How do I get my dd to actually eat until she's full?

[RainbowSlide]

My 4yo dd has never been what would be called a 'good eater'. She likes very plain food, not keen on sauces or anything even very mildly spiced or with herbs. The main issue is that she eats when she's hungry but stops as soon as she's not hungry, and doesn't fill herself up. She just gets bored of eating. Says she's full but it's more like taking the edge off her hunger. 30 minutes later she'll ask for a snack so she's definitely not filling up. I don't give her the snack by the way, and give her some of the leftover meal or make her wait until snack time (10am/3pm ish). How do i get her țo actually finish a plate of food and fill up properly? Am i getting worried over nothing?

Also, I've experimented with smaller portion sizes and it's the same story as above.

Thanks in advance

Maybe she just has a small appetite. My daughter is always asking for snacks, usually because she fancies something different or is a bit bored or has spotted something in the cupboard.

If you don't give her the snack but she's then fine to wait until the next meal time, she probably is eating enough. Or is she constantly asking for snacks.

I think you should let her stop. We should stop eating when we are no longer hungry. The world is full of unhealthy eaters thanks to parents who pushed them into eating everything on their plate
Letting her stop will create healthier eating patterns

Is it healthy to have a small appetite and graze? I wanted her to get into eating together and feeling hungry (not starving obviously!) before meals so she'd enjoy them and fill up.

She does ask for snacks a lot but usually when she's a bit bored or just before meal times, not throughout the day.

Thanks for the reply btw!

Just give her a healthy snack like a banana or apple. It's fine not eat until you are full.

Dd used to love avocado slices and mozzarella slices when she was about 5.

Completely normal to eat until you are no longer hungry. When she gets hungry a short while mater, do what you already do and offer her leftovers.

It's really bad practice to encourage eating until full up and is a huge contributor to the obesity crisis. What she is doing is very healthy.

She is eating until she's full. She is a nibbler and grazer rather than a trougher. I'm like that, as is DS2. We're both slim. We regulate our appetite in a way that suits our individual metabolism and you should let her do the same. Perhaps she needs six small meals rather than three large ones? There's nothing wrong with eating the way she eats or the way you would prefer that she eats, but everyone is different. Three meals a day is a social not biological construct.

She does eat healthy snacks (carrots, cucumbers, green beans, cheese, table water crackers, fruit, yogurt), so maybe I'll take this advice and not push it. Part of me feels like it's a waste of energy to make a meal and for her not to eat it, but that's not really the most important thing!

My dad mentioned that it's not great to eat all day as your stomach stays full of acid as it digests all the time rather than having a rest. Haven't had the time to google if that's true but it made me worry a bit.

Thanks everyone, meal times are about to change in this household!

Parent to a 6 year old here, she is a grazer. Will sit down for meals but not eat the same size portion as her 2 sisters.
I have never said to my 3 they need to finish their entire meal. They know so long as they make a good effort, I'm not concerned. I also don't set them up for failure in the first place, small portions and they can always ask for more. And they don't snack on chocolates or sweets, it's more fruit, yoghurts and crisps once during the day. They are all well and healthy and know their hunger well.

Let her set her own pattern and so long as she is sitting down for meals and is not filling up on junk in between, don't worry. I am 39 and to this day am a grazer rather than big meal eater. I think it becomes an issue when you est big meals and a lot of snacks, the weight will creep up on you.

She seems happy, follow her lead in terms of how much she wants to eat.

Try and make meals that you can freeze half of.

Trouble is at school they dont have the opportunity to graze. They take a snack for the morning and then get lunch at 12. Then that's it until they go home - which could be 4.30 or 5.30pm if they are at afterschool club although the ones that are there longer do get another snack. My DS is an uber fussy eater btw!

Maybe have something interesting happen at the dinner table, a chapter of a good book on audible to keep her at the table longer...or would she get distracted by that?

Wigglybeezer that's a good idea. I might try it. Tbh when she's watched something on the ipad at dinner she's been more likely to finish her plate but that tells me it's mindless eating and isn't exactly great.

Grazing is actually perfectly normal. But it depends what ‘snack’ she wants. DS is similar, but when the ‘snack’ on offer is for example, tomatoes or cucumber vs peanut butter toast, he often decides that actually he isn’t so hungry. And when he is, he will eat it no problem.

Leave her, we aren't meant to eat until stuffed,but until No longer hungry. Sounds like a healthy way to eat to me.

Some of us fair better with little & often meals rather than 3 large meals a day, better for keeping blood sugar levels balanced etc