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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think children can go a couple of hours without eating

363 replies

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/08/2021 19:26

Not sure if this is just the people I hang out with but every park play date I go on at the moment (there’s quite a few- child is 4), the other parent brings with them copious amounts of snacks.
I’m in no way a food nazi, my child has a morning snack, the odd ice cream when out on hot days, a biscuit pudding after her dinner - I always carry water and an apple- but even I think she can manage 2 hrs in a park without me having to produce a family size bag of crisps, popcorn, a fruit shoot, a haribo.
I’m really fed up of it, firstly because I’m the grinch who says “no” when my daughter asks if she can stuff her face 2hrs before dinner and secondly, because then (unsurprisingly) the other kid sits there eating rather than playing.
If you take a picnic amount of food to a 2pm play date- pls why?

OP posts:
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 20/08/2021 19:55

I think toddlers tend to self regulate anyway

Omg they don't when just offered constant food. Newsflash: there are tons of fat kids in the UK.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 20/08/2021 19:56

Notsurenow43
The key there is that the snacks are low calorie.

Fruit, salad etc is one thing, but there are kids in my group eating half a bagel as a "snack". Its so many calories.

SpringRainbow · 20/08/2021 19:57

I never regularly give my children snacks, even when they were much younger. If they asked for something to eat between meals, then fair enough but I just never got into the habit of regular snacks.

However, how other people parent their children is up to them really. I probably wouldn’t notice in this situation.

tegannotsovegan · 20/08/2021 19:58

My child is a “grazer”, and eats snack foods way more than he eats full meals - he’s always been this way, and I’m happy for him to be. He also gets very hangry. So when I go out, I always bring at least 2 snack items for him to eat if he gets hungry so I have less chance of being yelled and screamed at.

SomebodysMum · 20/08/2021 19:58

@PurpleVerbena

Cue fat kids eating snacks on demand. It is NOT necessary. If a child has 3 meals a day, there is absolutely NO need for 'snacks'.
Why have you put the word snacks in ‘ ‘?

Did you know that eating smaller meals more often can be better for metabolism? I used to be fat when I ate 3 large meals a day, now I eat 3 smaller meals and 1 or 2 healthy snacks and I’m not fat any more.

Marmelace · 20/08/2021 19:58

It's nice to take a picnic for lunch at the park, mine used to enjoy taking a break from playing to eat. Never ran around eating though.

tegannotsovegan · 20/08/2021 19:59

I think this is a great point - I don’t offer food to my son. I wait until he asks me for some before giving him any (unless he hasn’t eaten in a few hours and I’m worried he hasn’t eaten enough, but then it’s his choice to eat)

SheWhoRemains · 20/08/2021 19:59

@thistimelastweek

I trusted my children not to faint between meals. Maybe a tiny snack to keep them going. But the number of parents who greet their children at the school gates with food?
I used to do that with DS when he came out of school in the infant years. Because I sussed out that one of the reasons he came out in a really terrible mood each day was because he was hangry. School dinners aren't always that filling Hmm
ribbonsred · 20/08/2021 19:59

@namechange7865

My 5 year old has lunch at 11:30 at school and i collect him 4 hours later at 3:30 so yes, I bring him food...!!!!!

You bring food? How far away from school do you live that you can't just wait until you get home?!

20mins. Yes, I bring an apple / banana / malt loaf or even a homemade muffin. It makes for a very pleasant journey home thank you very much!
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/08/2021 20:00

One of my daughters friends mum is always saying she is worried her daughter is getting fat. Last time we were at the park mid afternoon she produced a ham sandwich, banana and a smoothie from a rucksack. I think lots of kids will eat snacks if they're offered even though they're not necessarily hungry.

I found a noticeable difference with my kids depending on age. At 2 they needed a snack between meals as weren't eating much at meals. At 4 they don't need a snack unless they are having longer between meals (eg early lunch and late dinner) or they hvent eaten much at the previous meal

WiggIyWoo · 20/08/2021 20:02

It's the quantity of snacks some people bring that I find annoying as then my child wants the same. Not sure half a bagel (as mentioned above) is such an issue though? It's not that different to having a slice of toast.

Sexnotgender · 20/08/2021 20:02

I really hate the word snack.

Expecttheexpected · 20/08/2021 20:03

My kids would rather graze all day and eat tiny meals. I'm OK with it. How are you supposed to teach kids to respond to natural hunger cues if you force them to eat 3 set meals a day?

Flatdisco · 20/08/2021 20:03

You're not the food police yet you use loaded language like stuff her face. Nice try op.

