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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your opinion on increased appetite DS11

66 replies

SharonCarter · 09/12/2018 20:10

My ds (11) has always had a hearty appetite but in the last few weeks it has rocketed to where I feel a bit concerned

Today for example
Breakfast 2 slices marmite on toast and banana
Mid morning he said he was hungry so I gave him an apple
Lunch bacon roll and cucumber sticks
Mid afternoon he said he was hungry again! So I chopped some babybels up on crackers.
Tea roast chicken dinner.
He’s just made a ham sandwich!

If I say no he waits for me to go out of sight and steals food by hiding it under his top!

He has ASD - not sure if that’s relevant or could it just be a growth spurt? He’s been eating this amount for about 6 weeks now

What do you think?

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 09/12/2018 20:29

Bacon roll and cucumber sticks isnt a full meal . Add some humus with the cucumber sticks . Or bowl of soup.

DeezMutts · 09/12/2018 20:30

Doesn’t sound like much at all. My ds is the same age and has eaten;

Two slices of toast and peanut butter
Two Weetabix

Bacon sandwich
Crisps
Two passionfruit
Banana

Packet of sweets

Plate of pesto pasta with peas with two slices of garlic bread
Bowl of strawberries

Two weetabix

That’s fairly typical and he’ll eat more on school days. I’ve no idea how tall or heavy he is but in Sept we saw a paediatrician and he was 50th centile for weight and 91st for height.

Polkapjs · 09/12/2018 20:31

My son eats so much right now and is shorter and lighter than yours. Lots of toast here and cereal and apples when I feel he’s had enough carbs

tryinganewname · 09/12/2018 20:32

Breakfast and lunch sounds like barely anything at all, would he eat some eggs with his toast in a morning, that would keep him fuller longer, maybe with avocado too just described own dream breakfast.

dippledorus · 09/12/2018 20:32

Why are you giving him? Can’t he self regulate?

ninjawarriorsocks · 09/12/2018 20:34

it doesn’t sound that much for a growing 11 year old boy especially if they are active. My DS (10) sometimes eats more than me!

I think toast doesn’t keep you full for that long. Protein keeps you full for longer. Nuts would also be a good snack if not allergic. How about adding some fruit & yogurt after lunch?

I always have a fruit bowl out and the DCs are allowed to help themselves whenever they feel hungry.

NeedAUsernameGenerator · 09/12/2018 20:35

At 5ft7 and still growing he probably something close to an adult man's calorie intake (2500) so actually depending on portion size I'm not sure if that's enough food. As long as he's eating a good balance I would just let him self regulate.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 09/12/2018 20:36

Sounds normal to me
My DS eat like
Truckers

MyKingdomForBrie · 09/12/2018 20:36

Gosh I'd be hungry on that amount and I'm not growing, poor boy. I'd give him as much as he wanted of the healthier bits, and just regulate unhealthy snacks.

Definitely bigger meals, esp breakfast and lunch.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 09/12/2018 20:39

At 5ft 7 he is taller than me so will need an adult portion. I think the PP who picked uo on hiding food wasnt being silly, at that point you hadnt explained it and people can only go off the info you give them.
As well as a growth spurt some people (myself included) are grazers and prefer sbacks and small meals to the traditional 3 big meals per day. It doesnt matter how big my lunch is i will always fancy a snack 2 hours later and same after dinner. If thats the case for your DS maybe try the little and often approach.

PullUpsAreTricky · 09/12/2018 20:39

if you put his statistics in the kids bmi, it puts him well into the overweight category. His weight ideally would be 96 -134 lbs.

WorraLiberty · 09/12/2018 20:44

My 3 year old has eaten a similar amount today so doesn't sound like much for an 11 year old

But that's like saying 'I broke my foot, so your broken arm isn't a problem'.

You massively overfeeding such a small child, doesn't change anything for the OP.

