To be worried about my DC sugar cravings

[sodoffbeforemycupofcoff]

My DC is telling me they’re hungry constantly. I offer fruit or a healthy snack but if it isn’t sugary they aren’t interested. It’s a constant battle. I feed them their 3 meals but they’re extremely fussy with foods. They don’t like bread, cheese, fussy with certain veg, don’t like much fruit, doesn’t like chicken unless it’s covered in batter which I do not feed them, doesn’t like much fish, if any at all, doesn’t like beans. It’s frustrating. My DC dad and I are not together so he feeds her an awful lot of rubbish. when they want a drink it’s always juice until they’re at their last option and drink water begrudgingly.
when I feed them they ask “what can I have after this?” When they eat pudding they ask what they can eat after that. It’s constant. I love a good eater and if it were healthy foods I wouldn’t mind. I am worried she’s developing a seriously unhealthy relationship with foood and I believe her to be addicted to sugar. What can I do?her dad will not listen. He feeds her pure and utter rubbish. Meals out when he has her EOW and lots of sweets. She’s not obese and inactive but she does have unhealthy eating habits which is not her fault. What child wouldn’t have sweets if offered or doesn’t ask for them?
this morning within 2 hours I have given a bowl of weetabix, an apple, a banana and another bowl of cereal. This isn’t bad but she was asking for chocolate at 7:30am this morning and has been there on out. This is not her fault and I am purely seeking advice as I do believe she’s addicted to sugary foods and I feel bad she’s craving so badly. I am not giving any treats unless it is a reward from here on out, is that the right thing to do?

Is she bored?

Lots of kids boredom eat due to having parents who would hand them a snack to keep them occupied on journeys/supermarket trips/at church/doctors appointments etc.

I don’t do that though 🤔 although I suppose her dad might. she’s not bored when she asks not all the time at least I can remember from memory as we’re out as she snacks too doing activities.

Well, sure, lots of them ask for chocolate at 7:30am. I mean, lots of adults would love to have a donut for breakfast. Lots of adults do have a donut for breakfast! You just say no. I don’t think this is particularly unusual. Kids don’t have the brain development to resist junk. None of them do. You just have to say no. Obviously, their dad isn’t so they think it’s a bit more normal. But you just don’t engage it.

But I’d aim for more filling foods if constantly hungry. Cereal and fruit is a snack but not going to keep her full til lunch. If she won’t eat things like Greek yoghurt and fruit, eggs, bagel with cream cheese, etc then feed non breakfast foods. A ham sandwich, a mini pizza, pasta with cheese, other cooked foods.

What you gave her today are primarily carbohydrates. Some people do get hungry very quickly after eating mainly carbohyydrates, especially when they are the first meal of the day.
Try leaning more toward proteins and fat, and see if it makes a difference?
Eating a bad diet EOW should not have that huge an impact on preferences, so I would look at other reasons.

Also how old are they? Because 2 weetabix, an apple and a banana might be a lot for an 18 month old, but I wouldn’t consider it much for a 4 year old.

In answer to your last question, no, don't use sugary treats as a reward. Don't use any food as a reward. Sugary treats are part of a normal diet in very small amounts but should not be elevated to something special that you can earn.

You don't say how old your child is but I assume under 12, 3 meals would not have been enough for my DC at that age: they needed 3 main meals and 2 smaller meals morning and afternoon including carbs such as a sandwich, breadsticks, crackers, fruit and dairy like yoghurt or milk.

My advice would be to not have sweets and biscuits in the house at all, except rarely. Dont restrict portion size and allow them to eat as much as they like of healthy foods (rice, potatoes, pasta with proteins and vegetables; fruit as dessert) at the mealtimes. It does sound like a sugar craving. Very difficult to handle if they are getting junk from the other parent.

Whenever I used to moan about being hungry, my dad's hilarious response would be "Hi hungry, I'm dad".

Just because she asks for food, doesn't mean she needs to have it.

I was just reading OPs other thread about this, she said her child is 6.

It would've been more than enough for my 3 DSs at four years of age.

All kids are different but they would probably only have had the 2 Weetabix.