AIBU to ask for advice re DD eating habits

[twinklesandstrawberries]

My daughter is 3.5 and ever since weaning has been obsessed with food and eating.

She has never not finished her plate, never refused food (with the exception of tomatoes which she doesn't like) and has never registered feeling full.

If she finishes her food before you do, she will try to eat your food.
We don't like taking her places with food as she will just want more and more and more, and scream even if she has a completely full, hard stomach.

An example day would be:

Breakfast: slice of toast with boiled egg.
Snack: apple and chunk of cheese.
Lunch: sandwich/pasta with veg sticks and yoghurt
Snack: sweetcorn/veg fritters
Dinner: spaghetti bolognese/curry/fish and wedges with lots of veg.
Dessert: some more fruit.

Yet she I'd always begging for more. I try to distract her but it rarely works.

We took her to the doctors to make sure there were no medical causes. They didn't believe her to as no other symptoms, but do agree that our portion sizes are right, and it wouldn't be best to give her more.

It gets me down as I have nobody I know that relates with the same problem.
Does anybody have any advice or tips?

Is she drinking enough?

Is she infusing thirst for hunger?

Im sure I've read about a medical condition where some people just don't have the sense of feeling full...

Keep doing as youre doing, and if it continues go back to the GPs - it's good you're being sensible and not overfeeding!

sazzle I think it is prader willi syndrome.

I'd also suggest to try giving her a drink (water or milk though, not squash) when she says she's hungry but not long had food.

What was her feeding behaviour and temperament like as a baby? How is her weight?

Thanks for replies.

I'd say she drinks about average, perhaps a little less than she should.

Her feeding as a baby was normal I think, I didn't worry then. Her weight is normal at the moment as we control her eating.

She's eating a great diet, there's no rubbish in there at all. Which is great. But I wouldn't say that was loads by any stretch. As long as it's healthy, I've always given my growing kids as much as they want.

Could you try upping the protein a bit? I would definitely say that even aside from any specific medical disorders there are definitely people who have bigger appetites than others. In my family there are some, like me, who without having excellent will power never really gets fat as our appetite naturally regulates our weight. There are a few others who always seem to be hungry and have to be careful with their weight. At least in my generation they've always been like that since we were kids. (I can specifically remember my cousin always being the last at the table trying to finish everyone's food). As an adult she just watches what she eats, eats filling food, lots of protein and does plenty of exercise, she's not overweight ( not noticeably anyway) but it's definitely N effort for her as she talks about what she has to do to avoid getting bigger.

Looks lacking in much protein, try upping it a little.

Looks like enough protein to me - there’s actually protein at every meal which is more than enough. She might be due for a growth spurt. Unless there is clear medical issue or she is making herself ill, let her eat when she’s hungry or it could cause more problems with eating down the line

Is she actually overweight OP? Sorry I don't think you mentioned. Her diet doesn't sound bad at all though...if she does want more can you leave it to fruit and veg and maybe some filling protein like cottage cheese or quorn?

Thanks again for suggestions.

We often have days with a lot more protein, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I wish it was, as it would be much easier to fix, but I really don't think the problem is that she is hungry.
When we have let her eat as much as she likes, she has given herself stomach aches but she still asks for more, not seeming to connect the stomach ache with the fact that she has ate so much. It's like she enjoys eating so much that she wants to eat despite being full.

I realise that she's not eating loads at the moment but only because we don't give in to her requests all day.

Definitely not a growth spurt as has been the same since around 7 months.