Midnight Snack

I know the soup is cheap and yummy but it is so bad for you! Not a good thing for him to be snacking on, especially in the middle of the night. If he is actually waking up hungry, at the most, I'd probaly let him have is some raw nuts. That will fill him up and satisfy him.

Hello, M.,

Thank you for being a wise mom to stop this habit. Top Ramen Soup contains several known excitotoxins. (Many of our processed foods do in fact-- but these products especially. Excitotoxins are VERY addictive, by design. Excitotoxins are substances added to foods and beverages that literally stimulate neurons to death, causing brain damage of varying degrees. They can be found in such ingredients as monosodium glutamate, aspartame (Nutrasweet), hydrolyzed vegetable protein, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast, soy protein isolate, carrageenan, cysteine, hydrolyzed protein, natural flavors, aspartic acid and many other products.

Please read "Excitotoxins, The Taste that Kills", by Russell Blaylock, M.D.

Thank you for your question. It just may help many, many others.

My very best to you and your family,

T.

Stop buying the stuff it is on a top ten worst things to eat list.

I wonder if he's sneaking it because you limit it during the day? If he adds the salt to the noodles like we do, its really an unhealthy snack. I also wonder if that's the only thing he is sneaking. Take a day, observe his every move and then question the sneaking. If its not hunger, there is another reason. My husband is also gone alot between work, work travel, softball, college classes, etc. Just last night we had a discussion that I need him here more often. My kids tend to act out when my husband is absent for a period of time and if your son's are not seeing their father much,...who knows? In the meantime, try to at least getting him eating a healthier snack that won't leave a ton of cumbs everywhere.

My 10 year old is the same, the minute I put him to bed, he has the munchies and refuses to sleep without food. Try getting the little applesauce cups (natural, no sugar) and have him eat one of those at bedtime. That always fills me enough to help me sleep, and maybe he will stop. Plus, you could try keeping the ramen in your room. I have to keep a lot of snack foods in a cabinet in my room or they go and get them all times of the day and night. My son also really likes popcorn, which is nutritious (a lot less fat than those ramen noodles). I use the natural/low fat microwave kind. You can give him a baggie of that at bedtime, not so crumbly and easy to clean up. This may not be great advice to some but it's what came to mind.

If you don't mind him eating it let him have as a snack right before bed in your kitchen or family room. My son eats it too but it is only the noodles raw not all the bad stuff in the flavor packet-he does not even open that. The others are correct the flavor packet is terrible for you, but the noodles are fine. I don't buy it often but I know he eats it at other peoples houses-it is a common snack with kids/teenagers-my son is 16-his girl friend eats it all the time too. So you can either not buy it, let him eat it at a more appropriate time/place or strictly forbid anything in bed. If he is eating the flavor packet, try to steer him away from that.

Why don't you just reason with him. Tell him that eating food in his bed will invite bugs and that we don't want little critters running over his mouth at night. Tell him that there must be a better option, like eating in the kitchen when he gets hungry in the middle of the night or waiting until morning, or eating more before bed so he won't get so hungry. Then ask him what he thinks would be best. He's old enough that he will understand your reasoning and be able to make a better choice for all of you.

hi M., My 21 yer old son eats raw top roman soup, tell your son if he is going to continue to eat his midnight snack, tell him to stay in the kitchen, so he won't get roaches or other bugs in his room. J.

easy to solve stop buying the top ramen soup or hide it so he can't get up and eat it. Put notes on the soup that says do not eat this, or else. He might be eating to get him self back to sleep. if you think about it its kinda gross eating that raw, you would think he would pick something else out. Maybe he is still hungrey and doesn't want to eat more in front of his siblings, is he a bit over weight and teased about it.
humm

good luck

I was glad to see someone else mention to make sure he is brushing his teeth after these late-night snacks. That's really important. Maybe have your dentist say something? Anyway, aside from that I have a hard time thinking this is anything other than hunger (unless he is an emotional eater, but you didn't say anything like that so I'm going to assume not...maybe it's something for you to consider though).

Kids go through growth spurts where they just simply need more calories, and maybe he really does need an extra (healthful) snack before bed. Try apple slices with peanut butter or something else with a little protein to fill him up. My guess is he's grabbing the Ramen noodles because they're there and he really doesn't know what else to grab. My daughter (who's all of 3 1/2) loves to get into the boxes of cereal because they're on a shelf that she can reach.

Also, if you specifically don't want him eating the Ramen noodles, maybe you should keep them out of the house (i.e. don't buy them). As some people pointed out, they're super high in sodium and really not the best choice anyway. At any rate, your son is definitely old enough that you can talk with him and try to figure out together what he needs, be it a snack or just more water as someone else suggested. It will start teaching him to make healthful food choices, a truly critical skill to learn in this world where there are too many harmful options available.

Hi M.;

You might have him drink a little bit of water before bed.or make sure he is well hydrated during the day. Sometimes when you think you're hungry your body just wants some water.He might be a little dehydrated from the day. If nothing else might help with the process of ellimination to identify.
Hope this helps!
All the best
Deb

I'm sorry, but this post just made me laugh. I mean, not in a bad way like your problem is silly, but just because it's such a random thing to sneak! I used to sneak food, too. Even then I can't shed any light on why I did it- I did it because I could and I would get hungry at night. I have always had a problem with snacking at night. I would encourage him to grab something healthier than ramen noodles (which are par-fried and full of fat, although I noticed at the store today they now have a lower fat version)- if he eats the entire bag that is 26 grams of fat... not good, even for a kid. Have some cut up apples or other fruit ready or, if he prefers starchy, some wheat crackers or cooked whole wheat noodles. I'm not going to say snacking at night is an unhealthy habit because I've heard experts on both sides of the arguement. I think, personally, that what you eat is more important than when you eat it.

