Family Healthy Eating

[applestamper]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but, having just measured and weighted DD3 this morning, I've realised she is starting to be a little heavier than she should be and I want to get her eating and weight in check before it becomes a problem.
I know what I need to do:
-portion control

• making sure I serve lots of veg/salad and only one carb at mealtimes
• making sure DH serves lots of veg/salad and only one carb at mealtimes (this will be the trickier one)
• not allowing grandparents to give her too much food.

I think the best way to approach it is a family wide healthy eating policy and I think posting on MN will give me the accountability I need. Would anyone like to join me?

Quick q - why do you think only one of your children is putting on weight? is it frame/genetics, or do you think this child is eating more/comfort eating: if so, something to explore

and find out what grandparents are offering in way of snacks/meals

Thanks for your reply @10kaDay; I'm pretty sure its genetics, DS5 eats so much more than DD, and when he is naked, he looks completely undernourished, he is so thin. I also eat a lot and I'm thin, I think I have a fast metabolism that DS has inherited but DD maybe hasn't. Added to that, DS was very slow to gain weight as a baby/toddler so encouraging him to eat more has been the focus with him rather than watching portion sizes.
DD also has a sweeter tooth than DS so I would have to watch her if there were lots of treats available but, with lockdowns etc, they aren't really going anywhere so that isn't a big issue. That's another reason I want to get hold of it now while I don't have birthday parties, meals out etc to contend with.

How old is your DD?
With young girls you have to be very careful for mental health reasons. Your plan sounds good, serve lots of vegetables, one carb, make sure there are healthy snacks available for her such as fruit and yoghurt. Increase physical activity with fun family games. I would not be too strict on portion control at this stage and also not worry too much about sweets at the grandparents unless she spends loads of time there. Instead of watching her when there are lots of treats available, try to help her with self-regulation. Good luck!

@applestamper: is your daughter only 3 year and old?

DD is only 3, maybe I should just leave her be at this age, but, as @Pancakeorcrepe said, weight is such a big issue for girls, I would like to get a handle on it while I can hopefully do it without her noticing.
That's a good point about teaching her to self regulate.

Hi OP,
If she is only 3 that really is very young. I would tread carefully. Are you sure she's not looking a bit chunkier just in comparison to your son, who sounds very slim from your description?
At that age, it is not uncommon for them to go a bit chunky before a big growth spurt. I would focus on exercise and healthy food, with treats in moderation and no portion control.

When I mentioned mental health being especially important for girls, it was not because of any issues that being overweight could cause, but rather the other way around - the risk of disordered eating and all those issues that can happen by an excessive focus on weight, shape etc from a very young age. She will have enough time to be pressured by society to conform, please don't start her at 3 years old unless you really think it is an issue but in that case I would ask advice from a doctor or a specialist in children's nutrition.

I think with a 3 year old, it could very well just be something like gaining extra padding before a growth spurt, so I would not be too concerned

If anything, perhaps focus on the tooth care angle re sweet treats and leave it at that.... children pick up on fat/bad thin/good messages at a very early age anyway, and I think you risk more harm than good. It might also be helpful to make sure both children are getting enough activity.

Re portion control: young children tend to know when to stop, so I would be less concerned about that

Thanks for the advice, it is hard to know whether she is chubby in comparison to her brother or is chubby full stop.
I tried plotting her centiles today and it seems she is between 75th and 91st centiles for weight and on 25th for height, whereas on previous measurements, she was on 75th for both. I'm going to phone our public health nurse to get her to check it for me though, as I really didn't think she would be on 25th centile for height, she seems tall for her age. I'll ask their advice and will contact community dietitians too maybe as she has been on their books for a couple of minor food intolerance/diet issues.
In the meantime, I will focus on healthy meals, we made the effort to cook 3 different veg with our fish and potatoes this evening, instead of the usual 1 or 2; it was about 2 mins extra work and we all enjoyed it.

She might be about to have a growth spurt - I’d measure her height now & in a couple of months to see if that’s behind it

@applestamper that sounds fab, those small changes will make a big difference, it’s all about getting your five a day.