my 17 month old doesn't stop eating.

[user1466690252]

Hello,
DS2 is 17 months and has always been big, 96th percentile. His dad is tall and stocky. He is driving me crazy with his constant need for food and drink. I offer him 3 healthy meals a day, but inbetween he will winge all day for snacks. specifically biscuits, crisps ect. We have a packed lunch cupboard with bits in for my eldest and he will open the cupboard and pull all the snacks out (they are individually wrapped) and cling to my legs or pull me ovet to it. I say no and distract him but he will keep going for hours. I try and give him cheese and fruit to snack on but he refuses it and still goes for the treat cupboard, so he isnt even hungry. I can't move the cupboard there's no room and I can't not buy the stuff as the rest of the family have them, in moderation, properly. I have tried those cupboard saftey catches but they didn't fit properly, but mainly I jist want a way to keep him full on healthier stuff. What can I make or do? he is a very high energy child but there's no way he needs that amount of food surley? he really is constantly asking for drinks or food. His meal portions are huge as well. last night he had 2 bowls of homemade spaghetti Bolognese. That's as much as my 6yr old ate. I gave him one bowl, he winged abd cried when he finished untill i gave him another. I hate to think of him being bungry but surley he can't be hungry and its just habit? he's in 12-18 or n 18-24 month clothes so about right? he's very solid tho, everyone describes him as a "bruiser" if that makes sense. Im worried this is an indication of something medically wrong with him? I don't know? I just need the winging to stop and somehow get him to snack healthier without it being such a headache

Now the treat cupboard is empty, what about putting some things in there that are acceptable, like Tangerines?

I was thinking of putting toys in there? so he can fuss aeound and get stuff our of it like he does but it's not edible? x

That's a much better idea!

Hi OP I agree with previous posters that your DS mostly likely does need snacks, but his obsession is behavioral.

My DS is 2.5 now, and seems to eat less than he did at 15 months actually. He would eat 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks. He’d never really had chocolate or crisps until recently (pfb, I’m sure DD will get them at a much younger age), although we’ve now started to get the tantrums over chocolate so no judgement from me

I usually do fruit, cheese (baby bell or those string cheeses go down well) crackers, rice cake things, raisins, yoghurt, veg sticks (yep DS will actually eat them!). He does have biscuits and crisp type things, just not every single day.

My dc have crisps but of course with moderation. I absolutely believe that you have to train their palettes from day one . The children I lnow that are poor eaters were weaned on salty and shop bought food . Of course there are exceptions but if you are used to a strong sweet or salty taste then you aren't going to eat fruit of veg .
I weaned my kids on home made food and they both literally eat anything .
I'm not an earth mother I was just over fed as a child and I feel like I have a massive responsibility not pass that on . They are allowed chocolate and crisps and anything really just a sensible daily/ weekly amount .

You are doing really well OP and have proved it's not hunger because he is flinging sandwiches .

I absolutely believe that you have to train their palettes from day one . The children I lnow that are poor eaters were weaned on salty and shop bought food

Mine wasn't. He was weaned on made-from-scatch healthy food. He did not have a single ready made pouch.

He's the world's worst eater now. You'd think he was raised on happy meals.

My sister and I are also cases in point. My mum is a total health nut. Everything made from scratch. Loads of veg and fruit. Organic food. We never had crisps or chocolate.

My sister is a complete junk food addict. She doesn't eat vegetables at all. Whereas I still enjoy that kind of food.

morning, so its already getting a bit better. yesterday we had veggie cuery for tea (can barely call it curry, hardly any spice for them) and I did them a supper of weetbix before bed (1) he slept better and took it better when he woke up and demanded biscuits forst thing and I said no. I made him overnight oats with yoghurt and rasberries and he ate that at 7am. he started with the cuoboard at 10 so he is currently eating a tangerine and half a bit of toast with some tomato puree on (he likes that better than butter) so already, this is a huge improvement. lunches I struggle with, what do you guys often do for lunch? He had an egg allergy as a baby, only mild, a rash the first time i gave him a boiled egg, he eats egg in other things no problem, I am still a bit scared of pure egg tho. Im being silly arn't I, shall I try an omlette?

Thank you for all your help also, and the lack of judgment. I am also a health nut, work out everyday, track my macros. It's amazing how I let my son's diet slip so much. It was a complete snowballed accident based purely on his temperament. hes headstrong this one, I realise its my faut

DD had pasta with broccoli, green beans, peas, sweet corn & roast chicken today. I stirred in a bit of sun-dried Tom paste, she loves it. Full fat Greek yogurt & banana for pudding.

