To stop my daughter (what I see as) overeating?

[isthisfairidontknow]

She's 7, fit and healthy but neither skinny nor fat. Does gym, dance, etc each week.

But she has an enormous appetite. And we keep clashing over it.

For example this morning she has cried that she is hungry but has had a bowl of rice crispies, a banana and a cheese sandwich. She's only been up since 7. I've made her have a big drink in case she is thirsty. I would be full if I had that.

Yesterday she had a bowl of bran flakes, strawberries, breadsticks and Nutella (as a snack) mid morning, kids portion of fish chips and peas (at a restaurant) and apple crumble and custard for lunch then 'green pasta' for tea (peas, pesto, courgette, garlic, onions) and a corner yoghurt for pudding.

There is a rule in our house that food is unlimited but if it's outside of mealtimes it's fruit veg and water or milk. And I've offered all of that but she's still whinging on.

She's been like this every day of the holidays and it's relentless every day. Even before the holidays she was always complaining about portion size, 'can I have more? I'm hungry etc'

Is she just chancing it for more food? Because she doesn't want the fruit and veg and water on offer.

The point about protein is that it takes longer to digest and apparently makes you feel fuller for longer. This is why people are suggesting that the OP ups the amount of protein her DD has for breakfast. Cereals get digested quickly, protein could help her to not be asking for more food two hours after she has eaten.

It’s all Gillian mckeith round here

@LookingUpLookingUp “add protein to every meal “

Every meal mentioned by op has protein in it

'Every MN child is super active, slim, eats endless fruit and never a crisp or mars bar or McDonald’s has passed their sainted lips 🙄🤣'

And they never get potato waffles, fish fingers and beans for tea when they could organic mung bean cassoulet with sweet potato mash.

Maybe she is not getting sufficient micronutrients so craves more food, but is going to end up overeating calories and still lacking something.

If you record what she's eating on Cronometer for a while (pick the NCCDB versions of foods, as the others haven't been analysed as fully), you can see if there's anything in particular she's missing, and make sure she gets it.

I did it with my 8 year old daughter (who is very picky anyway), and formulated a meal plan which meets her nutritional needs from the few foods she is willing to eat.

So for lunch and supper (breakfast is porridge, or fruit & soya yoghurt, or cereal) she has two vegetables from the four she eats (pepper, carrot, frozen peas, tomato), some nuts, a cracker or oatcakes (maybe with peanut butter on), a tofu sausage, and some kind of dessert (e.g. a fruit & nut bar, or a biscuit).

She does still snack as well (e.g. extra fruit, etc), but she seems more satisfied now than before.

@00100001
Every meal mentioned by op has protein in it

Not much though, see my previous post on percentages. If post is representative of diet which OP says it might not be it could be as little as 10% protein or less.

From what I'm reading it seems like she's eating way too much carbs, not nearly enough protein and healthy fats. Vegetables and good, clean protein should be the main meals, and what she's eating as mains could be the treats in small amounts. Might be a good idea to download a good nutrition tracking app, set it up appropriate to her age and check where her diet falls short on macros and micros. I hope ye can conquere this for the sake of your little girl. Good luck and sending ye love 💖

kids don't need much protein.... maybe 20-35g

and from what OP posted depending on the portion sizes:

branflakes and milk ~ 5g
Fish, peas, custard ~ 15g+
peas, pesto, yoghurt ~ 9/10

so, for one day the girl was getting around 30g (give or take) - so it;s hardly "lacking" in protein... plus it doesn't include any little bits of protein from the pasta/flour, nutella, any extra milk she may have had :/

Unless the portion sizes being given are minuscule, or she is much bigger (but OP assures us the child is not overweight) - then how much more protein does the girl need?

So she isn't overweight, her BMI is ok, but she is nearer to the top end of healthy and I am a bit worried about her becoming overweight. That's what I meant by 'robust' she's actually really muscly naturally like her father.

Today she's had a bowl of porridge, some blueberries and a yoghurt.

She'll have a snack mid morning but not decided what that is.

Having a salad for lunch but will bulk it up for her with a jacket potato.

Got a stir fry for tea, but we are going to my mums this afternoon so will probably have cake there too!

Just wanted to say thanks to all the good advice though.

But as it’s been explained, protein and healthy fats actually fill you up. Carbs cause a huge spike in blood sugars, which then drop off dramatically and leave you hungry again. So if op’s daughter had protein and fat based meals with carbs as the side instead of carb-based, she is likely to feel fuller for longer and so negates the need for snacking continuously.

I agree if she’s hungry she’ll eat fruit or bread and butter and drink milk

If it's outside mealtimes my kids can have fruit veg salad and water as well as one meat/dairy type snack per day. If they don't want any of that then they aren't that hungry. My kids do eat loads more than I could though and there's not an inch of fat on them.

It doesn't sound like an enormous appetite to me if I had a bowl of rice crispies and a banana I'd be having a sandwich too. If you crush up a portion of rice crispies you end up with a small spoon of dust, not filling.

This is what happens when children make links between emotion and hunger. Sounds to me like she's playing you. 'Give me this or I'll cry' then mummy get's attentive when I cry...........' Don't give in, set clear boundaries and stick to your guns and offer up fruit or an oat based product like a smoothie with porridge oats added.

Possibly boredom eating. But my gd (6) eats a huge amount ( as does my gd 3). They are both skinny and never stop so obviously burn it all up.

I would keep offering the fruit, maybe carrots and hummus, and try her with a different breakfast ... eggs on toast? The protein should fill her up more.

Salad and baked potato with what? Fish, chicken, cheese? You are still not getting it. The child is hungry. I think you have a problem with food, and soon she will too.

Give her much more protein. If you're not sure which foods have protein then do a bit of research. You WILL give her issues around food if you keep depriving her.

Just to add to all the comments - kids tend to have massive growth spurts during the holidays and tend to eat much more then. My three do, and they are all skinny. So I wouldn’t worry about the quantity of food as long as it’s not mostly junk. For snacks give her fruit, raw carrots (which make great and surprisingly filling snacks), nuts if she’s not allergic, brown bread toast, cheese etc.

And measure her height after the holidays - you may be surprised at how much she has grown!

IMHO she needs more protein and fat in her diet. She is eating lots of carbohydrates which will be sending her blood sugar wild.

If she ate more filling and satisfying meals she would likely respond well.

Finally please don't make food a battleground. You will store up all sorts of trouble for the future. Different children have different levels of appetite, and go through hungry phases as they grow. work with her to help her find her own happy!

My DD was like that at that age.Always hungry.
Same rule as you OP with bread and jam thrown in,she rarely went for that unless really hungry.
I could never decide if it was boredom or wanting snack food(which we didn't have.)If it was near mealtime then I would get her to help in the kitchen and let her steal bits of cheese and veg.She still does this.

I’m a bit confused why if 7 year ago olds need more than adults as a few PP have suggested. Like 2 bowls of porridge compared to their DMs 1 then why are child portions in restaurants so small. Sorry gone off topic but it has made me wonder

Too much food for a 7 years old. Cereal or sandwich not both. My 14 years old would have something like that when hungry. Most days is just a big bowl of cereal. But he is over 5ft5

Cannot believe how many of you restrict food

I have always let kids eat as much as they like at meal times, they can listen.to their bodies and eat until they feel full.

Then there is not much need for snacks

But surely you should be allowed to eat as much as you like? As long as it is normal food and at meal times

Stick to your guns, Don’t make big issue out of it and let her eat big portions at meals and normal snacks. If she wants more on top offer fruit and water