5 yr old eating a lot...WWYD

[Clare123]

Hi, my five year old is gorgeous healthy little girl. Fairly active and happy, but since she started school in September she has a really big appetite - will eat her dinner and then ask for something, and then an hour later ask for something else! I have noticed she has gained a little weight, but by no means is she chubby - or fat, she is just not so slim as she was.

So, do I let her eat this much, or say no? I definitely don't want to make food an issue, but I am also surprised she is eating so much.

This is like my 4 yo son. He has a big appetite. He eats his breakfast and then has a banana walking out the door, eats all of his lunch and the tutors at his shcool tell me he finishes the other boys' lunches.... then he gets home and has whatever I give him, plus dinner, plus snacks before dinner and he will be looking for a biscuit or crisps after dinner. I am wondering if he will be a fat adult tbh.

It is hard to say no.. he claims he's always hungry. And although he hasn't got a greyhound physique, he's not exactly fat (yet) either. Although maybe I'm too close too be objective!

Just to add, we tend to eat family meals and she does not have junk food very often. May be one treat a day - like an ice cream or one dessert (definitely not after every meal).

Id let her eat. All of my 3 have massive appetites and my DS is small for his age but packs it away. DS2 has a bowl of ready brek and toast for brekkie (adult size), a banan or fruit bar as we walk to school some fruit when we get home then she'll grze till lunch graze till dinner. At some points she crys as she soo hungry - if I dare to suggest she cant possible be.
I did once mention it to the HV and she suggested I bulk out the foos with more carbs and fat mixes - pasta with cheese sauce etc but not just fruit (rots teeth) or wholegrains and can fill them up but then they dont get enough fat.
Rice cakes with homous, cheese spread or peanut butter work as good snacks to.

I'd rejoice. My dd has a shockingly small appetite. Seriously though, I'd do what the wiser posters have advised.

Yip, We're al in the big appetites category here too. I've got three kids and they all eat like horses. I have always found they eat and eat, get a bit broader in the face and then take a growth spurt. It's almost like the skin is making room for it to stretch! All of mine go this way. Maybe she is just about to have a growth spurt? If you are plying her with fruit and crackers and things like what vicbar suggests, then I really really wouldn't worry. Our food bills are huge, I'm afraid.

When she says she is hungry, do you think she actually is? My ds1 will often ask for food if he is bored, or to delay bedtime.

One to keep an eye on I think. She may genuinely be hungry and putting on weight in preparation for a growth spurt but eating extra snacks can just be a habit (I know this to my cost).

think about what you would feel if you had a 5 year old ds instead of a dd. If your answer would be "he needs it because he is doing so much running around" then its probably okay for a girl to.

Actually, despite everything I just said, I also second what WB said. Mine also ask when they are a bit bored or when they are delaying bedtime!

After dinner if my two want a snack I offer carrot sticks or apple and their hunger disappears. If you limit treats and offer lots of healthy but filling options like fruit and veg her hunger may calm down.

One of my two, who is greyhound build, sometimes gets a little tummy then sprouts up soon after. He really can eat for England. 8 pancakes or two rashers of bacon, egg, two slices of toast, juice and yoghurt and he's only 7, but so skinny. I do let him eat because he's burning it off but have to be more careful with his brother who is very chilled and not sporty and tends to chubbiness.

If she is active then i would not worry to much. My have 5 year old, and she eats so little at the moment. She used to be chubby baby, and now she gone slim but still 500 gr over the average 5yr old weight.
As long as she is not eating junk food, i would just keep an eye on her weight.
Im sure soon she will be dieting and you will be worried