AIBU to stop DD (12) snacking just before bed.

[McGingery]

So my DD likes to go to bed with a snack. I have always said no but DH is weaker than me and says yes. She eats a healthy dinner at about 5pm, then pudding and has fruit to eat whenever she wants.

My arguments are that she should have eaten something earlier (I say an hour bed bedtime so 8pm) and she is only eating as a delay tactic or out of habit. I doubt it is doing her any good to eat late and is only forming a bad habit for the future.

The snack in question is usually a large chunk of cucumber but sometimes it is cheese or chorizo!

Am I being unreasonable saying no to bedtime snacks?

My DDs are mid-teens and always, always have a piece of toast before bed. So around 9:30pm-10pm ish. They are both slim.

I've always thought it helps them sleep! They are growing, it's good for them I think.

Those are fine snacks. I’d leave her be.

I'd want a snack if I had my meal that early

Me and my sister always had a snack before bed and neither of us have ever been overweight, or had any other issues because of that. We are both 40’s. I rarely have something now but would if I wanted to!

My kids usually have a snack before bed, they’re all slim and eat their meals. Mine usually have toast or something. 5 is very early to have dinner, mine would definitely need something substantial later on. Cheese/chorizo might be a but heavy/salty but that's just my opinion.

I thought you were going to say a bag of haribo or something. Cucumber/cheese/chorizo- fine! As long as she brushes her teeth after.

Mine always have a fly cup before bed.

Usually nowhere near as healthy as cucumber (nor cheese or meats!)

It’s just food. I don’t see anything wrong with it, it’s not a full meal on top of the rest of the meals, and not junk food choice either like a chocolate bar or crisps. I think saying no to cucumber at any time of day is over policing food, I’d be happy kids were choosing to eat veg and savoury.

I would really struggle to go from 5pm to breakfast without anything, I would be absolutely ravenous.

Leave her alone,it’s not loads of food and she’s probably hungry after eating that early.

Can you make dinner a more reasonable time? She can then smack after school, then eat dinner more like 6.30/7pm.

I always snacked in the evenings as a teenager. Usually something like a cup of hot milk or hot chocolate and some biscuits, so not healthy either. Have never been overweight

What time does she go to bed and get up? If she's getting up at 7am then that's 14hrs you expect her to go without food. That's only 2hrs off the intermittent fasting diet!

I don't think there's anything wrong with eating before bed.

DS (18) and Dd (15) regularly have snacks after dinner and before bed. Here it is likely to be a homebaked treat or a piece of fruit (potentially both), but they might have oatcakes or toast. Sometimes yoghurt or cereal. I think it's really common.

5pm is quite an early dinner and a long time for a growing child to go without food.
let her have the snack.

I always had supper at that age and all through my teens. Usually cereal, cheese on toast, crumpets or a sandwich. I was slim and healthy

5pm is really early for tea and then to not be able to have anything until breakfast, even a piece of cucumber, is insane!

That's always been called supper in our house (as opposed to use of the word for an evening meal).

At least 4 generations of the ditalini family have had a snack and a drink before bed without degenerating into moral turpitude.

9pm is also a very early bedtime, I don't blame her for trying to delay it too.

I am amazed that your 12 YO asks permission for snacks. I know I certainly didn't at that age!

God she’s 12 she’s not a baby and she’s not eating a big tray of doughnuts is she , if she’s hungry then she’s hungry ?!

Sorry but me personally at 12 id of told my mum to piss off.

5 is really early for supper, I'm not surprised she needs a snack later, 9 is really early for bed too though. A protein based or veg snack is absolutely fine imo

That such a long time from eating until bedtime. I’d be hungry. YABU.

She’s having a cucumber! Or chorizo and a bit of cheese - that’s perfectly reasonable
I thought she wanted a bag of crisps and a bar pf chocolate!
as others have said expecting her to go without food from 5pm to breakfast is a lot of hours
nothing wrong with a small healthy snack as long as she brushes her teeth before bed

YABU and overly controlling of a 12 year old.

I still have supper every night. Normal healthy weight here.