Kids constantly hungry?

[me again]

Oops! Meant to post this on the family board!

I have 2 kids, ds10 & dd11. They eat constantly!


They get fed 3 nourishing, substantial meals a day, plus snacks, but it seems they are a bottomless pit. They eat their fill at meals, walk away full, but literally 10 minutes later they're raiding the fridge/pantry for snacks. Also, seems everywhere we go they constantly complain about being hungry. Seems I can't complete a shopping trip without at least one informing me that they're "starving" even though they just ate!

Both kids are healthy, not under or over weight. But its seems to me if they continue with their eating habits they will eventually get overweight. I certainly don't want them to be hungry, but it can't be good for them to eat constantly, either. I'm beginning to think its a power kick, they declare they're hungry when we're out somewhere and I stop and get them something to eat. Well, I always make sure they're fed before we go somewhere, and I've started to carry a cooler with snacks. Not only is it cheaper, its healthier. I pack things like bottled water, granola bars, fruit, trail mix, yogurt, raisins, etc. Well, funny thing is, whenever they declare they're hungry and i suggest they take something from the cooler, they're not interested. Seems they want me to stop for McDonalds, french fries, etc. Just yesterday dd loudly declared at the mall that she was "starving". I told her she might be hungry, but she certainly wasn't "starving". Then I suggested we go back to the van for our snacks packed in the cooler, then she wasn't interested.

I'm not concerned that either child is "starving" but I am concerned about their non-stop eating. Seems they literally can't go more than 45 minutes to an hour without something in their mouths. Then they don't eat half of it. I think its all part of our culture where food is a part of everything we do, like activities, such as Scouts, Sunday School, just about any activity includes a snack. On days they have multiple activities they have multiple snacks, even though they get fed regular meals. I'm concerned they will be in such a habit of eating junk all the time and it will cause health problems later, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

Any way I can convey to them that they can go more than an hour without eating and not "starve"? Also, how to impress upon them the value of eating right, not just junk all the time? (I'm not against the ocassional McDonalds, french fries, popcorn, etc. just not a steady diet of it)

 

[poohandwendy]

Um, growth spurts. Very typical of their ages. Hate to say it, but it will get worse before better.

As far as what they eat, keep junk out of the house and the problem is solved.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD ate constantly at that age also. If they aren't overweight I wouldn't worry about it. Actually many smaller meals and snacks a day is healthier and easier on the body than 3 large meals.

PS for your DS it is just started, be ready for the day he takes the entire box of cereal and a mixing bowl sits down and starts to eat breakfast!

 

[me again]

Ah,yes, keep the junk out of the house and they can't eat it!

Well, not to sound defensive, but I do keep "junk" to a minimum around here, or at least try to. An ocassional pop tart or cookie never killed anyone, but I buy in quantity at Costco to save, and, they eat in quantity I mean, a box is gone in a day. I've taken to re-packaging snacks and actually labeling them with the day of the week (sounds anal, but works). Actually, they're good with this system, they will even correct each other (no, that's tomorrow's snack) or ask me if they can have more "junk". I have good quality stuff for them to nosh on, like fruit, yogurt, etc., but they go through that, too!

Growth spurts--both must be in them. I'm constantly amazed at how much dd eats--more than a construction worker! But she's slender (not skinny, slender). she's tall for her age, and muscular, is active, so she must need all that food. DS is now at the stage where he will eat almost a whole box of cereal at a sitting. I guess they must need all that food, it certainly isn't going to waste (or to waist! )

What bugs me is the school lunch. They serve the same tray for kindergarten through 5th grade. Come on! That tray might be enough for a 5 year old, but it hardly whets my kids appetite. I pack them lunches, they sometimes buy a tray, too, pack it all away and are still famished when they come home. Well, of course they should eat their fill, but it still bugs me when driving down a busy highway and one informs me they're hungry (when they just ate not more than 30 minutes ago!). Like what can I do, pull over in the breakdown lane and cook them up a chicken? They do have to learn I can't just produce food anytime, anywhere! But I do rely on my cooler for snacks, sure beats buying fast food all the time (one month I spent $300+ just at fast-food places picking up snacks!)

 

[feedindy]

Here's one people don't often consider-my children were diagnosed last year with celiac disease and for the older 2 this was their main symptom. They ate non-stop, no exaggeration, but they weren't overweight. In fact, they barely gained weight!

There were great articles recently in People magazine and USA Today about this often missed disease. It is tricky because the symptoms are so vague and varied-diarhea or constipation, weight gain or weight loss, fatigue or hyperactivity, anger management or behavioral issues, depression, vitamin deficiencies.

