What am I doing wrong? Both my dc have wobbly tummies.

[RitaDeleter]

Both are short for their age. They both have small (for lack of a better word) pot bellies. They aren't fat anywhere else although I have noticed a slight trace of double chin on them both too. They are averagely active but not excessively so (eg this morning they went to a children's museum - lots of interactive bits, this afternoon they have been out on their scooters). They are 9yrs and 11yrs.

An average day's food (in term time) would be:

Breakfast: Oat granola or Weetabix with semi skimmed milk, innocent smoothie

Lunch: ham sandwiches on whole meal bread, fruit, water, one homemade cupcake, with jam (no icing)

Dinner: pasta with tomato sauce and veg (sometimes with two sausages cut up - less pasta if there are sausages) or chicken stir fry with noodles, sometimes pizza with veg (half a thin based each) or chilli and rice. Things like that.

On the weekend there might be a piece of cake during the day too OR popcorn if we go to the cinema etc.

I don't think they are eating too much? It must be portion size I am getting wrong or do I need to help them be more active?

I am very overweight (I know exactly why, no delusions) dh is not. I am trying not to foist my own hang ups on them but I am concerned. Any ideas?

[KoalaDownUnder]

I agree with Hakluyt there, a homemade cake is way better than crisps or a Rice Krispie square, at least it has some nutrition in it, and much less salt or sugar than those two!

Just don't put the cupcake in every day - or don't, if you think their weight is fine - but you don't, or you wouldn't have started the thread!

[MarshaBrady]

I have coffee for breakfast, the dc have milk. All very slim.

[MarshaBrady]

Home made cake is better than processed stuff.

[MarshaBrady]

The dc are that is, they look normally slim as children often do. They do eat carbs and have treats though, which is fine.

[NorksEnormous]

Just for variety, that would be the only reason!

[Trollsworth]

I really, really have not been aggressive. I have disagreed with you. That's not the same as being aggressive.

[Bessiebigpants]

I think it's lack of activity that's the problem.Truthfully how much time do they spend moving about.Not little bouts of activity but physical playing out, running about trampolining,etc.By all means reduce their carbs but, unless you increase their activity things won t change.Its the holidays take them on a brisk walk if they get out of breath quickly it's because they are unfit and that's where you should focus your efforts.Its the same for children as it is adults muscle takes up less space and burns more energy at rest.If you squish their tummys can you feel a hard layer of muscle underneath or is it soggy.Are their legs toned or squishy at the top.The most important question of all is what size clothes are they wearing.Unless they are tall they should fit the size clothes for their age or there abouts.By fit I mean comfortable in jeans not squashed into leggings or track suit bottoms.Your eleven year old will just have been weighed and measured as part of the national child measurement program what did that say?

[MilkRunningOutAgain]

I have one plump dc and one skinny dc both with large appetites from babyhood onwards, they are 11 and 8, their diet is healthy(ish) and the difference between them is activity level. Skinny dc runs, cycles, does sport and more sport, never really sits still, does cross country running and athletics, cricket and tennis? Plump dc simply doesn't do this, she does take part in sport but simply runs around less, doesn't swim so far or so fast, take her to a park and she sits under the slide playing imaginary games, she will happily sit making loom bands and drawing pictures for hours. I find it very hard to restrict her portion sizes and let her brother eat what he obviously needs. I think encouraging activity in kids really makes a difference but it's hard to encourage a kid who really isn't sporty naturally to be extremely active, so portion control is important. Personally I'm against removing all treats from the diet, food should be enjoyable and I think treats are important.

[saveoursouls]

I think you're brilliant for acknowledging that there is a problem to address, but the way.
Some really good advice on here too - I would add that in instead of sausages, which are very high in fat and low in good, lean protein that kids need to grow, substitute chicken. Keep sausages for special occasions maybe and also introduce lean beef, which is good for them too in moderate amounts, once a week.
Agree 100% with poster who said increase vegetables-they don't seem to be having any at lunch. Veggies are also good as a snack food, as they're lower in sugar than fruit.
Also agree that smoothies are often packed with hidden sugars and probably shouldn't be a daily mainstay, as with juices- keep to a bare minimum. Water is enough at this age. If they want a juice, try squeezing some oranges yourself, then you know how much they are getting and it's healthier in terms of Vit C as well.
Portion sizzles are so easy to get wrong and I'm sure most of us on here have occasionally slipped. It's easy to give kids adult portions too, forgetting that their tummies are much smaller and that whilst they do need more carbs and protein than us, they don't need excess amounts either. Only extremely active children will be able to burn off extra sugars and carbs that their body doesn't use for energy. Otherwise, as in adults, it'll be converted into fat instead.
As around rule, kids need to move and be active for about an hour or so a day too.
Good luck xx

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

I was a skinny kid, got a bit plump around 9-10, then went skinny again at secondary school oh how i I wish I'd believed it then. I think it is an age when lots of kids bulk out a bit, partly because their portion size has probably crept up to near-adult, their activity level has probably reduced because they are more likely to spend an hour reading a book or playing a computer game or making loom bands, rather than boing aruond like a human energy ball, and they are probably approaching a growth spurt.

Apart from smoothie and cake every day, which I would probably swop for slightly dilute fruit juice most days and cake every couple of days, I doubt you need to change much, just make sure they walk, climb, run, kick a ball, swim, scoot, cycle etc as much as they sit down. I'd keep an eye on it, I wouldn't panic.

[rednellie]

First thing I have in the morning is water. Is that really weird? Clearly it is. Learn something new on mn every day.

[Rupeomatic]

I know others have said about portion sizes already - but my DM couldn't understand why we were all overweight when we were little and she only worked it out when our friends came over for tea and ate so much less than us! It may well be that the portions just need a little reduction and possibly a little more exercise.

Its great that you are thinking about this now. I was hugely overweight by the time I left junior school - and had to join a slimming club with my mum to get rid of it all. I did - but it set me up for a long time of yo-yoing weight gain and loss, and I still don't have a brilliant relationship with food. I'm not saying that's what will happen with your DC - just sharing what happened with me.

[KoalaDownUnder]

rednellie, no, I do the same. I think drinking only water at breakfast is totally normal for children. But I am also surprised by adults who hate the taste of water, or drink squash every day.

[rednellie]

Or at least milk. Fruit juice is so bad for your teeth. Which eating a piece isn't, not in the same way. Anyway, sorry for the digression...

[EdithWeston]

If they like smoothies, then (depending on how fraught your mornings are) you could make them yourself, and that (plus stoneground wholemeal toast) would be fine for breakfast.

They seem to have some sports they like. Can you increase from that? Dance could lead to gymnastics those plus martial arts could lead to parkour. Also see if she can do more types of dance - ballet/tap/street dance? Try roller disco? Yoga?