My 13 year old daughter also likes the top ramen raw, she likes the crunchy. Maybe he just likes to snack prior to bed. It won't hurt him, maybe you can give him an airtight container with a lid that he can keep in his room, if you are afraid of bugs. We all have the tendancy to have the oral fixation hand to mouth, we as adults do it at our desks, or munching while watching TV. It won't hurt him. maybe swell the belly a little when he drinks water. But if you provide a container, then he doesn't feel he has to sneak. Maybe have his own private stash.

If it not top ramen next week it will be cereal, lol, at least it is not picklers, my daughter is obsessed with pickles, so much that she smells like a pickle. lol

If that is your biggest worry this week you are doing good. Wow 4 boys Kudos to you. Keep up the good work

MY husband and I laughed when we read your story. Our 10 year old was just caught last night with a slice of pizza under his pillow. His room is right next to the kitchen! We showed him we ment business so i don't believe he will be doing that again. It's just pure laziness!Nip it in the bud now!

Hi M.,
I have 4 boys and have had the same problem with each of them at some time or another. In fact my 13 year old is the worst when it comes to cleaning up food messes. I have dealt with ant problems every spring/summer as a result. I even went so far as to lock the things that they attack in my closet. This only caused them to sneak them when I was not watching and stash them in their own room. I started to feel like I was encouraging them to be sneaky and steal. After every other failed attempt and paying too much on the terminex man, I had to resort to locking the pantry and fridge at night. I leave them fruit on the counter and they know where the cups are if they are thirsty. I know it sounds rediculous to lock food away, but I had no other choice. It only took about 6 weeks for them to stop and to realize that I would take drastic measures if I need to. I no longer have to lock things away and I find no food in the bedrooms anymore. I know most people will not agree with this idea, but I felt that I was the one dealing with the clean up and expense of getting rid of ants, so if you choose this route, be prepared for the ridicule. Good luck to you.

Hi M.! I was wondering if he is sneaking because you do not allow him to eat that normally. I'm asking because both of my kids LOVE to eat that stuff, especially with hot sauce or lucas on it, and yes, it is raw, not even cooked. YUK! I think it's disgusting, and didn't ever buy it, until recently, I kind of gave in because they were finding other places to get it. Other than that, I have a strict "no eating upstairs" policy, which is of course where the bedrooms are, but would always find some sort of food wrapper or container in their rooms. They sneak food all the time, and it was more so of a problem when they were younger. I don't know what to do to stop the cycle, I have tried everything, from putting them on punishment, to showing them disgusting bugs, my son even had ants in his room at one point and THAT didn't stop him. Besides a good old fashioned azz whoopin, nothing works. So... if you get some great advice, please share :) and good luck!!!

First of all I would talk to his doctor. Dry raw noodles is kind of a strange thing to eat at any time of day. Perhaps he is deficient in a particular nutrient. Also look at overall eating habits. Being constantly hungry and constantly thirsty are signs of diabetes. I know boys have an amazing ability to eat, but I would be concerned at this strange midnight snack.

I happen to love raw top ramen, my kids eat it raw too (without the packet of msg). It's the bed thing that's a problem. Take him to the Natural History museum and show him the extensive collection of live roaches they have there. Most kids would be creeped out at the thought of attracting even one of those to their bed while sleeping. That happens to be an impossibly crumbly snack, I make my kids eat it outside. Time to discover a new midnight snack. btw- is he re-brushing his teeth after snacking?

Please excuse me but what is "raw top roman soup" It sounds so delicious! *Oh okay "top RAMEN soup". I know what this is....

My daughter likes to have a "snack" too, before bed, even though she's had a good dinner. We explain to her that she cannot eat IN her bed because it attracts cockaroaches (and she HATES roaches) and other yucky critters. This seems enough of an incentive for her. Thus, she can eat, but not in her room.

Instead of having your son "sneak" to get his snack, perhaps just ask him BEFORE going to bed "do you want a snack first? If not there will be no food anywhere..." Tell him that this is a "pre-bed" activity... not an IN bed activity. He's old enough to know.

Also, once, as an example, I let the food crumbs stay in my daughter's room, which was on the floor.... I did NOT clean it up... I left it there purposely. She didn't clean it up either. Well, yes... it attracted roaches eventually.... and she saw this for herself. Plus, it made her carpet a little stained. Well, (as I knew she would), she told me "Mommy there's cockaroaches in my room, see!!!" So I went and looked.... and I said "oh yes, I guess they like the food mess you left on the floor from your snacks...oh well. Cockaroaches LOVE people's rubbish and left overs...." WELL, after that she TOTALLY got the drift... and she's been more careful and won't eat in her room, nor does she leave food particles around. It was a good lesson for her. But yes, I had to "pick" the way I chose to teach her the lesson...and I had to be willing to leave her food crumbs there on the floor without cleaning it up. Which I chose to do.

Good luck,
~Susan
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