My recently turned 3-year-old daughter is driving me batty. It is now 10:30am. Since she woke up at 8 this morning, she has eaten one 4oz. yogurt with wheat germ, two bananas (she wanted three), a slice of whole wheat bread, and a bowl of Rice Krispies w/ milk & strawberries. She is now working on some grapes and carrot sticks and she's finally slowing down. This is a fairly normal morning for us.
I feel like I spend breakfast through lunch time shoveling food in her mouth! Every time I think she's done, I turn around and she's asking for something else. I try to keep it healthy. I've also tried to stop this seemingly non-stop buffet by sticking to mealtimes but it only works sometimes. She's in the 95% for weight and the doctor has said we need to start keeping an eye on her intake. (I don't necessarily agree with this assessment at this early an age.)
I try not to eat around her because then she always wants to eat my food too no matter what she just ate. Does anyone have any suggestions as to something that might fill her up? Or anything else I can try?
LOL - after I had written this post, I also found an empty sandwich container. So tack on a half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to the list that she ate while I was in the shower. You guys have given me a lot to think about. Thank you all so much.
To answer some questions:
While this was a more extreme morning, it's not abnormal.
She wasn't eating out of boredom. During those 2-1/2 hours, we were out of the house for over an hour, and she was also watching her fav show, which she kept on leaving to ask for food. Now, that part was highly unusual.
Her breakfast contains about 12-14 grams of protein. That doesn't include the peanut butter sandwich I didn't know she had consumed. She also usually has a slice or two of cheese every morning. Just didn't yesterday.
She looks fairly proportional to me. She does have her baby belly which she's been slowly losing. She just seems to be solid and weighs about 38 pounds. Height-wise she's in the 75% bracket.
Sticking to meal times has been working most of the time. I've also been trying to stick closer to home since we are potty-training so it's been harder to keep her distracted from food with the kitchen being one of the central areas of the house.
Activity-wise, she's fairly active. We're just not doing as much in the winter, like most.
Her beverage intake had been cut back recently. She decided she didn't like milk for a spell and I try to keep juice at around 4 oz./day so I think that is the first area I'm going to focus on.
I agree with you that kids this young should be on a "diet"
I noticed all the foods you listed are fruits, veggies and grains. Try adding more proteins, she may stay full longer.
Put her on a stricter feeding schedule. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. If she gets hungry in between, distract her with an activity until it's time for the next meal.
My son is the same and it drives me crazy. It's an all day thing. He's always been in that 95% range. He's tall and not chunky in the least. I shudder to think what his teenage eating years will be like :).
Do you think she is going through a growth spur? Has she always been like that? I think is complicated...sorry I can't help. If you are worry, could you see a specialist?
(More info maybe doesn't help in your case, but is interesting)
I runt into this article a long time a go...about children who "They're very, very hungry; they always want to eat."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009...
When I feel like all I am doing is spending time in the kitchen preparing one meal after another because my son just can't get full, I put a bowl of dry cereal out on the table so he can snack in between. It helps a little. I like big eaters, though. My sister and I grew up eating a lot and not being picky. We were always a normal size because our meals were not processed and a good balance (we lived in Indonesia so our meals were meat, rice and dark green veggies). We were also very active and played outside a lot. As long as you are feeding her healthy stuff I would keep that up. Just make sure she is active at the same time.
I'd keep a food journal of what she eats for a week. Then try to keep those similar portions, but only at meal times, no snacks. Snacking is a dangerous habit, even with nutritious foods (which it sounds like you're doing great at!). She should learn to eat only at meal times. If she can't eat all of it (the same amounts of food that she normally ate all morning long) at a set meal then she probably doesn't need as much. She'll learn to regulate and you certainly won't be starving her. Its going to be challenging to change this habit, but its for her best in the long run. Remember, just because I child asks for food does not mean that they need to eat. Eating can be a habit or a way of keeping ones self from getting bored. People who stop smoking often gain lots of weight because they need something to do with their hands and mouth, not because they're hungry.
Best wishes!
Sounds like your daughter eats really healthy. That's great.
However,that really does sound like a lot for a 3 year old to eat. Wanting three bananas, for example, is A LOT. Does she seem to be getting chubby? Your doctor may be right, even at this early stage. She is setting eating patterns for her whole life.
I have no ideas about foods to give her, maybe you can find a way to redirect her when she wants food. In my opinion, she should not constantly be snacking. I agree with the protein idea, below.
I feel your pain! My son is like that too but only until the afternoon. By evening he slows down. Most of the day he’s a bottomless pit, and he eats a lot of protein. Go figure! Like you we eat super healthy so I’m not worried about the food he’s eating, but jeez, he eats me out of house and home and he’s only 4! What % is your daughter in height? Is your daughter super active? My son is most active in the morning so we’ll go on hikes, park or make an obstacle course in our house for him to run around.
