Preteens
What does your 9 year old daughter eat?
PipPippin · 15/08/2021 20:04
Ok so my 9 year old eats quite a lot (i think). She is always hungry, she is not overweight at all I don't think, her height is pretty average but she's a slim build. Both myself and her Dad are also on the slim side. Her younger sister eats very little (which is a concern) but the disparity between them is huge.
Anyway I am worried I don't feed her enough as she's constantly hungry / asking for snacks.
She eats about the same as me most days, possibly more.
Average day:
3 pancakes with blueberries and honey (home made)
Ice cream (after a bike ride)
Beans on toast with cheese (2 slices toast)
Granola fruit slice thing (home made)
Noodles with chicken, veg, egg - full bowl of this, same portion as me
Strawberries and a kiwi
small chunk of cheese and a few olives
She would eat more than this I think if I offered and I am wondering if I don't give enough? The above is probably an 'unhealthy' ish day for her because it's the weekend. Overall she eats really well and accepts all fruit and veg. Only thing she doesn't eat is yoghurt.
Do all kids of this age ask for snacks constantly? She eats all her meals 95% of the time (clean plate, similar portion to me) but still asks for snacks and I am checking that this is 'normal'. She is probably due a growth spurt as hasn't started developing much yet so possibly gearing up for that. She is also pretty sporty but not excessively so.
Interested to know how others of this age eat?
Kanaloa · 15/08/2021 20:16
That sounds fine to me, not excessive at all. My daughter is just 10 and could eat all that, and my son could when he was 9. If she’s not overweight then she’s eating what she needs. Obviously ice cream isn’t for every day but you’ve said it was as it’s the weekend.
MrsBullfinch · 15/08/2021 20:22
Sounds fine to me. Maybe have yogurts, cornflakes, toast, bananas, apples or such she can help herself to if she feels hungry? When mine are having growth spurts they eat a lot!
PeonyTime · 15/08/2021 20:26
10 yr old boy. Sounds similar to us. Possibly a second bowl of noodles as he loves them.
My now 12 yr old would have eaten all that plus more aged 9/10 but over lockdown seems to have lost the need for the snacks, and now "just" eats 3 meals a day, unless there is something delicious on offer. He is skinnier than his slender brother.
BunnyRuddington · 15/08/2021 21:34
According to this guide a moderately active 9 yo girl's calorie requirements are only a little less than an adult woman's and a more active 9yo actually needs more calories than an adult woman. When you have a look at the suggested menus, what she's eating doesn't seem that much 
PipPippin · 15/08/2021 22:32
Thank you all. I think I need to feed her a bit more, well at least have more 'on offer'. I am happy for her to eat as much as she wants/needs really if it stops the endless snacking on stuff that isn't always that healthy. So I will offer bigger meal portions and healthy snacks on demand and see how we go :-) She's been at kids club last week and complained a few times that she's 'starving' so I am obviously not giving enough.
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