Tuna mayo is a winner. My first has an egg allergy but is fine with mayo & baked eggs.

Omelettes are great if an option, although they constipated DD a bit.

Fish Dahl is another favourite with rice or pitta.

Sweet potato mash with chicken strip & veg

Black bean burritos with avo - quick & easy

Sorry I missed the jacket potato part! Tuna mayo with jacket spuds

Try and omelette or a sandwich , some pasta ? Just smaller versions of what you eat ? Well done by the way !

My son has always been a big eater. He is 99th centile height and weight and has just been diagnosed with asd. I bake no added sugar banana muffins, flapjacks, home made scones etc. Health visitor is not concerned as his weight and height are proportionate and he eats pretty much anything as long as it isn't green veg!

thank you, the percentile doesn't bother me too much because he is tall, it was more his behaviour towards foods, like obsessions.
he eats what I eat except I eat strange lunches, so it is about padding his out. we ended up with tuna and sweetcorn, crackers, cheese chunks and chopped tomatos. which is a typical lunch for him. I had a protein shake and tuna mayo in a bowl. He is in a massive long nap at the moment, which is good because he isn't begging me for snacks, ill get something ready for when he wakes up. Thanks for the lunch ideas. Lots of options for me to think of. fish for tea, with sweet potato wedges and peas.

Lunches we do

Cheese on toast
Pitta pockets stuffed with tuna and sweet corn mayo, chicken, grated cheese etc
Wraps with similar fillings
Omelettes
tortillas (egg, potatoes ham)
Soup and toast
Boiled egg and soldiers
Beans on toast
Last nights dinner leftovers!
'Picky plate' eg cherry tomatoes, crudités, hummus, mini sausages, cold meats, breadsticks, crackers
Home made chicken dippers (I batch prepare them and stick em in the freezer till I need to cook them)
Pizza and salad

My 17mo dd also loves raiding her kitchen cupboard and declaring "snack time" at any time! I only keep things she's allowed in there (and overflow giant bags of pasta!)

One easy to bake snack she likes is banana oat flapjack type things. Mash a banana, mix in some oats and a splash of fruit juice to a wet doughy sort of consistency. Mix in some sultanas. Pour into a tray and bake until set. I freeze them and defrost when needed.

My son has always quite liked me to make a "box" for lunch. We have this, called a Yum Box, here's the link
www.amazon.co.uk/YUMBOX-Classic-Bijoux-Leakproof-Container/dp/B013RFWP84/ref=sr_1_3/258-1688252-4465636?keywords=yum+box&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1516025851&sr=8-3
but in here I'd always put a carb option, sometimes a sandwich, sometimes oatcakes, or bagel, I'd have slices of cooked ham, cocktail sausages, cucumber and maybe raisins, or strawberries etc. Sometimes there'll be a couple of digestives or a barney bear type thing.

My son has always been a big eater - he is 5 now and had three bowls of multi grain hoops this morning before school. He's 91st centile for height and weight and not a bit of fat on him - he's got a great physique whereas my daughter was 75th centile for height but 50th for weight and was always a little too skinny for my liking, that's changing now as she's 8 and starting to pad out a little.

It might not help with all the snacks but if he is a grazer it might be something to think about.

this kid just has a bad habit! you really really don't 'need' to have shit snacks in the house....

sympathies thought...my 6 yr old would eat non stop if he could...he just started crying after eating a massive dinner and saying he was hungry....

no snack ia a shit snack in moderation. It's things all the rest of the family eat them sensibly and I want him to understand that everything in moderation is the best way to go.
This afternoon has been tough, but we didn't break. he went on for hours crying for the snack cupboard, he had another tangerine and a kiwi. then for tea he had 1/4 of a chicken beast, half a pitta, salad, and 3 potato wedges. rice pudding and rawberries for pudding. he has been particularly wingey but a full day stuck to it.

The only reason he is constantly asking for snacks and food is because he knows you will give it to him. Give him three good meals each day and only offer fruit or veg snacks. If he is hungry he will take them if not he is not hungry. Keep crisps and biscuits in boot of car or your bedroom where he cannot get at it and do not let hi know where they are kept. A toddler does not need crisps or biscuits and he only knows about them because you keep giving them to him. This must be obvious to you. Other children don't constantly whinge for crisps because they know they won't get them. Cut up an apple and give to him.

caring read the whole thread- we are past that point now. but thanks

But is everything in moderation the right approach for nutritionally worthless snacks DS is obsessed with?

we have gone cold turkey, he isnt having any at the moment. We are also not eating them infront of him, but I don't want to ban them from our house, as the older ones understand everything in moderation and we will get there with him.