Deadringer · 20/08/2021 20:04

I don't think its about comparing parents, its more about comparing eating habits to what was usual a generation or so ago. I used to go to toddler group and all of the children seemed to eat snacks constantly, it was only on for an hour. I am sure it was mostly healthy stuff but it was constant.

TSSDNCOP · 20/08/2021 20:04

Oh my, yes. I have a friend that comes out with a bloody rucksack full of food (sorry, the word "snack" irritates the fucking tits off me) and her children are constantly mithering for more. Kids having fun don't think about food.

Comedycook · 20/08/2021 20:05

@LittleFroggie

It’s really none of your business how other people parent their children or how they feed them. Accept that you can’t control other people or stop hanging around with other people? Strange post.
It is difficult though if shes out with them and their kids are devouring Haribo and family sized bags of crisps and she has to tell her dc no they can't eat that...or the kids aren't playing because they're too busy eating.
babba2014 · 20/08/2021 20:07

We go through phases so we can go many weeks without snacks and then have days where we have more.
If I was meeting up with someone I'd take snacks. Kids want attention (not always) but you can never predict kids so it's a nice distraction for them. It could also be that they may have had a light lunch.
So many times we've been to parks and kids are upset/screaming etc and we've had a new pack of snacks 'just in case' which instantly calmed them down. Probably was a hangry kid! That said our snacks are not sugary but more like the organic ones you can buy and still taste nice. I know it's strange but parents felt so much relief in that moment and kid calmed down.
I wouldn't worry too much about snacks.

Flatdisco · 20/08/2021 20:09

@Findahouse21

A 2pm playdate for us would mean a snack at 3 - after lunch at 12 and dinner at 6, my dc need a snack midway through. I also have a cup of tea and a little something at about 3when I'm working. Don't know why that offends you.
Because people like to judge. And people on mumsnet are fucking bonkers about food.
Comedycook · 20/08/2021 20:09

I'm overweight and graze constantly...I can go all week without an actual meal. I never eat three meals a day. It's a crap way to eat but it's a habit now. The women I know who are slim eat three meals a day and don't snack.

Knittingupastorm · 20/08/2021 20:09

I would assume (but could be wrong) that kids are like adults in that they have different ways of eating. I am underweight and struggle to maintain the weight I am (as in, struggle to keep it this high), I also get shaky if I go too long without food - by too long I mean a few hours. So I eat small meals and healthy snacks in between. I’m not saying DD is like this, just that it’s not beyond reason to think some kids might also eat little and often.
I don’t take tons of food out for DD, but for a 2pm trip to the park, would probably take a banana for her, if she wanted it. That’s something she’ll eat if hungry, but won’t if not. She’s also on the very small side, so I don’t worry about the ill effects o an extra bit of fruit.

NerrSnerr · 20/08/2021 20:10

@PurpleVerbena

Cue fat kids eating snacks on demand. It is NOT necessary. If a child has 3 meals a day, there is absolutely NO need for 'snacks'.
My youngest will snack throughout the day, even though he eats 3 meals a day. He's due to start reception and age 2-3 trousers fall down even on the tightest button.

He doesn't stop all day though and if at the park will probably eat a little tub of grapes and some quavers or something.

Lavender24 · 20/08/2021 20:14

I always take a variety of snacks with me because my DD grazes a lot and doesn't eat big meals. I'd rather be prepared in case she gets whiny.

Tuliprain · 20/08/2021 20:14

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Not sure if this is just the people I hang out with but every park play date I go on at the moment (there’s quite a few- child is 4), the other parent brings with them copious amounts of snacks. I’m in no way a food nazi, my child has a morning snack, the odd ice cream when out on hot days, a biscuit pudding after her dinner - I always carry water and an apple- but even I think she can manage 2 hrs in a park without me having to produce a family size bag of crisps, popcorn, a fruit shoot, a haribo. I’m really fed up of it, firstly because I’m the grinch who says “no” when my daughter asks if she can stuff her face 2hrs before dinner and secondly, because then (unsurprisingly) the other kid sits there eating rather than playing. If you take a picnic amount of food to a 2pm play date- pls why?
Because my child has type 1 diabetes and running around playing can cause blood sugars to drop quite dramatically.
Kentmumofsoon2 · 20/08/2021 20:14

Agree with you so much OP it drives me crazy too! Mountains of snacks at 11am just before lunchtime, why? I'm also the one who sits there awkwardly with my child watching the others eat as I haven't brought anything for him. I'm quite lucky he is a great eater but also think it has a lot to do with never having given him lots of snacks, so he's hungry for his meals and really enjoys them.