Can someone please drop the grocery store off in or next to my house? I am serious.. this kid eats NON stop. What can I give him to fill "full". This is our typical diet:
Yogurt, Cereal and Waffle with fruit for breakfast (all 4 of these every day)
Snack an hr later b/c he is "starving" and snacks are usually always fruit, including bananas, apples, strawberries, rasberries, canteloupe, watermellon, etc....
Snacks also can include applesauce, another yogurt, cherioes, toast, cheese. (this includes the fruit)
Lunch is usually a meat like brats, bologna, chicken, sausage, lunch meat, salami, or mac n cheese. Also every meal is always included a veggie and another fruit.
Within another hour he is "starving" again and he eats something from the snack list above again
This starving thing goes on every half hour to hour until it is dinner time.
Dinner includes a red meat or chicken or pork and then always a veggie and a fruit. Sometimes we have some pasta side dishes but that is occasional.
Then back to starving again every hour. We cut off food around 8 pm and we allow him animal crackers as a snack but has to be before 730.
I allowe him any fruit or veggie whenever he wants but it is obviously not filling him up. What can I put in his belly to stick a little longer. We don't typically eat junk like chips or crackers.
Thanks
BTW.. he is 5 and a half and ways 44 lbs. and is 45 inches tall.
He is not a big meat and potatoe kind of kid/man (lol)... he likes his veggies and fruits. We do struggle with the carb factor and protein for him.
830 is bed time so that is why we have the no more food after 8 pm. Teeth are brushed and it is just our routine. Now if I know he really has not had any food of course I would feed him, but I think it is more of an attempt to get a "treat" vs I am hungry when it is after 8 pm.
Thanks for the suggestions so far and any extra suggestions would help. It is sounding like this is "normal". Thanks
I got through 2 plus gallons of milk a week and the kids each drink 2 water bottles full of water each day. So I know we are good in this department as well. thanks.
make that waffle whole grain and add a little peanut butter. peanut butter is good on apples and bananas as well. My kids even now LOVE waffles with peanut butter and sliced banana sandwiches (waffle on top and bottom instead of bread). Also, does he drink milk? it will help fill him up a little and is good for him.
Carbs and proteins are important.
www.BestBreakfastEver.com is a great place to start.
He may be eating a lot, but is he getting his nutrients?
B.
Family Success Coach
I'm there with 3 (!!) girls right now, And I recommend adding a little more healthy fats to the diet. I added fruit smoothies to breakfast--sneak in flax seed, dry milk, etc., and that seems to fill them more. I also always have tortillas (wheat or white) on hand and fill it with cheese and beans for easy burritos that fill or quesadillas are a fast filler. Also add peanut butter on whole wheat, spoons, or as fruit and veggie dip--I buy costco's organic pb without the extra oil and sugar--and a great value!. I also make the kids homemade granola bars with all the healthy stuff that will fill them plus the sweet goodness that they love. Making it yourself is simple, basically with ingredients of your choice and a gluing it with marshamallow (like krispie treats) is all it takes. It's a snack that I feel good about.
Also, just a reminder, generally people cannot tell the difference between being hungry and being thirsty something like 80% of the time. So maybe try to add a cup of water or milk before he gets a snack--it may help fill him up longer too.
Good luck and know that I feel your pain.
My son goes through this often, especially when he is going through his growth spurts. He usually eats three meals a day, with one snack in between. His breakfast is usually cereal, or waffles. Anything with added sugar or lots of sugar actually increases their hunger. Whole wheat breads, pasta's, etc is good. Sometimes when my son was younger, he would say he was really hungry, but what he needed was to drink. I find if my son drinks enough water, milk each day he doesn't need to eat so much.
Sounds JUST like my son! He is 6.
- Oatmeal
- Lunchables (unhealthy, I know, but they are cheap and work in a fix and seem to keep him full until that healthy dinner!)
- Granola and almonds (make a trail mix)
- Granola bars
- String cheese
- Veggies with a DIP - that will add some satiety.
- Bowl of cereal
- Triscuits and cheese ( I love triscuits because they have very few ingredients and are a great healthy alternative to most crackers. Salt, whole grain white winter wheat and oil I belive is all they have, but check the label to be sure!)
My kids eat fruits and veggies all day long but it just doesn't seem to fill them up. So, I add something like what I stated above to the veggie/fruit and then tell them, that is it until dinner!
I never deny my child food (unless it is literally right before bed). I simply tell them, after they have already had a snack or a meal, you get an apple or celery (or whatever healthy choices we have), if you are really hungry, you will eat it. So, if they turn up their nose, I know they were just looking for a treat. If they scarf it down, I know they were serious!
Some people's metabolisms burn right through any and all carbohydrates _ these include starches (bread, crackers, potato, etc.) and sugars, including fruit sugars. (These people may eventually be at higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes, according to latest research – I've been blessed with this challenge).