Oblomov18 · 09/12/2018 20:45

Don't sound like a lot to me. Think you have a skewered idea of what a lot is.

thehairyhog · 09/12/2018 20:46

Apart from the ham sandwich after roast dinner that sounds totally normal, my 3yo could eat the rest! I think it's the shock (!) at him needing an afternoon snack that makes you sound unreasonable.

WorraLiberty · 09/12/2018 20:48

I meant to say OP

It doesn't sound like a lot for his age, but what does 'on the big side' actually mean?

Do you mean he's getting fat? Because if he is, then he needs to up his exercise/activity levels to match his eating.

Not all kids who are 'on the big side' get growth spurts that make them slim again.

Dotty1970 · 09/12/2018 20:52

Silly comments because he's obviously not getting enough.... Just fruit and cucumber sticks won't fill him as some of his snacks.
And he is feeling the need to hide his food from you or he would be hiding it!

Original poster
SharonCarter · 09/12/2018 20:56

Worral - yes on the big size I meant he is in small men’s clothing and not as lean as I think he should be. I agree he needs to exercise more.
He’s just had some more to eat - not at all deprived as some of you seem to be implying!

OP posts:
Original poster
SharonCarter · 09/12/2018 20:56

Dotty please go away - you clearly are too stupid to see the bigger picture

OP posts:
dippledorus · 09/12/2018 20:59

He’s not eating enough.

WorraLiberty · 09/12/2018 21:03

OP, does he like scrambled eggs?

When my DS's were growing fast, scrambled eggs on toast used to make a very good 'snack'.

Also, some people can mistake thirst for hunger, so perhaps make sure he's drinking plenty.

But apart from the exercise thing, it doesn't sound like there's really an issue.

Dotty1970 · 09/12/2018 21:15

No, you need to explain the bigger picture then.
I think I've just upset you because you are feeling bad because it's true?
Not saying you are internationally doing it by the way.

CardinalCat · 09/12/2018 21:30

There are potentially quite a few empty calories in what you describe- eg is the sandwich on white bread and is the toast? Brown or wholemeal bread should fill him up better. There could also be more protein especially at breakfast (eggs and smoked salmon, nuts for a snack instead of quavers, or an extra thick layer of marmite rather than scrape on the breakfast toast. Peanut butter is also a good filler). If your child is saying they are hungry and you feel like they have eaten plenty, then ime you should consider looking at the nature and quality of what they have eaten rather than the quantity of it.

Mamabear12 · 09/12/2018 21:59

What the heck did he eat before his increased appetite?!? I’m sorry, but what you listed looks normal or even a bit on the small side for eating! My ds age 5 ate today

Breakfast - 3 crepes (ham and cheese, chocolate and honey)
One hard boiled egg, broccoli and bread for lunch
2 sugar cookies and 2 pieces of chocolate
Apple juice and croissant for snack
Burger w bun, potato wedges and green beans for dinner

He usually has another snack added in. Both my dc eat like this. It was not the healthiest of days, as we had more treats then normal (instead of treats it would be crackers w cheese or nuts and oat bar etc). And both my children are on the slim side.

You mention your son is on the big side and your concern about his eating makes me think you worry he is becoming over weight. Do you think he is sneaking more food in?

Disfordarkchocolate · 09/12/2018 22:02

It doesn't sound that much to me. Teenagers can be very hungry. My only aim was to try to make some of the snacks healthy.

nokidshere · 09/12/2018 22:04

There's not enough protein for a growing child.

My 11yr old would have had much more to,eat in a day than that, a typical days food for him would have been:

Breakfast: eggs, bacon, wholemeal toast, beans or tomatoes
Mid morning: hummous, pita bread, chopped veg
Lunch: chicken and salad wrap, yoghurt, crisps, fruit
Mid afternoon: more fruit or biscuits
Dinner; pasta, grated cheese, garlic bread

And he would still be in and out of the fridge proclaiming he was hungry. He was quite roundish, then he would slim and get talller, then rounded, then taller.

He's now 17 and eats more than I can keep up with, he's very active, very slim, very tall.

I'd say just limit the amount of sugary foods while you can but definitely up the daily amount of food.

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