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Original poster

10 year old eating too much

26 replies

dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:12

My 10 year old son wants to eat constantly
Now before you jump on me and say this is normal hear me out.

He will have breakfast and then within 20-25 minutes will come to me to have a snack. Same with lunch. Always asking for a snack.
I don't always make dessert and when I don't he gets upset

If I say no because you've just eaten or have some fruit and have a drink he will REALLY SULK close to tears and stomp about. He won't be happy until I say he can have something.

He does some activities at home and has more than enough to keep him occupied. His siblings don't bang on about food.
He also inhales his food like he is starving and then even takes food off his siblings plates and mine if there is any left.

We've just come back from a lovely day spent with family for a birthday eating and playing about. There was plenty of food and cake. He kept going mad about having more cake when we all had a generous slice and now we are home HE WANTS ANOTHER SNACK! I've said no because he's eaten enough and he's actually crying.
He is already overweight for his age and also all his eating is quite expensive (single parent, one income etc)

Does this sound like he has a problem?
Has anyone else experienced this?
Any tips?

OP posts:
MolliciousIntent · 21/08/2022 19:14

Has he seen a doctor?

dementedpixie · 21/08/2022 19:17

Also advise consulting a GP

thingsarestrange · 21/08/2022 19:19

Start again tomorrow from scratch.
create new norms around food and explain that is what’s happening:

offer plenty of (sugar free) cereal in the mornings and toast if he wishes - point him towards the fruit bowl if he wants more.

lunch offer a sandwich etc maybe some crisps - point him towards the fruit bowl if he wants more.

same for dinner plenty of protein where possible.

tell him in advance desserts are not every night but / there is always the fruit bowl, still hungry offer a bowl of cereal as extra then kitchen closes at 7pm.

you could even write that down, when he moans point to it and ignore.

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DenholmElliot1 · 21/08/2022 19:19

Sounds like a food addiction 😞It seems to be horribly common in this country and I don't know what the answer is to be honest.

Could you talk to the GP about it? Get him weighed at the surgery and ask for a referral to a nutritionist?

thingsarestrange · 21/08/2022 19:19

Ps no sugary drinks x good luck

Kanaloa · 21/08/2022 19:22

So you offer him fruit and he refuses? In that case he isn’t really hungry, is he? Presumably by ‘snack’ you mean junk food. I’d start limiting the junk food bought and offer plain toast/fruit and water and if he sulks then ignore him/keep redirecting to the fruit and water.

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:28

@thingsarestrange - we have those. Sugar free cereal or toast depending on which one he wants. He normally has a big bowl of it too so do not understand how he can still want food 🤦🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:28

Will do a GP request tomorrow. Thank you @dementedpixie @MolliciousIntent

OP posts:
thingsarestrange · 21/08/2022 19:30

He still wants food because you give it to him, just say no. If I had no concept of weight gain I would keep eating and eating.

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:31

Tbh there is hardly any rubbish in the house as I'm trying to lose baby weight but it's his constant need for a yoghurt or low salt crisps that we have
Sometimes there is an odd packet of cookies (I get them when it's my time of the month) and he becomes fixated with them asking how many I've had, how many can he have, when can he have them...

OP posts:
Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:32

@thingsarestrange -I do say no. I'm telling you the reaction I get when I say no and asking if that is normal and for advice

OP posts:
thingsarestrange · 21/08/2022 19:34

You said - If I say no because you've just eaten or have some fruit and have a drink he will REALLY SULK close to tears and stomp about. He won't be happy until I say he can have something.

thingsarestrange · 21/08/2022 19:35

I’m saying don’t give in, let him sulk and stomp about. No means no, he will know u mean it in a day or two if u stick to your guns

Pinkflipflop85 · 21/08/2022 19:36

It is hard when a child is like this. My ds has adhd and often seeks food for a dopamine hit. We have to find ways to divert his attention and boost him a different way.
This year we established a snack box for him. Once it is gone, it's gone. It has helped him a little bit to regulate a bit better but it can still be a daily battle.

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:37

@thingsarestrange - ahhh yes meaning the next time we do eat.
So if I say no to the snack and then after a while I say "right lunch is ready" he suddenly lights up and is talkative but he will sulk the entire time in between that

OP posts:
RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 21/08/2022 19:38

Is he drinking enough?

