How can I help my 5 year old son learn how much food his body requires?
I have a healthy, active 5 year old son - who eats like a "grown man"! When I give him nutritious meals, he will always ask for "more" - even when he has been given a larger adult portion. He has gotten into the habit of eating quickly, and then "begging" food off of my plate, and my husband's plate. I know he has consumed enough food to fill him up - and yet he keeps asking for more. The pediatrician sent us to a nutritionist who recommended food with more fiber like grains and beans; but that is very difficult to add into every meal. I am stumped, and don't want my son to develop poor eating habits, or feel like we are depriving him of something his body requires. Any suggestions?
I'm a little confused, is your son overweight? If he isn't, then why are you so concerned about how much he is eating? If his weight is normal, he could very well be going through a growth spurt and is needing many calories.
I have four kids, and they all pushed their plates away when they were full. Most kids are able to know when they've had enough.
However, if your son's weight is a concern, then you need to be more careful and mindful of the types of foods he's eating. Ensure that every snack or meal is healthy and nutritious.
I would also discourage you from allowing him to snack while he sits in front of the television.
Have you tried giving him some almonds or healthy nuts aprx 20-30 minutes before dinner...this may help him feel more full after his dinner.
You could try and make him chew everything so many times before he gets to take another bite...help slow him down. It takes the stomach a certain amount of time to signal that it is full. If he can't eat slower tell him after he is finished if he is still hungry in 20-30 minutes he can have seconds. IDK I'm just throwing out ideas off the top of my head.
Have you tried giving him smaller amounts at a time? Like instead of giving him a "grown mans" portion right away, give him half and let him sit for a few minutes and then if he still wants more, give him the rest. If he is still hungry after that then he can have a banana or baby carrots or something. Does he get snacks between meals so he doesn't get over hungry? Enough water?
Quoting Duckylicious:
Have you tried giving him some almonds or healthy nuts aprx 20-30 minutes before dinner...this may help him feel more full after his dinner.
You could try and make him chew everything so many times before he gets to take another bite...help slow him down. It takes the stomach a certain amount of time to signal that it is full. If he can't eat slower tell him after he is finished if he is still hungry in 20-30 minutes he can have seconds. IDK I'm just throwing out ideas off the top of my head.
I agree with having him slow down, and chew more. Maybe also having him sip water after so many bites.
I also agree that as long as weight isn't a concern, let him be.
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Have him take a drink after every mouthfull of food and tell him to slow down. When he is finnished have him wait a few minutes while you chat with him and if he still wants seconds then give him some. Growing children eat alot (well some do, mine seem to live on air). If he is not overweight, and is active he should be allowed to eat until he is full. Just make sure his food choices are healthy ones. Lots of veg, fruits, and whole foods that have been cooked with healthy oils. There should be no limits on a childs healthy foods unless there is a weight problem.
I don't know if this will help but my 3 year old daughter was and at times still does try to do this. We actually also have a kitty cat that does it to(cat food but later throws up because of it). One morning my daughter got up and saw the cat puke before I could clean it up and was freaking out that there was something yucky on the floor. I had to tell her that our cat ate to much and got sick. Well later that day she was trying to over eat herself and so I told her she doesn't want to over eat because she could get sick like our cat. Instead of fighting me about it. She understood. Now only every now and then does she seem to want to. Then she remembers she doesn't want to be sick like the cat. Good luck with your son. I hope you can find a good way for you to help him.
sounds like my 4 yr old, he's healthy and active and sometimes eats a ton! I give him a good portion and if he asks for more I tell him he has to let his tummy settle, we've talked about it so he understands what that means, then if he says he's still hungry he can have more or carrots or a banana, something. He eats fast too, so sometimes after a few minutes of "settling" he does feel full. I think mine is growing right now cause he's been eating lots! Has your son been eating this much for a long time, or just more recently?
Maybe he's is a growth spurt.
With my son I will use smaller plates and smaller portions so he can have a second helping without adding a lot of extra food. But there days when he just just eats evrything that isn't nailed down. He is very active and in now way overweight.
Unless there are medical concerns or he is over weight I would think it is just a growth spurt. My picky 6 year old every once in a while will eat and eat and I wonder if he feels that he is OK. It usually last a short time and then he goes back to eating normal (for him).
He's eating like a normal boy. My son is 8 and can out eat myself and my husband. He's active and not overweight, then let him eat til he gets full. People create eating disorders by putting so much emphasis on what the kid eats and then the kid gets self conscious. Let the kid eat.
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on Jul. 21, 2010 at 9:28 PM