The disease basically causes malnourishment, thus the constant eating. My older two were compensating for mal-absorption by constant intake. Now that they are on the required gluten free diet, they eat 3 meals per day and 1 afternoon snack-all in reasonable quantities without complaints of hunger in between.

Obviously, this isn't the solution for everyone, but I know from experience there is a huge difference in starvation-style eating and growth spurts. I mention it because it is vastly under-diagnosed and has symptoms that are often overlooked as problems. If our diagnosis helps someone else, all the better!

 

[HayGan]

As others have said it is very common for kids to go through this.

I would recommend giving some snacks with more protein in them as well so that the snacks give them more energy and last longer. Snacks with lots of carbohydrates tend to be burned off quickly and give one the sense of hunger much quicker.

 

[me again]

Here's one people don't often consider-my children were diagnosed last year with celiac disease and for the older 2 this was their main symptom. They ate non-stop, no exaggeration, but they weren't overweight. In fact, they barely gained weight!

There were great articles recently in People magazine and USA Today about this often missed disease. It is tricky because the symptoms are so vague and varied-diarhea or constipation, weight gain or weight loss, fatigue or hyperactivity, anger management or behavioral issues, depression, vitamin deficiencies.

The disease basically causes malnourishment, thus the constant eating. My older two were compensating for mal-absorption by constant intake. Now that they are on the required gluten free diet, they eat 3 meals per day and 1 afternoon snack-all in reasonable quantities without complaints of hunger in between.

Obviously, this isn't the solution for everyone, but I know from experience there is a huge difference in starvation-style eating and growth spurts. I mention it because it is vastly under-diagnosed and has symptoms that are often overlooked as problems. If our diagnosis helps someone else, all the better!

I might bring this issue up at the kids next well-check (due in about a month). I seriously doubt it, but is worth considering. However, I really think they're just in the process of turning from little people into big people!

 

[Nolcrest]

I remember reading that the body confuses hunger with thirst. I myself am starting to drink more water when I think I am hungry, but know otherwise.

I would stop carrying a cooler around. You mentioned a possible power kick. I'd consider that possibility. Sounds like the kids are used to eating whenever they want because it is also easily available to them. You know your kids best. If it seems like they are eating out of habit, it's time to replace the bad habit with something else.

I NEVER stop at the store in between my usual shopping to pick up extras. We also don't stop at fast food. Yes, my kids felt like we were the deprived family because we didn't have junk in the house. May be true but my family does have good eating habits going into adulthood.

 

[rparmfamily]

Could they be bored? I know mine (though much younger) will bug me for snacks when they are start to get bored.

We also keep very very little junk in our house too. Tortilla chips are about as junky as we get!

 

[me again]

Sometimes the body does confuse hunger and thirst. I know this helps me with trying to lose weight, drink more water to fill up. But I can't bring myself to give hungry kids a glass of water! Like I said, they must need it or they would be fat!

Its just the timing. They're hungry at the most impossible times, like while driving, or otherwise engaged. I'm really not obligated to feed them outside of regular meals, which they do get...regularly.

I think their constant complaints of being hungry are more a power kick/attention getter. I carry the cooler because sometimes we are away from home for awhile, they can get hungry, but what gripes me is they usually aren't interested in the snacks, they just want to go to a fst food joint (which, btw, I stopped totally months ago, our budget and waistlines did very well without it)

 

[rparmfamily]

How far are you driving that they are bugging you that they are hungry? I run errands w/my young ones and certainly they can wait until we get home to eat or have a snack. We aren't usually gone for more than a few hours at a time, and we eat before we leave. I find if I bring snacks with me everywhere it just encourages them to constantly snack.

I think it's turned into a habit too..

 

[disneymom3]

If they are not actually eating the snacks maybe they are bored and not hungry. Especially if you are offerring the healthy alternatives and they are turning them down. I have one child who is a bottomless pit and one who is obsessed with snacks. The difference is that the snacker only wants crackers, teddy grahams, fruit snacks etc while when I offer the older one yogurt, fruit or even carrots, he will eat them. I know that bottomless pit is hungry and it can very well be 45 min after a HUGE meal, but he will eat the snack. He also is not overweight. In fact, what I find odd is that DD who eats what I would consider a normal diet, DS who is the bottomless pit(WHAT am I going to do when he is a teenager--he is only 7!!) and the youngest one who never met a vegetable that didnt' make him cry are all in the same range for their BMI. Isn't that funny?