When my Dr. asked about my son’s daily activities and I told him all that, he said that is why he’s eating so much in the morning/afternoon because of he’s so active. He’s replenishing/refueling his body. He’s 99% in height and 85% in weight so long but lean. My husband always comments if I think it’s bad now, just wait until he’s a teenager =-)
Is this emotional eating? Or is she really hungry? I agree with the others. She may need protein shakes or something else to fill her up. Sounds like she is eating healthy, and may be getting ready for a growth spurt (my kids eat like hogs right before they grow). But if she is bored, or anxious, this may be emotional eating (filling some other need with food). Observe closely. She is too young to tell you, but you as a mom will know.
The reason for watching her food intake is most likely because Juvenile Diabetes is on the rise, and even if she's eating healthy foods, if she isn't getting enough exercise to burn off the calories, it could be harmful.
My kids would snack all day if I let them; my son (4 yrs) is very picky (but loves fruit and yogurt) where as my daughter who turns 3 in just over a month, will eat just about anything and at times, has out eaten her father! My son once went through an entire bunch of bananas (7) within three hours. Getting that much fruit can be just as harmful as not getting enough. His doctor said that too many bananas (and other fruits) can cause constipation which could cause major problems in kids because if it hurts, they stop going and a trip to the ER is necessary.
They go to daycare two days a week while I am in classes and they get a structured food schedule and I've implemented something similar at home.
When they're home, breakfast is from when they wake up until 8:30, then, I take any uneaten food (or food they've played with) away; if it's something like cereal, I dump it; if it's something like toast, I put it in a ziplock and heat it up later if they want it. Then they play and do not get a snack until about 10:30, usually a piece of fruit or yogurt with granola (Whole Foods has some great granola in the bulk food isle). Then lunch is at 12:30 and it's usually Peanut butter sandwiches with another piece of fruit (but each time they're given fruit, it's something different) I buy the DOLE fruit cups to put in their lunches; they have apples, pears, peaches, mixed fruit and even fruit in a jello like substance (which I don't buy) And every once in awhile, I give them an Oreo or some other treat.
The big key though is getting your daughter moving around more so that she has an alternative to non-stop eating. If taking her outside to play isn't possible, (I can't take mine out to play because our neighbors don't clean up after their dogs like they're supposed to) then see if there is a children's museum. I have a family membership to the Hands on Museum in Ann Arbor so it's free for us to get in. Another idea is to find a public swimming pool and enroll in swimming classes, it's a great way to burn up energy and introduce her to deeper water than her bathtub. Good luck!
First, a hearty congratulations on feeding a healthy diet! My daughter, also 3, would do the same thing if we let her. Our solution has been to simply say no. We tell her she can have a snack at a particular time and other than that we've pretty much eliminated in between meal eating. We're not mean about it, but we've just said that snacks are a twice/day thing in between meals and that's when she can eat. It's worked very well. To be frank, I don't care why she wanted to eat (bored, hungry, whatever). I know her intake at meals is plenty and we want her to develop good eating habits. The amount of snacking she wanted to do was going to put her on the path to obesity. We've been on the one snack only between meals for about a month and she rarely asks for anything else at this point. My husband and I are both overweight and we're working very hard to lose weight right now so we can set a good example. We NEVER bring up weight around her and we won't, but I am very conscious of making sure she isn't eating junk and what her intake is.
Again, you're feeding your daughter very healthy foods. Kudos!
Have you tried offering her something to drink when she asks for food? Maybe she's not getting enough to drink or mistaking her thirst for hunger?
If yout want to see if she's eating because shes' hungry or out of boredom, try having her eat 3 meals and 2 snacks for one day. Make sure you have plenty to do (maybe choose a day where she can go outside) and redirect her to something else when she asks for food. If it's a fight, then maybe it's not worth it. You don't want her to go hungry or think she's not allowed to eat.
What are her afternoon/evenings like? Maybe if she's not eating as much in the afternoon or evenings then she's making up for it now?
Has she always been like that? Is there something new in her life? New room, sibling, sitter, etc? That could be one reason she's eating - to cope with a new sitaution?
I would keep an eye on it just because she is establishing her eating patterns for her whole life now, but I would not worry about it at this age.
I would push veggies as much as possible since they are fillers but practically no calories, water and other filling foods that include protein.
Is she eating because she is hungry or eating because she is bored? Try redirecting her to some fun activities and see if that helps. I'd also like to point out that sometimes we think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty. Our brains get confused on that topic. How about a glass of water?
Hang in there!
S.
I agree with your doctor because-
I had my first born who overate because I was feeding her too much formula. (I would give her bottles at nap time). She had the Michellin Man rolls on her arms. As she grew she started to slim out. She was a slim child and has remained slim nto her teens. She did not and does not have a desire to overeat.
My last born child was my smallest in terms of birth weight , but at 4 months would want to eat 6 ounces instead of the 4 ounces my first daughter would eat. She never had the rolls like my other daughter. but as she grew she has always been more "thick" and chunky than the other daughter and other kids her age. This daughter LOVES to eat. When we have leftovers and there is a different leftover on my plate or someone elses, she wants some of it. You can't eat in front of her and her not get any, even if she just ate. I KNOW she is not hungry - she just loves food. There is not a food she won't eat- even veggies. Heaven forbid you go to a smorgy with a food lover like this- they want to sample -everything!
