of course obesity is an issue.

I find it difficult to see what the problem is with a small, healthy after school snack. This is not new - when I was at school (ages ago) me and all my friends would have something after school when we got home, and dinner would be 6-6.30. School is tiring, children get hungry.

Snacking all day, however, I can't get on board with. I was at a toddler class with DS last week, it was fro 9.30-10.30 and the class INCLUDED a snack of a digestive biscuit and raisins just over half way through. Yet, many parents still offered constant snacks to their children between 9.30 and 10 - totally weird when there was a snack coming.

[confusedofengland]

My DS2 has suspected ASC & like a couple of other DC with similar SEN I've read about on here, actually physically needs snacks. If he doesn't have a regular intake of food he gets very upset & is unable to do anything at all. I've always assumed it's something to do with blood sugar levels, but I don't know for sure. His school have actually requested I send in 2 morning snacks for him & he has a free afternoon snack, always fruit or veg, as they were finding he could not concentrate without it. He perks up instantly once he has something! He is a very skinny little thing & also very active.

[BeMorePanda]

There is a massive difference between having fruit/cheese/toast between meals because you are hungry, and being offered sugary drinks/Quavers/sweets etc at multiple intervals during the day because "that's what kids want/need/like".

Both are snacking.

[MrsHathaway]

Another really good point. The snacking "on the go" - literally running round with a biscuit in their hand - can't be healthy for anyone!

Why's that? I grew up in the 70s and we always grabbed a snack (toast or homemade cake, flapjack, fruit etc) as we sprinted outside to play until dinner time.

I guess I'm thinking partly of the choking risk and partly that it's mindless eating. If you sit down and use a plate then it sticks in your mind more, rather than that "where's that kitkat gone? shit I've already eaten it" phenomenon.

[armpitz]

I used to eat loads after school as a teenager. Two or even three big bowls of cereal, toast, yoghurt, fruit. Would just be starving!

[DevelopingDetritus]

I agree OP. The food manufacturers invented "snacks" to make a profit, that's the bottom line. We just have to change our habits again.

[QueenOfTheCatBastards]

The food industry invented bananas and apples? Invented toast, and cheese too? Righ ho.

bollocks

[EB123]

We have breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner.

My older two are 4 and 6 and never sit still, by 4pm they get grumpy so they have a little pick me up. I don't tend to buy stuff in especially though, its usually fruit, veg sticks, bread sticks or the odd biscuit or little cake if we have been baking.

[madein1995]

I eat when I'm hungry because if I didn't I would overeat at tge next meal or binge on shit. I try to keep my snacks as healthy as possible, but I think it is natural to eat when you are hungry. Of course theres times where I cant, when I'm at work for eg, but otherwise I do. Take today for eg. I've had a bacon sandwich and mushrooms for lunch (had a lay in). Ill have an apple and possibily a satsuma as a snack mid afternoon, sweet and sour pork and rice for tea around 6ish, then probably some strawberries, mango and a yogurt around 8. All healthy, and I won't be starving hungry in between meals

[blackteasplease]

Um, so do we all agree it's best to eat healthy, non processed food, and a reasonable, non excessive amount in total? Anything else is just about the terminology?

And best not to spend a fortune on it.

[Eolian]

My dc clamour for sugary snacks. It's hard to say no if you've got into bad habits, but I don't think the theory is that debatable:

No snacks - fine if you can get from one meal to the next without being really hungry, may not be ideal for very energetic types or very small children.

Healthy snacks (an apple, some carrot sticks etc) - totally fine

Sweet or salty processed snacks - not good on a daily basis. Ok for an occasional treat.

[SabineUndine]

I read an article a few years back about why the French -on average - stay so slim. It had two conclusions: they eat smaller portions than us, and they don't snack.

I was brought up to snack because my mother is a feeder. Now morbidly obese, I'm struggling to relearn all my eating habits. Huge platefuls are out and so are snacks other than frui or raw veg.

Btw French children eat 4 meals a day, with a snack after school that might be fruit or bread and jam. This is because lunch is at 12 and dinner at 7 or 8.

[sabzii]

Healthier to graze IMO. Big meals are outdated. I don't see what's wrong with snacking, provided it's healthy food.

My toddler has a bit of toast for breakfast then raisins, fruit, crackers, yogurt, cooked veg etc on demand between meals. She is very energetic and seems to need small frequent snacks.

[Itsnotwhatitseems]

yes, I realise my downfall with food was that whilst eating one meal or snack I would be mentally planning my next one, hence I am now realising my life was punctuated by snacks, and whilst food is important it shouldn't be the main focus in your life. I still struggle trying to avoid the habitual snacking times but I am getting much better. My children are thankfully not ruled by food in the same way as me, they eat when hungry and healthily.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

I am with you all the way, OP.

[TaurielTest]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned tooth decay and the Stephan Curve yet...
jamiethedentist.com/dental-caries-decay/stephan-curve

[madein1995]

Although when I was small (say 3yo), I'd have breakfast (Ready Brek, glass of milk) then if it was a playschool day, attend 9-12 with a snack of say 2 rich tea biscuits and a glass of orange squash at 11am (nowadays would be a healthier fruit and glass of milk), lunch at midday which could be soup and bread/sandwich/crackers and cheese, plus an apple, weak squash to drink, maybe half a bag of quavers, tea at 3.30/4pm (done for when dad got in off afternoons) then ovaltine at around 6/7. As I got older I started having supper too, altrhough on days I was home there wasn't much snacking, it was Breakfast, Dinner, Tea and Supper, although if I said I was hungry of course I was fed.

I don't think snacking per se is an issue, more what people are snacking on

[IamFriedSpam]

YABU. My DC never eat their morning snack at school but are ravenous after school and need to eat immediately or they'll be absolute monsters. Also it's nice to have dinner at 6 when we can all eat together so after school is the perfect time for a snack to see them through till then.

There's a difference between well placed healthy snacks (which are actually better for you compared to three big meals) than constant grazing when you aren't even hungry.

[noeffingidea]

I was brought up without snacking, because my parents couldn't afford it. Other kids used to have a packet of crisps at playtime, but that was all.
We used to have - cereal for breakfast, free milk at morning break, dinner at 12 am, tea ( some kind of sandwich usuallly) about 4 pm , supper (cereal again) before bed. Walked miles, ran around , played skipping etc, were skinny as rakes.
Now I run my own home I do have to guard against buying and eating too many snacks. If I'm left to my own devices I'm quite capable of eating something every hour or so so I have to be careful.
My daughter has ASD, she is lucky in that she doesn't have a sweet tooth. She does like crisps and diet coke for snacks, I have to hide them from her otherwise she would scoff the lot in one go. She is very small and slim.

[eddiemairswife]

I grew up during rationing, so no food between meals. When my children were very small we had very little money, so I didn't buy biscuits or sweets. They managed OK on three meals a day. Very often children now seem to have an expectation of snacks, because that is what they are used to whether they are hungry or not.

[Deadsouls]

I get it OP! I introduced snacking when my DCS were little. I don't know why I assumed it was normal. Now they're always wanting snacks, before dinner, after dinner etc

[Macarena1990]

My 3 very rarely snack, but eat 3 big meals. The only exception is on friday when they have sweets on their way from home and if we go to the cinema or similar.

[Squills]

I started school in 1960 and there was the option to buy a chocolate biscuit or nuts and raisins from the tuck shop mid-morning but that was it in terms of snacks. We walked to and from school and played outside - we were extremely active all year round.

It was extremely rare for a child to be overweight. I myself never suffered from weight issues and am extremely active and healthy now. There simply wasn't the obsession with food that there is today.