At any rate, I vote for bored and habit. My kids used to ask for McDs all the time. I swear everytime we passed one no matter what time of day they wanted to go there. Then DH was unemployed and we never ever ate there. They eventually did stop asking though it took some time.

 

[crjack]

I'm glad to see I am not the only who whose kids are eating them out of house and home! DS12 and DD 11 are on summer vacation and definitely are using much of their free time snacking through my kitchen.

I do think some of it is hormones and growth spurts and some is just a matter of having more food available vs. being in school.

No weight issues for either one but I do try and remind them of healthy eating habits vs. eating out of habit or boredom. We also have lots of neighborhood kids over so that adds to the snacking.

I just try to stay active with them and keep them busy and resign myself to the fact that my food budget is always higher in the summer (but I'm not paying for school lunches.)

I do think though the closer they get to teenages the more frightened I am of what's to come!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I remember reading that the body confuses hunger with thirst. I myself am starting to drink more water when I think I am hungry, but know otherwise.

I would stop carrying a cooler around. You mentioned a possible power kick. I'd consider that possibility. Sounds like the kids are used to eating whenever they want because it is also easily available to them. You know your kids best. If it seems like they are eating out of habit, it's time to replace the bad habit with something else.

I NEVER stop at the store in between my usual shopping to pick up extras. We also don't stop at fast food. Yes, my kids felt like we were the deprived family because we didn't have junk in the house. May be true but my family does have good eating habits going into adulthood.

My kids will do this, they will leave the table and then ten minutes later (after the table is cleared) ask for more. They don't get it until snack time, my response is always "if you were still hungry you should've eaten more dinner, you can have a snack at snack time." Unless on a rare occassion we actually didn't have enough dinner for seconds, then I let them get some fruit or veggies out of the fridge to snack on.

They are also always STARVING when we go someplace, especially when we pass a McDonalds, lol. But I stick to my guns, if it's not mealtime or if we're on our way home I won't stop.

 

[me again]

I guess it bugs me when they say they're "starving". They might be hungry, but they certainly aren't starving! What if some social worker-type happened to over hear such a remark? Although neither kid looks malnourished, they could make something out of it. I telll them its best not to say things that could be misintrepreted, but they still pop off with that remark while out places!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

if claims of starvation were enough to attract the notice of roving Social Workers, all 3 of my kids would have been confiscated years ago.

 

[lyzziesmom]

They're not hungry, they just want a snack. If they are refusing food they like that is offered and holding out for McDonald's, they are not hungry. Teach them the difference between NEED and WANT.

Try this: don't give them so many snacks. 2 snacks a day is plenty. Don't carry a cooler of snacks, just tell them they have to wait until the next meal. There will be a lot of whining for a week or so until they realize it ain't happening, and then they will get over it. As long as you keep catering to their wants they will keep asking.

A handout from my pediatrician's office said it well: YOU decide WHEN and WHAT the kids eat. THEY decide how MUCH.


If they tell you they're starving, then tell them you'll miss them when they starve to death. They will get over it. Obviously they are not starving. They are playing you.

 

[disnutt]

I am amazed at all the snacks people pack to take with their kids these days! My kids request snacks out of boredom on the road. They think stopping somewhere to get a snack is fun.

I have friends that pack food like they are going on a week long jungle trek. They'll bring chilled juice boxes, goldfish, sliced grapes, and string cheese for a trip to the playground. My goodness kids, we're just at the playground for an hour not digging ditches. You can last at least an hour w/o provisions. My kids see that junk then want to eat it. They spend so much time eating they don't get to play! So they never work up enough activity to 'earn' the snack. Ridiculous.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

my 5 year old son is just like this, but I know that he is growing! He is getting so tall, but that kid is thin as a rail!!!!! He eats more than I do, but he is very busy with activities and such. He burns every thing he eats! He is going to be a very tall boy! MY hubby is 6'6" and he said that when he was in junior high/high school, he would go through a gallon of milk in less than 2 days!! GASP!!!!!

 

[Abbie]

As long as you keep catering to their wants they will keep asking.

If they tell you they're starving, then tell them you'll miss them when they starve to death. They will get over it. Obviously they are not starving. They are playing you.

Sounds like something I'd tell mine too....

I agree, they aren't really hungry, just bored. Why do you let it aggravate you? Don't bring a cooler of snacks, let them bring a baggie of pretzels if they want, but when they start with the "I'm starving" bit, just calmly tell them that they can eat when they get home. Then tune them out! Resolve to ignore the whining and it will stop.