A constantly hungry 4 year old

[englishgirlintaipei]

Since turning 4 my DD is eating so much it's hard to keep up with her! Seriously she eats and eats, and then tells me that she hungry twenty minutes later. We're vegan and we eat a pretty health diet, some junk but not really. (i'm fully aware that being vegan to some of you will just be the answer but really i am pretty careful about what we eat that we eat enough of all the right things ect) She dislikes sweet food (thus isn't on a sugar crash) and isn't a fussy eater at all (thus not just eating junk).
I guess that she's having a growth spurt but seriously at what point do you just say no, no more food! I'm pretty strict about finishing meals, which she always does in fact often wanting seconds. I give her food before bed but she's been waking in the night telling me she's hungry, i don't give her food but when she wakes up she tells me she's really hungry.
She's 2 stone and 100 cm so she's far from over weight! she's doing pretty well for a rough start so the Dr's and i are happy with her growth. She's very active but her food intake seems crazy, people have asked "has she good worms?" I am guessing the answer is no as she has no symptoms.
So do you have a kid that just eats like a horse but is skinny? Where you like that as a kid?Any other vegan mums out there?
Thanks!

I am not a vegan but my dd age 6 sounds just like yours - she is a skinny minny but eats like a horse - she eats more than I do sometimes - very active. It is a bit of a problem at sch as she finds the school dinners just aren't enough. She could eat two dinners and still want a pudding. I am thinking of taking her to the doctors as she often has an upset stomach and wondering if she has some sort of digestive problem. Having said that I was really skinny at her age so the weight isn't really an issue

We're not vegan either, and my DD (age 4) is also endlessly hungry, especially when she comes after school. I am always amazed at the amount she can put away. She's not skinny, but she's definitely not overweight and is very strong and sturdy.

Sometimes she says she's hungry when she's actually bored or anxious - I usually test it by distracting her into doing something and seeing if she still complains about hunger 10 minutes later. Most of the time I just try to make sure I'm giving her healthy snacks and she's getting enough exercise.

Lots of mums I know say the same about their kids at this age. Perhaps it's a prime growth spurt time, or a phase? I've trained myself not to fret about it!

thanks, i am trying not to fret about it but people are often very shocked at how much she can put away..it shocks me too! i'm guessing it's just he growing! lets hope so.

My almost 4yr old son is exactly the same! We are not vegan, he is a bit fussy but will eat what he's given most of the time. He is just constantly eating though and it's starting to get a little bit ridiculous! He is 104cm and weighs 2 stone, is pretty skinny! I'm the same as you, I'm not sure when to say no now as I'm not sure if he is actually hungry or just bored... so difficult to tell! But if he is playing with friends or we are out doing things he will still complain he is hungry, even if he has just eaten a large meal.
I don't know what to do, surely it is not normal to not be able to go for more than an hour without food!!?

My four year old ds1 is just the same. He's also quite chunky, so am conscious of not letting him overeat. I give him healthy snacks which he is happy to eat, but I do also say no often as I feel there is a limit to what he actually needs to eat. He also barely goes an hour without asking for food. I actually feel it is more that he likes eating than anything else, and also something to do when he is bored, but he asks for food even when he is having lots of fun playing so who knows how their minds work!

I do worry sometimes that he is in bad habits, but children are all different and you can only do your best to set a good example and give them lots of exercise etc.