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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that my 6yo DD shouldn't be eating an 8oz steak

111 replies

bratnav · 03/05/2010 20:09

DDs came back from a weekend at their fathers today. DD2 mentioned that they had been out to lunch yesterday with Daddy, aunty and cousin and she had a steak.

exH then stated proudly that he had ordered adult meals as it was 2for1 (only on adult meals) and both DDs had finished the plateful DD1 had a carvery and DD2 had an 8oz steak with peas and chips I understand that it was a good deal, but couldn't he have taken the excess food from their plates before they started eating?

On what planet is it ok for a parent to let 6 and 7yos overeat to this degree? I admit it is an ongoing issue between us, but FGS that is ridiculous isn't it?

OP posts:

Morloth · 04/05/2010 09:54

Kids do seem to snack a lot these days - certainly a lot more than when I was a kid. People seem to be afraid of their kids being hungry ever. I think a nice edge to your appetite when you sit down for a meal is a good idea. Feeling hungry is good for you and I find with kids that they are a lot more likely to eat normal food when they haven't been grazing in between.

I think people overthink about food a lot now.

Bonsoir · 04/05/2010 09:57

The problem with snacking is that it makes it very hard to control and remember your food intake for the day.

If you limit food to three meals a day only, it is much, much easier to keep tabs on what you and your family eat, and to ensure that good nutrition is balanced out over the day/week.

royalmess · 04/05/2010 12:59

I agree about the snacking. I do give my dcs fruit if they want it in between meals, and for their morning snack at school. They are always telling me how "everyone else" gets chocolate biscuits etc in their snack box - I'm sure it's not everyone like they say but it must be some or they wouldn't think to complain!

Peartree15 · 04/05/2010 14:32

Far better than being obsessed with being unhealthily thin. As long as it's just now and again, no problem. My daughter eats a good balanced diet, until her bloody father takes them all out somewhere and thinks it's fun to stuff them with burgers, chips, sweets, and other crap so that he can sneak some too. No biggie I reckon.

RunawayWife · 04/05/2010 14:44

Sorry but I really don't get it, they ate an adult size dinner, they must have been hungry and it is not as if it is every day

mumbar · 04/05/2010 18:00

Well thought I'd let u know what my ds 5 has eaten today!!

2 slices of jam on toast and apple for breakfast.

10:30am apple

lunch: carrot, cucumber, red pepper, frube, cheese, banana, cake bar.

2.30pm orange

4pm grapes and fun size choc

dinner: pasta and salad, apple, banana, pot of jelly.

To me it seems like a huge amount but he does eat lots of fruit and veg which I'm not arguing with!! It is normal for him to eat this amount but is average weight and height (50%tile has just been checked at sch)

Also worth mentioning he's been on bike for hour after school and had PE today as well as 2 playtimes so I think it's all relative.

A lot of people have said they think children (not necessarily their own) seem to snack more these days. Perhaps the solution is either smaller meal and snacks or larger meal without lots of snacks.

OP I still think that a once off large meal seems ok although tbh I've never ordered one for ds he still gets childrens, but perhaps the way your ex said how he was proud is in a different tone than we are imagining. You were there and I think if it bothers you you do need to talk to him.

cupcakesandbunting · 04/05/2010 18:25

I don't know about anyone else but I could really go for an 8oz steak right about now...

Auntyviral · 04/05/2010 20:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Chandra · 04/05/2010 21:21

My DS is 7, and I'm sure that at 6, he didn't have enough with a child portion, actually, at the moment he eats more than me and he still looks like a straw.

gorionine · 04/05/2010 21:37

Auntyviral (love the name BTW!) I think your way is the way to go, different children, even from the same family, do/can have different food intake needs, according to their age and their physical activity level.

I am not sure I agree with the article you refere to though. The more Dcs I have (not hundreds of them mind, just 4) the less they seem to enjoy food. I am pretty sure as well that if I was serving the same portion to all of my Dcs, there is absolutely no way the two little ones(3 and 5) would be able to clear a plate containing the quantity their older siblings (9 anfd 11) eat. Also, I do not understand the "cook over compensate for so many children" could you explain that a bit more?

fidelma · 04/05/2010 22:34

Just thought I would add what DD2 has eatten today

2 bowls of cheerios with skimmed milk

tuna sweetcorn pasta,cereal bar,strawberries.

french bread with cheese and tomatoes

3 fruit gums

1 rash of bacon,1 egg and 2 oatcakes, 2more oatcakes with jam.whole punnett of cherry tomatoes.

water to drink.

She has had 2 playtimes, swimming at school and a walk up the hill for over an hour plus some time playing on her bike.

I usually serve her food on a side plate.

Does that sound like a normal days food to you all ?

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