To lock up all the food.

[bristolianpielover]

I have two DS's, aged 7 and 9. They are both healthy weights (recently checked at medical apt's, so I'm aware of their centiles, I'm not just kidding myself!), and both extremely lean. But they eat CONSTANTLY. Fruit, toast, cereal, yoghurt, fruit loaf, cheese etc. I don't have sweets and chocolates in the house, but I know that these snacks are far more sugary than is ideal.
They eat a proper dinner. Tonight was fish fingers, home made chips an peas. None of us have huge portions, but they can eat as much as me. 10mins later, the elder one was making toast with peanut butter. A little while after that he nicked one of his sandwiches that I'd made for tomorrow's packed lunch.
Boxes of cereal and tubs of yoghurt just vanish before my eyes. I've moved stuff onto higher shelves, but the little one just climbs up to get it. Argh!
They are really active and do a tonne of sport over the week, so they burn it off. But I am genuinely perturbed at times at how much food they can get through. Notwithstanding having to replenish stocks far more often than feels normal. I do tell them to stop and wait. But then I feel bad if they say they are hungry. But they shouldn't be hungry because they've already eaten loads. Help!

I agree with pp about giving more protein and fat. If I eat a high protein, high fat meal I'm full for hours. For example if I have a 3 egg omelette with veg and lots of cheese for brunch I'll probably still be full at dinnertime! If I eat a meal with loads of carbs I'm starving within an hour.

I swear I’ve seen that Japanese new about 3 times now on different threads

Out of curiosity I googled calorie needs of children. It said 7-10 years 2000 calories. 11-14 years 2500 calories. 15-18 years 3000 calories. So contrary to what you believe they do need more calories than you! They're growing and active boys so please don't worry about portion control.

NHS states average calorie requirement for a 7 year old boy is about 1,600. That’s the average. A small boy will need less. A very active boy will need more.

Average for a woman is 2,000?

And the OP’s younger boy is 7, so he does not need to be eating entire chickens. 1,600 calories is three sensible meals and a couple of snacks and some milk. Not third portions of dinner.

People eat until they have enough protein. Endless snacking just encourages blood sugar spikes & dips, they need to have their fat metabolic pathways working too, so people suggesting more fat & protein are spot on here.

I can't do it but the gym owner/trainer is getting my exceptionally lean DH to eat pork pies on long runs!

That didn’t seem very much at all to me. They are obviously burning through the calories if their weight is fine, so why wouldn’t you just feed them larger portions at mealtimes?

I don’t understand the need to calculate exact calories etc for otherwise healthy and normal children. Four fish fingers is a sandwich, not a main meal btw.

Growing boys are famous for their hollow legs. I agree with pp, larger meals should prevent them from constant snacking.

As long as they are eating health snacks, as it seems they are, why try to limit their intake? You say yourself they are both lean. I remember my brother was always hungry, always ate loads and stayed skinny forever. Feed your children more is all you can do.

Four fish fingers is a sandwich, not a main meal btw.

Four fish fingers is a decent portion of protein.

Three fish fingers is 13g of protein. A 9 year old should have about 20g a day.

bread and potatoes also contain a decent amount of protein. as do many veg, esp peas, beans and brassicas.

Also, excessive protein will be stored as fat, not muscle, unless the child is exercising at an elite level, according to my reading, and it’s bad for the internal organs. So maybe don’t start stuffing them like a foie gras goose just yet.

My son does athletics, he has a small tea before training and a big tea, pudding and snacks afterwards. Skinny as a rake.

It can be hard when they go through growth spurts or are doing a lot of activities to get the right food balance.

My son would be able to eat 4 fish fingers and chips for lunch! when he was the same age.If they are sporty ,they will burn it off no problem !.Boys are usually super hungry!.Maybe do some mashed potato or Jackets (oven chips not very filling TBH) .Do they like spag bol ? maybe serve with some garlic bread .Mild Chilli with plenty of rice !.If you up the carbs a bit ,that should sustain them a bit more !.When I worked in the Nursery was always surprised how much little boys can eat!.My cousin apparently ate a whole loaf when a teenager, and DH and his friend used to eat seconds for school lunch and have supper as well!. !(Peanut butter is always popular and seems quite satisfying too!)

I have a similar issue going on with my DC (14 and 11), however neither eat a huge amount in one go, nor are they massive carb eaters. so no point in larger portions/offering bread etc...They are more grazers.

But my problem is getting them to eat 'healthy' snacks and what to offer that won't be sneered at

I’d be interested to see your reading @herculepoirot2. A low carb, high fat and protein diet is the only way I’ve successfully lost weight, it got 20kg off me.

My youngest is like a waste disposal unit. Always has been even as a baby he was always hungry. He’s always been tall and a healthy weight.
The others hit the hunger stage during growth spurts.
I make sure there’s protein snacks and over cook so there’s always left overs available.

Completely normal for growing kids.
Keep it healthy and don't fret

I also don’t compare their food intake with mine.
They are growing and more active than I am. If I ate at the same level I would be obese.

Popcorn is your friend here.Buy a bag of kernels.Much better and cheaper.

I have 5 boys and my presses are never full.I come home from shopping.its like i have been hit with a swarm of locusts.

Eggs,noodles,beans,bread,cereal,milk.Are all great for snacks.But they do eat a lot.I look at my 3 youngest and i cant believe whet they can ut away.Its unelieveable.

@HappyLoneParentDay nothing was fried the chicken was oven baked and the dumplings were just heated.
So far only 1 cavity.

I'm expecting my DS to be like this - he's 5 now but he's showing every sign of being like my DH, who'll eat a full roast dinner and then make himself a cheese sandwich an hour later. DH is extremely slim (32inch waist, 6ft3) and I have no idea where the calories go.

My brother was, and is, like this. Half the time it was just greed, 10 minutes after eating you've barely digested your meal! They used to refuse him food until he'd had a drink and waited a bit after a meal. Half the time he didn't end up with the snack/junk he wanted. He still struggles with being full/knowing he's full now and he's in his 30's.

This is the norm, OP. I think when they're that muscular and lean, they're just constantly burning calories even when they're doing nothing, and that's before you take into account activity levels.

It sounds like you're feeding them a good, healthy diet, but definitely increase the portion sizes and make sure they're getting protein at every meal - it fills them up, and the body can't store it like carbs, so they need it each mealtime.

DS is 11, is nothing but muscle, and is noticeably built more like a teenager than a child now - his favourite meal is pesto pasta with broccoli and ham/chorizo. I make the same amount of pasta for him as I would do for me AND DH and he finishes it off, has crackers and cheese as another snack, and then pudding.

Every parent of boys I've ever spoken to has said they will eat you out of house and home so beware!

Am I the only one surprised by the number of fish fingers a child eats. I know as a child my family didn't have much money spare, but Two fish fingers was the max. DF had three if he was lucky! 😂

Feel quite badly done too...but then again I have maintained my weight without having to think about it.