CM Club: Food rationing???

[KaySamuels]

I had my after schooly today referred from ss, she is 8 and was here for two hours. In those 2 hours she ate:
pizza and garlic bread, with seconds
an ice cream
two fromage frais
a baby bel
an apple
another ice cream
a bag or organic goodies alphabet biscuits
and asked for more!

I was very shocked but also felt bad for her. I still am not fully aware of her situation, and my main concern is she will eat and eat whatever is available while she can.

I realise my title is contraversial ut hopefully when you read the above list you will understand!!

So what can I do? She was constantly asking and it wasn't through boredom she did alsorts whilst here and was delightful.

I don't know what I can do aprt from distraction but really she is too old and wise for this technique! Any ideas?

I would offer

3 slices of toast
2 pieces of fruit
Dinner (if she was expected to have dinner with me? If shes not having dinner with you maybe you could suggest it then you know she is getting a proper meal?)

At most.

included with dinner is pudding btw which could be something like fruit, yogurt, rice pudding, cake, banana's and custard, jelly etc

Fill her up with toast(cheap) and be happy that you are offering the security of food to the poor mite.

Thanks lmg, the icecream was pud, but am thinking something more filling. It is the constant asking I don't know how to handle. Could just offer a slice of toast or fruit each time I guess.

I know carmenere she is lovely - one of those kids us childminders joke about keeping!

I didnt see the pizza bit (sorry been a long day lol)

I give a snack when they first come in so do toast first then make her wait for dinner, next time do jacket potato or pasta so its really filling?

Well on a Thursday arrives at tea time so that's fine, on a Friday will be here for snack time, then tea time. I didn't know today what she liked to eat so thought pizza was a safe bet. Turns out she eats most things so will do pasta or another filling tea and then a filling pud. In easter hols she will be here two eleven hour days a week - will have to stock up!

kay i know some kids that are in care and they eat like they've never been fed/like it might be their last meal

is she to be a regular mindee? if so she will no doubt get less demanding[for food] as she trusts you more and comes to understand that food is readily available - i think it is a cotrol/comfort/reassurance thing - the kids i know took a good few weeks to become more "normal" in their eating - when i first met them they'd eat stuff that'd been dropped on the floor

vintageviolet - that's so sad.

Was this a usual day's food?

The reason I ask is that there is no veg there and I know my DC's need the veg to fill them up. If they have a dinner like pizza, then I would always give them carrot, cucumber and celery sticks along with it to fill them up!

laura - they are really changed now - no longer the desperate little things they were before - much more settled and happy

Ah - just seen that you gave her pizza as you didn't know what kind of food she would eat, so giving veg at this stage probably not such a good idea. Maybe it would be worth gradually introducing it.

She's lucky to have someone like you to care for her

Yes we usually have lots of different balanced meals with veg and salad etc, had only met her before for two minutes so went with something easy for tea. Should say pizzas are homemeade with veg blended into sauce as my other mindee is the pickiest eater I have ever met!

It turns out she is a really good eater, when I asked she couldn't name a food she didn't like, which makes a refreshing change!

I think you are right about her gradually eating less as she becomes more settled. Think she will be with me til the end of summer term.

Thanks for all your replies.

I have a charge who tends to constantly ask for food, even when he's just finished breakfast or dinner he will ask for a slice of bread. I told him he should've had second helpings of noodles at dinner if he was hungry, and he accepted that. However, 2 hours later when he asked I did give him a slice of bread.
Perhaps she is trying to test you.

The trouble I have with the smallest is that he copies his brother, and will ask for food before mealtimes, when I know he is probably hungry. Thankfully it has only happened about half an hour before lunch or dinner, so I can persuade him to help me prepare things. Spending 15 mins chopping cucumber seemed to work... he knew it was coming.

Interesting point about them eating when they're unsettled....

Having cared for a lot of children from the same situation, it may be a comfort thing, it is very common, I had a little boy who would drink and drink and drink.

Just offer healthy things, that take a long time to eat and it should ease off

Hi thanks for the further replies.

I did a big platter of chopped fruit and carrot sticks for snack time, she was mucho pleased when I said this was a usual occurrence. We then had a tea and pud which she helped me prepare and that was that!

Had a good chat with her guardian today too which helped, I took a different tack today geting her to help me with preparing the food, I think we will be fine.

BTW reading back my list from yesterday I feel I need to point out this is very different from what I usually offer, usually it's fruit, veg, yoghurts, cheese, toast, etc as snacks. At least I know I can offer anything now!