Fussy Eaters v. Foodoholics
There are many children that are fussy eaters, I know a little boy who shudders if he sees a piece of fruit and another who lives on rice crackers. It must be a nightmare for parents to get them to eat. My problem is the complete opposite in that my two-year old’s eating is out of control. My friends say they wish their children ate like she does, but believe me it’s one big battle. Thankfully she does eat healthily and is very active, and as a result is not overweight, although she would be if I didn’t limit what she ate.
Feed me, feed me, feed me!
She only weighed 2.2kg at birth but caught up very quickly and at the age of one, I was told I gave her too much milk and fruit and to cut down. Her huge appetite has continued. All day long she ask for more food and doesn’t seem to know when to stop, even asking for seconds as soon as a plate is put in front of her.
Stressed mother
I find it really stressful as I’m always saying no more food, and it often results in tears or a tantrum. It drives me crazy and I’ve tried so hard not to turn her desire to over-eat into an issue, but it seems to have become one and I feel like such a bad mother!
Zero advice on over-eating
There is so much advice in all the books, parenting magazines and websites about how to get your children to eat, but there’s absolutely nothing about the big eaters (and I’m sure mine can’t be the only one).
What she eats:
- Breakfast: Bowl of cereal, fruit – she usually then wants toast or more cereal
- Lunch: Pasta/sandwich , yoghurt – wants seconds plus fruit
- Tea: Rice/Pasta/Fish fingers, fruit – usually wants more of everything
- 4 snacks a day (includes a handful of dry cereal when she wakes up and a cracker with her milk at bedtime)
- About 20 minutes after she eats her meals, she asks for a snack as she says she’s hungry. I try to string it out until snack time.
All her meals include plenty of fresh vegetables and meat or fish.
She rarely has chocolate, and no sweets or junk food. I used to be really strict, but now do let her have treats like the odd biscuit or ice-cream.
I’m concerned because everywhere in the press you read about the rise of obesity in children, and I am tearing my hair out as I don’t know what to do. Should I keep saying no all the time or should I let her eat what she wants? Should I stick to fixed snack times? What can I give her that will fill her up? Any tips gratefully received.
uum… where are the vegetables?????
no wonder she’s hungry…..that diet is terrible.
Maybe I should have included a few more details. She has a very balanced diet with loads of vegetables with her pasta and rice and potatoes and meat etc. I just did a summary.
I had this. When B was 1/2/3 she ate adult sized portions of everything, but it petered out around 3 1/2-4 years. Now she eats small portions appropriate for her age. There is not an ounce of fat on her, she’s beautifully toned.
It may be the same for you.
Did you just let her get on with it and eat as much she wanted?
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I gave her healthy things such as cucumber slices, tomato chunks, breadsticks, a piece of cheese etc. There were a FEW times when it got ridiculous and I said “No, no more now, go play”, and she never complained, but may be for you this will be a case of ‘tough love’ and perseverance. Distractions away from food may help.
Some children just find the whole concept of eating fun, like colouring. They love the tastes, textures etc.
For B @ around age 2 her diet was -
breakfast – cereal milk, banana cup of water (nursery)
Toast, fruit yoghurt cup of water
lunch – lasagne garlic bread, satsuma cup of water (nursery)
ham sandwich, yoghurt, piece of cheese cup of water (home)
Nursery gave “high tea” @ 3pm – sandwiches, fruit cup of milk
Tea time – chicken, mash peas, chocolate biscuit cup of water.
Snacks around 3/4 times a day – cucumber, tomato, cheese, crisps, plain biscuit, pear, apple, yoghurt.
Sometimes she snaffled a bit of whatever I ate also.
She sounds just like mine! I think I need to stop worrying so much.
She’s 5 1/2 now, and now she has toast & jam or peanut butter with a cup of water for breakfast, sometimes cereal & milk or crackers & ham, then fruit at playtime, followed by maybe baked potato & beans with salad or chicken curry or vegetable pasta bake & yoghurt & cup of water at lunch. I bring a snack at pick up, then she’ll have couscous, salad & cheese for tea, or sometimes we share a takeaway pizza with veg toppings (I’m a vegetarian) plus fries, or I’ll do a casserole, and she will ask for seconds if she really likes it or she’s really hungry. Pudding is usually yoghurt or fruit or custard.
May be you are worrying too much, I don’t know. But if it is becoming a problem don’t be afraid to get a professional opinion.
Gosh this is an interesting post.
I have the opposite problem ( i better not tell rachel what my kid eats!) and it is a nightmare.
I’m no dietician, but my gut says, dont’ try and limit HOW much she eats but WHAT she eats, which it seems like you are doing anyway. I don’t think children can eat too much of the right things. And if she really isn’t hungry and is hankering after biscuits etc she’ll soon stop asking.
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I may have come across as an epic b***h initially, I apologise. I’m all for mums supporting each other.
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I was a bit scared after your first comment, but I think your advice has been great, so thank you
Janine Clements Freelance Journalist (& Mummy Blogger) Mobile: 07779 806797 Mummy Blog http://www.21stcenturymummy.com Twitter: @mummytweets
I can be a swine, I know.
I’ve seen some FAAAAT kids with FAAAT parents… with shopping trollies full of Iceland crap, where the kid has a belly hanging out and their clothes are straining against their bodies. You just know all they get fed is fried chicken nuggets and fried chips and cheap sugary baked beans, washed down with a bloody Panda Pop.
The fact that you’re asking for advice shows you’re ‘aware’.
I’m on Twitter as honestmammatalk, but beware, I lose followers sometimes as I get a bit ranty.
I’m following you already – I’m @mummytweets
yesterdays foodage, in consumed order -
toast & butter x2
ice cream & raspberries
ham on granary roll
soda bread & butter
half blueberry muffin
pickled onion Space Raider crisps
handful of olives
Chocolate biscuit
rice pudding
cheesy pasta w/ham & broccoli
half banana
………………….
It just occurred to me, the diet summary looks very biased towards carbohydrates, which have a tendency to stimulate appetite. I wonder if adding more protein, and maybe reducing the simple carbohydrates, would keep the hunger more under control?
Thanks for your advice, you could be right, I’ll give it a go.