I know from experience that a food lover will tend to overeat. I am one of them! I was always chunky growing up, slimmed down at teens, but chunked up again in my late twenties.Many times I overeat because I like the taste and sensation of food- I see my DD doing the same. I understand the phsycology. Unfortunately I am really going to have to watch this daughter's weight or she will overeat and get fat if I let her.
One thing I do to help change her thought process is i always tell her:
"You know when you can stop eating is when you don't feel the burning hunger anymore. You shouldn't wait until you feel so full you are uncomfortable, but only eat until the "hunger" sensation is gone. Anything you don't finish we can put it a baggie in the fridge - so you willl STILL get to have it , just later." Hopefully I am also teaching her patience and restraint.
We live in a luxury nation where we have food at our fingertips but this was not always the case and it is not guaranteed to be the case forever. In the days of old , hunger was accepted and expected as a thing of life.
Interesting to note the difference in the children- One who WON'T get fat because she doesnt have that overeating trigger,even though she was made to be fat -it naturally came off. And one who does have that food loving overeating trigger and will likely struggle with it her whiole life.
More water. More protein - it's harder to get full on just fruits and veggies. And keep her busy.
She sounds like she is getting ready for a growth spurt. Totally normal. Have you tried keeping a box of healthy snacks within reach for her? Nuts, raisins, apples, mandarin oranges, rice cakes? And in the fridge some cut up carrots, cucumbers, celery?
My boys go through this about every six months. That's how I know that we need to start looking for bigger pants!
Seriously, though, as long as she is still eating at regular meal times, I would let it go. She will even out.
There are a couple of things that could be happening. The first thing that comes to mind is how much water (actual water) does your daughter drink? Many people turn to food when they are actually thirsty and NEED water. While I do sell a product I would strongly recommend, I will only suggest it if you email me; however, she needs to be drinking at least 1/2 her weight (changed into ounces) in WATER. This is a guideline that has been changed etc because the medical community realizes that most people do not drink water mostly due to the taste (which is a whole nother ballgame). Unless you have a private well 300+ feet deep more than 600 miles away from aggriculture, your best bet is using a reverse osmosis system to get ALL the bad out of the water, inclucing the really obvious bad taste.
The second option, have her various hormone & sugar levels, especially thyroid, checked. While that is an early age to have something going on, her sugar and/or thyroid levels could shed some light on things. Even if the Dr. says they're "normal" if they are closer to the lower end, it may be worth checking them every few months to make sure they are "level" or "normal" for her. If the doctor doesn't agree to check those levels, get a second opinion. I have a nephew that ate almost everything he could when he was 18 months and they found out the hard way that he was diabetic. You do not want to have that be the case and find out the hard way.
Someone mentioned snacking not being good; at 3 kids do tend to be grazers naturally and if you talk to most nutrionists, that is a better way to eat. Even though it may seem like she's eating a ton, she may not be. The food journal idea is good to keep track of how much she's eating at each sitting and in between.
In some ways I wish I had this problem with my 3 year-old son. Right now, he wants nothing to do with breakfast; at all!
Hope this helps.
Just looking at what your daughter ate this morning.......although it looks very healthy I don't see a lot of protein. I think the protein would satiate her. Try scrambling some eggs or some other protein.
I drink protein shakes in the morning and they are very filling. A few years ago I got into Shaklee and started my own small business. That's when I discovered the protein shakes. I started having one in the afternoon at 4pm too, and I no longer nibble between lunch and dinner. It took me years to figure out protein was what I needed. Before that at about 4pm I started eating anything in sight. Sometimes I have meal shakes or protein bars. Even my 6'2" husband doesn't get hungry after a protein shake.
something to consider.........protein
Don't get overwhelmed learn to say No. This is a very critical time for you The child is eating too much even if it's healthy. We start determing the number of fat cells we are going to have very early.I would like to know what her activities are. Make a structured schedule on the wall that she can be a part of. Place times for 3 meals 1 am snack , 1 pm snack no eating before bed. Be sure she is getting good exercise, you can do it with her.She may be eating because she is bored.She is certainly not hungry. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you are full.Be strong, even if they have a temper tantrum. don't give in to it. This will empower all the negative behavior.You are the parent be sure not to reward with food or call things a treat or use food to negociate the behavior you seek. They don't come with a manual, look to your inner voice I know you can do it.Discipline consistency and following through with what you say is key
I pretty much had the opposite problem so I don't have experience on this :-) but every time we complained to the doctor he was not eating much, the doctor kept telling us he is fine and how eating a lot and having extra pounds is bad for the future health of the child, even at these young ages. So I would for sure try to keep an eye on he intake as your doctor suggested.
Maybe you could try filling her up with water, that helps when I am trying not to eat much. You could also offer her foods low in sugar and fat (cucumber instead of grapes) and high in protein (boiled egg for breakfast) to fill her up.
I would also work harder on sticking to meal and snack times (as you are already doing) and do not offer any foods between meals. Just water. She should not go without food for more than 3-4 hours of course.
If she is distracted with some other activity (away from any food in sight) she should be less likely to think about or ask for food between meal times.
Maybe these web sites can help:
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/toddler-overeating...
http://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/behavior/overeating.aspx
