Do your kids constantly want to eat?

[hholllyy426]

OMG, my son won't stop eating, he's like the bottomless pit. He is always saying he's hungry and it's been going on for about a month. He eats healthy food and bread, he's addicted to bread. One weekend he ate 3lbs of apples, 4 peaches and 2 loaves of bread and I don't know where it all goes. He's a bean pole.

Have any of you experienced this with your kids? Is this something I should call the doctor about? He does take medication for adhd, which on the side effects is that it lowers the appetite but he's having the opposite. And it's not during any time of day, it's all day.

[weaveress]

mine are 6+8. they eat nonstop. they graze constantly and as long as hes eating healthy stuff and not eating four pounds of potato chips, it sounds right to me. the kids are growing and healthy(both beanpoles as well, but my DH is 6'4 and maybe pushing 160, so they get it honest). this sounds like a typical growth spurt to me. my six year old today ate 2 helpings of mashed potatoes, one of ham, four of turkey, and three pieces of pumpkin pie while at grandmas and then came home and started eating yogurt. i wish they had had some veggies and fruits not saturated in sauce or cheese at thanksgiving. he doesnt like cheese, but will eat fruits like crazy. a big family size can of peaches is a normal snack for him.

[Zaylah]

  Both of my kids graze constantly.They eat a little of this,then go back for a little of that and it goes on from there.. It starts when they get home from school. They're not like this on the weekends though.

[Helen]

My boys are very active. When not running, they are eating. We went shopping and my oldest, 11, asked if he could eat on the way home. I said no, wait until after dinner, like it would spoil his appetite. He ate turkey for lunch with stuffing and had a second helping. Ate m&m's and starburst after his basketball game. Then, for dinner, ate a hamburger and followed that up with chips, good and plenty, and a doughnut. He weighs 106 lbs and is 5 foot 2. He is very muscular.

[rkoloms]

Keep lots of healthy snacks around: clementines, apples, grapes, hummus, carrots, jicama, yogurt, frozen blueberries, etc.

[sweetmelissa77]

My son is 7 and he eats like crazy! He grazes a lot & at times seems like a bottomless pit too. He typically is built VERY thin & has always been in the lowest percentiles for weight. In the past year since he started this grazing, he has gotten very tall & has lost all traces of that baby look to him (which is bittersweet, of course). I think at this age that is very normal to eat a lot. Children typically go through growth spurts around this age. As long as your son is maintaining a healthy weight & eating healthy foods, I wouldn't be too concerned. However, you know your child best. It could never hurt to consult with your physician if you feel like you should. Good luck!