How to fill up my constantly hungry toddler

[Hopingforbetterluck]

Recently my toddler says he’s hungry all the time. I’m not sure where I’m going wrong with his food apart from the fact I do struggle with protein as he won’t eat eggs or cheese or baked beans and is getting more fussy with meat - any ideas how to sneak some protein in?

He gets regular meals and snacks and drinks so for example today:

breakfast was peanut butter on brown toast, blueberries and cereal with a cup of milk. He had some of each but not all.

Mid morning snack was rice cakes and water. Some days he has two bananas at this point and still says he’s hungry.

lunch was spaghetti bolognaise with peas and fruit pot for pudding and orange juice.

He then said he was hungry not long after lunch. Offered tangerine and a piece of cheese but he wouldn’t eat the cheese.

Tea will probably be chicken and vegetable rice but he’s very hit and miss how much he eats at tea time, even though he’s started saying he’s hungry earlier and earlier. Tea used to be 5 but I’m struggling to get him to 4.30 at the moment.

He then has milk at about 6 before he goes up for bath and bed.

Should I offer supper if his tea is early even if he doesn’t eat a lot of it? I don’t think the lack of protein helps but struggle for ideas to up his intake.

Am I going wrong somewhere or could it just be a growth spurt?

Does he eat yogurt? My first thought was to add that at morning snack time as it's a decent protein. Hummus too.

Sounds like a growth spurt.

How is he growth/weight wise?

If he's asking for food/saying he's hungry but then not eating it I'd say he's doing it out of habit/looking for his favourite food/snacking out of boredom.

I'd try just saying 'no, wait for your tea'.

Obviously, if he's not growing/seriously underweight then take him to your HV/GP and up his portions in the meantime.

Morning snack doesn't sound very nutritious/filling. I'd change water to milk and then offer some yoghurt/cheese/houmous and veg sticks/peanut butter and veg sticks/soft cheese and veg stick/small sandwich. Otherwise, it all sounds good and definitely like he's being offered enough food.

My dc like porridge for supper or weetabix with warm milk.

Is he bored or sensory seeking? Sounds like enough food and a good variety, just maybe boost the portions a bit if possible going through a growth spurt

He could be thirsty and not know the difference

Or it's habit

Sounds like a growth spurt. Suggestions:

• Nuts! Lots of unsalted nuts. Pistachios, sliced almonds and pine nuts are popular with mine. If he rejects them try lightly toasting them, it makes them so yummy, or maybe drizzle honey on them.
• Seeds. Especially toasted sunflower seeds.
• Mix flaxseed with his usual cereal or yoghurt
• Fry finely chooped pancetta or bacon in butter then use it as a pasta topping
• re eggs, have you tried eggy bread with syrup? (Beat the eggs, soak a slice of bread in it, then fry the eggy bread in butter).
• Try different cheeses. Mild cheddar? Cornish cruncher mature cheddar? Edam? Emmenthal? Fresh parmesan?
• Fish? Tinned thna : smoked mackerel/ smoked salmon / fried trout?
• If he likes pasta with sauce try buying gluten free pasta made from lentils or peas (some is 50% protein) then disguising the taste with sauce.

If you get desperate try adding honey / sugar.

Good luck!

Can you split breakfast?

Offer toast and milk at breakfast time, then cereal at "mid morning snack".
Ricecakes are practically air - why not add a calorific topping, and serve them mid afternoon.

FWIW, DS1 used to have breakfast, second breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, tea, supper. It was endless food!

Be careful with the whole nuts suggestion above - they are a choking hazard until about 5 years old.

Thanks all - some really helpful suggestions here. I agree the rice cakes aren’t a great snack and I’ll try switching to yogurt and see if that tides him over better.

It might be a growth spurt but I’m worried we’ve just fallen into bad habits of him saying he’s hungry to get a snack and he’d rather snack all day and get treats. It’s my fault as I’m heavily pregnant and tired and in the last couple of weeks I’m guilty of giving in too easily as I’ve not felt well but that’s no excuse and I really need to get him back on track before the baby arrives.

I would up his portions but he will only eat some of his meal and then ask for snacks later so I think it is possible it’s habit rather than genuine hunger.

The split breakfast is a good idea as we sometimes do this on a Sunday where he has his normal breakfast then sausages or something cooked when his dad gets up from having a lie in so this could work other days too.

Unfortunately he’s hit a fussy stage at the same time and won’t eat hummus, have tried all different types of cheese and he’s not interested but I’ll definitely try the eggy bread etc and try offering supper too.

I don’t think he’s thirsty as he’s got a water bottle in easy reach at all times and I always try him with that before I give him a snack.

Lentils! They're so cheap, nutritious and quick to cook!

He's definitely not hungry if he's asking for food and then not eating it.

Have you tried distracting him with an activity instead?

Tbh he sounds bored, not hungry.

I’ve tried distraction which works for a few minutes then he says he’s hungry again. It’s possible he’s doing it out of boredom but we go out almost every day, he has play group, swimming lessons, goes out on his bike and visits friends/family. We do tend to spend afternoons at home as like I say I’m heavily pregnant and not been feeling well.
He still complains he’s hungry at grandparents house etc where he’s definitely not bored but he knows they’ll provide him with a steady stream of snacks if he wants.

A lot of his activities have broken up for Christmas now but we do have lots of plans this week with him so I’ll make an effort to make sure he’s always kept busy and see how it goes.

Thanks everyone.

I think DGPs feeding snacks is ok, mine had "the cupboard of eternal snacks". I just used to make sure that the DC had eaten something filling and fairly healthy before we went around.

You might find this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust useful. Sometimes what you feed them just needs a little tweaking

@PritiPatelsMaker thank you, that’s really helpful. I’m going shopping today so I’ll stock up on some new food suggestions for him!