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:40

@Pinkflipflop85 I would try this but I'm sure he would eat the snack box all in one go.

One day I came home from food shopping and my little girl had a temperature and was vomiting. I was not paying attention to him as I was cleaning her up and said yes he could have a snack. He ate all 4 of the munch bunch yoghurts in one go. I couldn't believe it

OP posts:
Discovereads · 21/08/2022 19:40

I would suggest GP for bloods and refer to nutritionist. It may be that he is deficient in a nutrient or two and that is kicking his hunger into overdrive. It is quite common to be both overweight/obese and malnourished. So best to rule out any physiological reasons before assuming it’s psychological (addiction)

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:42

Hi @RichardOsmansXraySpecs -

yes he does drink because again I will tell him he cannot have a snack so get a drink. If we run out of juice he will happily drink water

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Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:43

@Discovereads thank you for this explanation. I'm going to call the GP tomorrow

OP posts:
BeanieTeen · 21/08/2022 19:47

If I say no because you've just eaten or have some fruit and have a drink he will REALLY SULK close to tears and stomp about. He won't be happy until I say he can have something.

So he sulks and is unhappy… what of it? I don’t understand why that’s an issue.
You’ve afford an appropriate snack, you’re not letting him go hungry, end of discussion.
If he’s disrespectful towards you and stomps about aggressively and has a toddler tantrum, there needs to be another consequence.
You’re being a pushover OP. Take charge. For his sake, because of you continue being a doormat you will be endangering his health.

JAC76 · 21/08/2022 19:48

I feel your pain, my youngest DS10 became the same after lockdown and we’ve had to make some changes. Main thing is we just don’t have many snacks in the house anymore, it can be a total pain at times but it’s just the easiest way as he knows there’s no point going on on and on. If they want a sweetie we go after school etc and get one and that’s it.

We’ve found not giving him cereals like rice crispies etc, but increasing his protein at breakfast helps, much like myself when trying to loose weight! He likes some scrambled eggs on toast, smoked salmon bagel or I make a batch of oat and banana pancakes at the weekend and they freeze well or a more solid breakfast like porridge or weetabix really gets things off to a good start and then just offer toast etc at snack time. I find rice crispies etc, kids are starving 1/2 hour after eating them.

After school / before dinner is our difficult time so I just find that making dinner nice and early helps too.

Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:51

Hi @BeanieTeen at no point did I say this upsetting me and I'm giving in to his behaviour. I am ASKING if this is normal. It's been going on a few years now and I thought he would grow out of it but he isn't.

He is sitting here right now looking distraught because I said NO to more food and I wanted to know if others have experienced this

OP posts:
Original poster
dingdongthefridgehasgone · 21/08/2022 19:55

@JAC76 hi thanks for your reply.
Funnily enough I make those things for breakfast and he will eat those all too and still ask for more.
So from some of these answers I think there maybe a nutritional problem and I'll seek help from the GP in the first instance

OP posts:
DuchessofAnkh77 · 21/08/2022 20:01

I suspect it may be the wrong type of food. If I have toast or cereal for breakfast I could literally eat another meal half an hour later..... A protein rich breakfast and I am fine for hours. Some people react badly/ digest very quickly carbs.

I would try a scrambled egg / bacon breakfast with hardly any toast (make sure it's wholemeal or granary). (as an adult I would eat avocado/mushrooms/spinach)

If he likes yogurt, look at a full fat greek natural yogurt with a lot of fresh fruit and nuts, if he won;t eat natural then go for a greek with honey....avoid the cheap sugary yogurts like munch bunch.

Lunch/dinner should be something like a large chicken breast with a couple of new potatoes and lots of veg.. Again go breaded if he won;t eat plain chicken. A large piece of fish with peas, carrots, broccoli and a very small (1/2) portion of chips.

Or a wholemeal wrap (not a sandwich) with again protein and veg - lots of ham and a small bit of cheese and whatever salad he will eat.

Snacks - apples/pears/bananas. No Juice or smoothies, but it'll be difficult to change when he's so used to a carb rich diet.