To be concerned about 'snacks'

[dayoneoftheschoolholidays]

So it's the first day of the school holidays for us.

My daughter (9) is an absolute nuisance for asking for snacks every waking minute of the day, it's manageable at the weekend, but 40 solid days of this incessant mithering is going to finish me off.

We have been to a play centre today and out and about running a few errands, so not bored lazing around the house.

But all she's done is mither about food and snacks, slushies at the play centre, vending machine, etc...

She got slushy, and we had a McDonald's lunch for a first day off treat, but since getting home it's the usual mithering for junk food.

She's a healthy size and weight, fits into clothes for her age with plenty of room, plays football, swims, does gymnastics, so I'm not concerned about that side of things, but obviously if I allow her to stuff herself silly it could become an issue in the future.

She eats well, three decent meals a day and plenty of healthy snacks available whenever she wants such as fruit, rice cakes, water, vegetable sticks etc. But she constantly wants biscuits, crisp, chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks.

We don't not allow it. She is allowed maybe 1 or 2 small things a day, the odd fizzy drink when we eat out, we don't have a ban on this stuff, I just want her to enjoy it in moderation and not gorge on it for the sake of it.

I've explained it isn't healthy for her, she needs to have a drink if she feels like she might be hungry, or grab an apple or something, not constantly pester me for crap food, but it goes in one ear and out of the other and before I know it she appears again mithering for 'snacks'.

How do you/would you manage this?

No, there are 53 calories in one Oreo.

106 calories in 2 Oreos
55 calories in mini bag of haribo
59 calories in a small chomp bar
79 calories in a bag of Pom bears

Compared to what I see some kids eat I wouldn't say it's terrible. She always gets at least 5 a day, several glasses of water and has 3 decent varied meals.

She is 9 and is a healthy weight, she doesn't need to be cross with herself, because she's a child, and she isn't on a calorie controlled diet.

I was looking for advice on how to manage the constant asking for snacks over the holidays, not the calorie content or quality of snacks.

I'm aware, as everyone is, that chocolate and sweets are not 'good' food, however we are talking about 'fun size' portions and individual packs, not sharing bags and huge blocks of chocolate.

I'm comfortable with allowing her to have these as long as she is eating well generally. If she started refusing meals or snacks were affecting her appetite, or her health was being affected, then it would be a different situation.

I would just stop buying the junk if she was mithering me constantly for it. She can have fruit, veg sticks or make herself a piece of toast if she’s really hungry.

I'm most intrigued by your use of the word, "mithering". I've never heard anyone use that before but I like the sound of the word.

It amused me, when I worked in Oxford a told a Dr to "Gi'over mithering me" then I had to translate.

It's a very northern word.

OP

I wouldn't have the energy but I saw someone on YouTube who took grapes off the vine, washed them and then put them in the fridge as snacks.

I think children like small packs so are more likely to eat a baby bell than a piece of cheese they have to (or you have to) cut.

I like the idea of a snack box.

I am very northern and my mum always said stop mithering

To defend my point. We are grazers. We decend from apes for heaven sake!

I'd get out a days ration of what you're prepared to let her have and when they're gone, they're gone.

Or, you could give her a list of her options available and tell her she can choose (x number) for that day so she gets to choose a little too. On that list I'd write ALL her options - the ones in the house and the ones out (fizzy drink in a cafe) so she doesn't think she's getting x amount in the house and then can go out and get a drink and snack etc out too.

My kids are late teens now but they never asked for snacks! During the holidays they would have carrot sticks, raisins or fruit same as they would at nursery or school for elevenses. Once in a while they would have a penny mix up or chocolate which was seen as a real treat and never expected. We didn’t keep junk food in the house as I was worried about establishing bad eating habits and weight gain. Giving kids sugary snacks daily cannot be good.

When we have days out I will be altering what she can have from home depending on where we going and what she may eat/has eaten.

This is why I'm concerned because we weren't really keeping track. We were just being pestered all the time and it was either a begrudging 'yes ok' or 'no this is the third time today you've had enough'.

But we didn't remember exactly what she'd had then we would go out and she would ask for something else. Then we'd have a film night and she would want popcorn etc.

I just don't want it getting out of control I want her to learn about moderation and self control. It isn't necessary to completely ban snacks and clear the cupboards like some posters have suggested. It's just about being aware of what she is consuming and teaching her how to regulate it.

She has demonstrated she's more than able yesterday by carefully spacing out her snacks throughout the day.

She even put her sweets aside for when we watched a film together after tea

Oh yes I also have this problem. My dc don't even have snacks at school so I don't understand this constant need in the hols. If I hear the word snack one more time......rage. I also have one dc with afrid to make matters worse. Its so peaceful on my working days. I bet they don't mither the childminder for snacks. Might try the box idea.