To ask those of you whose kids are 'big eaters' ?

[rabbitheadlights]

I have 7, all healthy weights, reasonably active etc ... But my god!!! They do not stop eating. Ever. We've just had breakfast and the conversation was about what's for lunch! I mean really, why? I'm sick of it I feel like a slave to the kitchen. How do you guys do it? Is there set snack times? Or a free for a all? I dunno ... If I hear "muuuuuum, I'm hungry" one more time I think I may cry!

Firstly, are they actually hungry? Have they had a filling nutritious meal? If so, then are probably not actually hungry and are just bored/attention seeking. We have a set snack break at 11am which consists of one biscuit and one piece of fruit. There is nothing else between meals other than the occasional ice cream if it's hot in the afternoon.

My kids don't ask me because they know the answer is no.

I can't imagine dealing with 7! Are they little or a bit older. If they are older then I'd buy an extra loaf of bread and a jar of jam and tell them to make themselves a sandwich. If little - wait until your next meal.

I'm sure you've tried all that before though!!!

Thanks for your reply, I am inclined to think it's just boredom or attention most of the time it's definitely the 3 and 4 yr old that do it the most, the older ones do have a habit of helping themselves to the biscuit cupboard whenever they fancy though.

I would maybe give them each a named tupperware with their own snacks which they can access any time (with reasonably healthy things like boxes of raisins / tangerines / muesli bars / etc). They can help themselves to that but once it’s gone it’s gone, and they won’t get any other snacks. You can replenish it once or twice a week. That might help them regulate their own snacking habits, or at least give you a break from being nagged about it all the time!

My DS is only 2 but has been asking for snacks a lot less since we really focused on having less sugar. He can have one dried fruit snack in the day, otherwise cheese, carrot sticks, plain rice cakes, crackers, nuts etc.

What ages are the rest of them?
if they are teenagers or tweens, then I'm afraid there's no filling them. sorry.

@kogesor802 thanks for the insight, it actually never occurred to me I'd have to feed them!!!

@muh2020 7,11,14 and 2 younger ones.

You have 7 children - I don't think "eating too much" is something that should have come as such a shock - you must spend a decent portion of your income on feeding them alone.

@zscaler that sounds like a good idea, I'd probably have to do it daily though.

Mine have an insatiable hunger too which I’ve had to curb, we’re trying to reduce the amount of times DH goes to the supermarket so they’re having to stop the endless snacking. I think it’s boredom most of the time.

Are they drinking enough? Especially of none sugary drinks? Like just water?

Even my 7 year old will know to try a drink of water before asking for food.

@vladimirsPoutine again thanks for the insight, as above it never occurred to me I might actually have to feed them!!!!

My question is in relation to snacking not meals!

I agree with @zscaler. Get a tupperware, name one for each child and at the start of each day pop some healthy snacks in there, when they are gone they are gone and won't be refilled.

I think when we first locked down my two DC were always dipping into the biscuits and DD did say that she was just living for the next meal as there was no real structure to her day.

Now the novelty has worn off they're sticking a bit more to regular mealtimes, especially DS who normally does 7+ hours of sport a week during normal times at school.

I can't imagine what it's like to be cooking for 7 though

teenagers can eat the house down!

The younger ones might be bored, thirsty, just feeling like having a snack they don't need.
Most of the country is currently telling their kids to use their "school stomach" and stop asking for a snack every 5 minutes.

If you ever had the misfortune on going on school trips, you will have noticed that the most regular question is "is it snack/lunch time yet" .

@Whathaveifound cooking is actually my thing, I enjoy it. The snacking is what's driving me mad.

Mine are avoiding needing a mid morning snack by sleeping until lunchtime (boys age 16 & 19) but something after dinner is the norm, okay as this is pudding I suppose. They can take what they like from the cupboard but only what fits on a side plate. That's not my rule btw they've just figured that themselves.

But I feel your pain. I'm fed up of planning meals whilst shopping once a week.

In which case i'd go for set snack times. Or a daily snack box for each child as suggested above.

It's probably boredom that making them snack. Same as me sometimes!

Nobody needs snacks.

My 7yo definitely boredom eats since lockdown. Literally every half hour minimum I'm hungryyyyy mostly I'll during homeschool work that's set by the school.
I know it's boredom eating because if I offer a banana the hunger magically dissipates into a query about who's going to eat all the biscuits in the cupboard.

I may be a bit mean here but I've just stopped buying crap for all of us. I don't need it either while I'm pretty much sedentary most of the week. We still have things like honey on toast as 'sweet' stuff but no more biscuits = no more endless whining well initially it kept on until she realised it really wasn't going to reappear. I also leave out lots of fruits and nuts with pots of veg in the fridge within easy reach as well.

I'm definitely going to try the daily box idea. Thanks everyone

Nobody needs snacks

Actually, it's much healthier to encourage your children to eat healthy portions and have a snack mid morning and mid afternoon instead of stuffing themselves at meal time. Diner is better as light meal.

It doesn't mean you need snacks every 5 minutes.

Food gives us a really good structure, we try to follow the Nursery pattern. So good breakfast of porridge and toast, fruit time with rice cakes/breadsticks/biscuits about 10.30, then again about 3pm. Seems like a lot but they like the routine and so do I!

@kelsoooo you may be onto something with the water!