How much does your 8yo eat?

[weegiemum]

I have an 8yo ds, (as well as dd1 who is 10 and dd2 who is 6).

Recently, ds has been eating for Scotland. Yesterday he had a huge bowl of weetabix (2, then another 1 afterwards) for breakfast, a chopped apple and raisins for midmorning snack, 2 rounds of cheese and cucumber samdwiches on wholemeal bread) and 2 yoghurts for lunch, banana mid afternoon, macaroni cheese full of veggies too for tea, then an orange and 2 cookies for supper. This is typical. THis morning he had more rice krispies than I could count (with milk) and a banana afterwards, and has gone off to the church Holiday club with a bag of crackers and cheese as the apple and raisins "wasn't enough" yesterday.

He's tall for his age and really skinny at the moment but I have noticed that he is half-mast in several of his pairs fo trousers again. I think it is just he is having a growth spurt! He drinks semi-skimmed milk, eats plenty protein (meat, cheese, eggs, lentils etc). He gets more than his 5 a day - usually 8-10 portions suitable for his age, about half fruit, half veggie.

He's always been a good eater, never overweight, he gets a huge amount of exercise (he cycles, swims, plays rugby and football, and is learning to surf!) and plays outside with his friends as often as the weather is good enough.

Its just that I couldn't eat all he does just now (and I have a healthy appetite!).

Is this just typical for an 8 year old growing boy. I know my Gran would say he had a tapeworm, but I think that's a bit unlikely!

The girls don't eat anything like as much, though they are pretty much as active as him. Do boys just need more food?

anyone?

My DS who is now 9 did this, I asked my GP if she thought I should try to control his eating and she said no he is growing and needs this food.

I was worried as I gain weight very easily, and did not want him to be overweight. He has grown a lot taller since then but has got a little bit heavier than he should be, so I have increased his exercise.

I wouldn't try to reduce his food at the moment but keep an eye on his weight. He has a lot of growing to do. My DS has settled into a more normal level of food consumption now.

Ds1 (nearly 10) and ds2 (7.5) are both like this with a similar lifestyle. Keep telling them that we won't be able to afford them as teenagers .

Same here! DS8 eats similar amounts, not overweight and very active. I swear he is growing taller every day at the moment. Fridge is bare again- yet another shopping trip later

He's going to beggar us at this rate though. The thought of him being a teenager makes me

My DS is just 10 and has constantly cycled through eating masses and eating next to nothing. In the 'eating masses' phases he blobs out and gets a bit of a paunch. Then he seems to grow 3" overnight, his trousers are at half-mast and suddenly you can see his ribs again. Then he goes for a few weeks not really noticing if it's lunchtime etc.

If the food your son is eating is well-balanced & nourishing then I wouldn't be worried about quantity.

Yes exactly Chili they're GROWING!! Don't worry.

I asked a good friend with older ds about this. I don't think your ds is eating too much, but one of her tips was to give food that takes longer to eat, so they feel fuller. So instead of bread for sandwiches, a bagel that you have to chew more.

But in your case, I'd give more snacks, including cake or flapjacks. He's burnign off so many calories!

sorry, meant fruit cake instead of raisins, as well as flapjack.