8 year old lockdown weight gain

[Littleblackdress04]

Aibu to ask for some help. DD 8 has put on quite a lot of weight during lockdown- I have tried to be as active as possible but she normally does a lot of school activities etc and I weighed her earlier & she’s def above what she should be height to weight.

How should I gently approach getting healthy? I don’t buy any sweet stuff at home now bar yoghurts whereas at the start, I think we were eating out of boredom too.

It’s not helped by me working full time at home so it’s hard to get out- we don’t have a big garden. She’s also VERY clingy since this has happened so won’t even go out in the back yard on her own currently to do skipping or anything.

I am really worried - what strategy/approach should I take?

today’s food:
Weetabix and banana for breakfast
Cheese & cucumber sarnie & bag crisps lunch
Banana, apple snacks
Fishfingers, veg, mash for tea
She’s had a cornetto too this afternoon but this is a pretty normal day- she’s going out for a bike ride later with her Dad so that’s today’s exercise.
So not terrible - some days are worse than this sugar wise. She only really drinks water at home or sugar free squash.

That's a lot of not great quality food and not much fruit and veg.

Swap Weetabix for porridge or eggs on wholemeal toast.

Try a chicken salad sandwich or wrap and lose the crisps. No one needs crisps every day.

fingers and mash isnt a great dinner is it? Try a more wholesome dinner too.

Lots of fruit and veg and only a Cornetto on occasion.

On balance I agree with posters who are saying make subtle changes. However speaking as someone who was a fat child I don’t think you should avoid having the conversation completely. But make it about food rather than just aimed at her personally. So say things like “ I know we like Coco Pops but there’s far too much sugar in them. They are not a good breakfast cereal for everyday so we are going to try other things instead.” That way you are explaining the need, educating her about healthy choices without having to refer to her weight at all

I know exercise is important but I think sometimes it’s easy to assume the weight will just fall off if they are active. Kids still have variable metabolisms, genetic tendencies to put on weight etc so it’s not to be relied upon.

I realise you don’t feed her Cocopops by the way it was just an example!

853ax Sounds like low blood sugar. My mother, elder brother, and youngest sister all need to eat very regularly otherwise they get faint/tetchy. Can you look to give your 8 year old a diet that includes more foods which release energy slowly rather than giving a "spoke" and then crash, e.g. porridge instead of Coco Pops. Maybe she needs more regular snacks (could slightly reduce meal portions if this is the case), maybe carrot sticks, dried fruit, unsalted nuts.

*spike, obviously (spoke kind of works, though!)

Need an edit button!

Also whilst I'd agree it's a habit you want her to get out of, perhaps the wanting to eat something while the meal is prepared is not SO terrible; as adults we have the option of a little snack as we prepare the meal (a "spare" cherry tomato, or slice of red pepper or cheese, or handful of seeds, or crust of bread, or just needing to taste what we're cooking...)

Thanks @HadleyHem both useful points. She loves cherry tomatoes, peppers, orange so I will keep them stocked up and available.
As someone mentioned previously having them help prepare I'm trying to do this more too. She always picks pasta or pizza.

My 11 year old out in some weight but since returning to school she has lost some of it as she's less likely to eat and more likely to move! On reflection it was lack of routine and me not making her lunch and giving treats as I felt bad for them! If I'd had more of a routine I think it would have helped.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with pasta or pizza as long as the portion is controlled and they're not smothered with cheese or creamy, fatty sauces. Weigh out the pasta (if you batch cook the sauce it is quick and easy to make more pasta another day as needed). You can buy pre-made pizza base that is thin and I'm sure there are MNers who can tell you how to home-make the dough and even use wholemeal flour.

Serve with plenty of salad and include plenty of vegetables and mushrooms in the sauces/toppings. If kids do like fatty meats on top (sausage, ham), only a small amount is needed, and you might be able to "trick" them with turkey ham/chicken sausages.

853ax Maybe your DD picks pasta and pizza when she wants to cook as they are quick and fun, especially the latter? She might also enjoy making things like kebabs with turkey/chicken, mushrooms, peppers, onions, sweet potato (or miss out the meat), and assembling fajitas?

Her diet sounds grim. Do any of you cook?

@yellowsunset

Either offer ideas or please shut up and go else where

I don't think her diet sounds that bad tbh for an 8 year old. In the real world that's what kids eat! I would say it's exercise related, although you do seem to be making an effort with that. I'd push physical activity as much as possible until school returns.

Yup- I noticed it with my 4&6yr olds. Both still in the healthy range but I noticed in a photo how much "puffier" DD's face looked.
Her lockdown exercise was just SO much less than on a normal day - usually it was walking to school (20mins), running around at playtime 3x a day, walking home from school, maybe via the park etc.
A daily walk is no substitute for this. When playgrounds reopened at the weekend, I took the kids to one, then walked to a second, then home, and we were out the house for FIVE hours, walking and moving constantly. And not a single moan about being tired/legs hurting like I would get if I tried a 30minute walk! Just start getting more active and going out more, and don't stress too much. In September when schools are back, things will be more normal.

I would drop sugar free squash and use dilute juice instead, the chemicals in the sugar replacement can cause the body to crave sugar. And they taste gross.

@Birkenshock

So true!! We did 2 hours at the playground then my 4 year old had a 2 hour nap!!! Much more fun and loads more running than a daily walk!

Hi OP

If she’s having banana with breakfast I’d cut the second one, bananas are quite calorific. Apple is a great snack, so are berry-type fruits.

Cut out the crisps too. Make crisps and cornettos a weekly - say every Friday? - treat instead of a daily happening.

The above should honestly be enough but the sandwiches could be swapped out for chicken or tuna, for a lower calorie but more filling lunch. Look to portion sizes too. As much veg as she wants, decent protein, and a little less white carbs.

Tell her you’re all trying to be healthier, nothing needs to be mentioned about weight. All of the above is just educating her which will be helpful all through her life.

Other than that don’t worry about it too much, many of us have gained a bit being in lockdown!

You can get short 5/7 min work outs free on Pinterest. Maybe do those together?