The food components that "stick" the longest and fill the best are a combination of fiber, protein and fats. Nuts, most veggies, eggs, meats, tuna/fish, soy protein, yogurt and cheeses have good profiles to satisfy longer.
Your son might just be growing like crazy, and/or extremely active and in need of fuel. I'm not sure what his height and weight say about his body type or build, but if he's not fat, he probably just needs the food.
All I know is this:
when my kids are hitting growth-spurts... they eat a ton and get hungry frequently. I let them eat.
They even get hungry even 10 minutes after a meal.
I don't feed junk nor have junk in the house, so its fine.
They are both lean, healthy kids, who grow like weeds.
Our Ped said its fine.
One summer, ALL summer, my daughter was like that. After summer, I swear, she must've grown like 5 inches! And her feet too!
It is a growth-spurt.
I can pretty much, guarantee that.
My kids eat their meals and they snack too. They need it. And per my daughter, she needs to snack because if not, her blood-sugar levels drop and she gets mega, fussy.
I don't have a deadline, by which they have to eat, or cannot eat.
My kids only eat, per their body's cues. Hungry or full. They do not eat, for emotional reasons or due to boredom. So I know... when they say they are hungry, they are.
They are healthy eaters.
Try more proteins, especially first thing in the morning. Peanut butter, hummus, nuts, boiled eggs, tuna fish (goes good on crackers or bread). The protein seems to fill the boys up for longer. I've even given them jerky. Although for us we have hunters in the family so it was salmon jerky and venison. The jerky works well for backpack snacks when we are on the go. My first son was eating more than me by the time he was three. He also has constant problems of being underweight and the doctor was the one who suggested the high protein diet.
If you are planning on homeschooling than I wouldn't worry to much about getting him on a schedule and continue to allow him to graze. If he is going to go to school next year then you might want to cut back on the snacks so he eats more at his meals and gets used to going 3/4 hours without eating.
Good luck!
Is he really hungry? My daughter is four and "hungry" is her default status! Lol! Many times that she insists that she is starving, she is really bored. As soon as we redirect her, she forgets about food. We started going to set snack times and letting her know that when the timer went off, she could eat. Many times she forgets that she was even hungry!
okay, well no offense but this is NORMAL..... be glad that he is a good eater. maybe you could put some crackers or something in with his snacks to help fill him. but pretty much it isnt going to change, he is GROWING, he needs food..... but i dont understand why you would cut food off after 8, for adults thats fine but not for a kid.... i dont care if its 1 am and my child says they are hungry, they are getting food........thats CRAZY
Sounds kinda normal. I would make sure (if not already) that the carbs (waffle, bread, pasta etc) are 100% whole grain, they keep you full longer. And maybe ad some protein to breakfast like eggs. Put him on a schedule as another poster recommended. When it is snack time make it a big one - fruit and cheese and crackers / apple with peanut butter and graham cracker etc. Make sure snacks include a protein too.
Also, make sure he is drinking lots of water. The body will often confuse thirst for hunger.
Kids don't have any concept of food amounts or if they are really full or not. You have to be the one to monitor a "normal" serving for your child. My 8 yo tries to do this but I simply tell him he ate enough during his meal and can eat again during snack. Meals are not just "any" time. We eat at the same general times daily: Breakfast at 7am, snack at 9:30, lunch at noon, snack at 3pm and dinner at about 5:30. Having a schedule teaches kids also when meal time is, and that they should eat during those times as they won't get anything any other time. You are the one in charge. Good luck.
What about adding an instant breakfast drink in the morning
Try some peanut butter on low fat crackers, cheese and low fat crackers or avacado and low fat tortilla chips. Or fruit and cheese. Apple and peanut butter.
If he's not overwheight or breaking the bank, I say just let him eat his veggies! Grazing is actually very good for his metabolism.
oatmeal will help keep him fuller and is very good for you. we do an oatmeal bake with apples and blueberries in it, also ants on a log for a snack are good. frosted mini wheats are good for you and more filling to. peanut butter sandwich. granola bars, trail mix. My kids are the same way though. they can eat more than me and they are only almost 4 (son) and 14 months (daughter). im in trouble when they get older!!
I am not seeing much in the way of carbs and those are one thing that helps keep full longer ... also bean/lentils can keep you fuller longer. My son is the same way and he also enjoys half a slimfast as a morning/afternoon snack it seems to help also.
My son will be 5 in July and pretty much is exactly the same way!!! He is SO busy and active though, and he also has a high metabolism (both me and my husband do too), so I just focus on making sure that the food he is eating is healthy, and I let him have at it! I do try to structure the snack and meal times so that he's not just grazing every half hour.
I have a GREAT whole-wheat pancake recipe that I can give you if you want to msg me....I make them once or twice a week, and he always eats about 5 of them and then doesn't ask for a snack for about 3 hours, which is a miracle, haha!
