My Son Eating Habits?

Question

My 10 year old step son is constantly want to eat. I will feed him at 7:00L and not even 30 minutes after he is done. He comes down the stairs and ask for a snack. I tell him you just ate, you dont need a snack. Well 30 minutes later he comes back down and says that he is hungry and want something to eat. I then tell him that he is not getting anything else to eat for the night. I am not going to have him constantly eating and eating just because he is bored. Am I wrong for this?

Answer 1

Maybe dinner didn't fill him up? He last ate at school lunch 11 or 12:00? By 7:00 he is famished! Few people go 7 and 8 hours without eating a meal or snack or nibbling on something! It just isn't healthy for anyone! It causes more problems and health related issues to deny your body food.

A snack would be in order. Actually 6 small or managed meals and/or snacks per day is recommended for everyone! School and chilhood activity levels require the energy to sustain growing kids.

1. breakfast (8am)

2. snack (11am)

3. lunch (1pm)

4. snack (3pm)

5. dinner (6pm)

6. snack (9pm)


"A six meals per day diet is your best option for losing weight and gaining lean muscle mass quickly. Eating 6 small, protein-rich meals and snacks - spaced 2 to 3 hours apart - has been proven to be the most effective way to keep your metabolism going strong and to ensure that your energy levels remain constant throughout the day."

Recommended by pediatricians/doctors and nutritionalists all over.

It doesn't sound like a matter of over-eating at all.

It isn't about you being right or wrong or him being bored!

I wouldn't just tell him NO! If he wants a snack then try a bag of microwave (no butter) popcorn, a bowl of cereal or left-overs and something to drink. And NOT a diet soda, you don't want to instill some weight issue in a 10 year old mind. I doubt that a 10 year old is going to go for veggies as a snack unless this is something he is common to eating. Forced foods are not likely to be eaten.

I am a late night cereal snacker myself! As I bet many of these adults and/or who ever are saying to NOT allow this kid a snack!

I offer my children a snack before bed every single night, if they want it fine, if they don't then so be it. Ages 3 and 10 years, and even my 15 year old. Cookies and milk are a ritual around my house. It gives their tummy's something to help them sleep and moment for me to snuggle them, talk about the day and close our night. The 15 year old opts for the popcorn with cinnomon and 30 extra minutes on the phone!!!

Are you wrong? Just re-think the "absolute" NO, for a possible maybe???

Answer 2

If this goes on for more than a week or 2 take him to the dr. there is a medical condition called Polyphagia.. A person can eat and eat and eat and never have the full non hungry feeling...

Polyphagia is different than anorexia or bulemia both anerexia and bulemia are voluntary eating disorders (voluntary meaning the cause is not physica in nature to begin with it is mental) Polyphagia is involuntary a person with polyphagia will eat but the body will never send the signal that you have eaten enough you are full no matter how often or how much they eat...

If he is going through a growth spurt which is common at age 10 for boys he may need extra calories to accomidate the growth spurt... If not his body could not sending the right signals causing him to always have the feeling of hunger...

Better to have the medical reasons illiminated before assuming he is just wanting to eat because he is bored there could be mre behind it than that... If it does turn out he is eating because he is bored him coming down the stairs to you for a snack should tell you something.. engage him with activities, playing a game etc. if he is upstairs and you are downstairs there is no connection between you and he is not being engaged...

Answer 3

I recentlty read of a study that in children who are obese, they actually eat LESS when their parents let them make their own choices. Children naturally are "intuitive eaters," meaning that they will eat what they need according to body signals. However, when we intrude a lot, we take away the ability to recognize body signals. We usually will crave what we need if we are in tune with our bodies. Over years we get farther from that for a variety of reasons. (think about yourself, I know I often eat because I am bored or because it is "time" to eat - not just because I am hungry). I would say not to make it a huge issue. If there is something else going on, such as him expressing a need for attention for always asking for a snack, address that. Otherwise, have lots of healthy snacks available and try to not focus on it too much. I have a 10 year old daughter, and I know she always eats more during growth spurts and sometimes doesn't want to eat at all. One month she will want to eat every hour, the next she will eat breakfast and by lunchtime SWEAR she isn't hungry!

Answer 4

Perhaps he is having a growth spurt and needs to eat. You can find out if he is eating out of boredom or real hunger by offering him healthy snacks. If he is hungry, he will eat it and you can feel good about that. If he turns you down because he was hoping for chips or candy or something not healthy, then he is eating out of boredom. At that point you should just try and find something for him to do. Another good appetite curbing option is to offer him water to drink. Often kids think they are hungry when really they are thirsty. And water will fill him up too so he won't want to snack.

Answer 5

Adolescent boys are bottom-less pits when it comes to eating. My mother-in-law used to make MASSIVE portions to satisfy my husband, his friends and his younger brothers. Girls do the same thing to a degree; I know I did. At 10, I had a reputation for decimating restaurant buffets. The thing is I was 5 feet tall and only weighed 90 pounds. No one knew where I put it! It was just a growth spurt. I'm now 20 and am 5'4'', 110 lbs.

Let him eat if he's not overweight. This is normal, his body needs more fuel to help him grow. Start providing healthy alternatives to any junk foods though.

Answer 6

No it is not wrong of you, I'm glad to hear someone else is actually concerned about the child obesity problem America has today. There are a couple things you can do...1st is if he is bored get him more involved with activities (i.e. a sport) 2nd you can write him up a daily schedule to show him when about things will happen the way you want them too. 3rd if all else fails give him an apple and some gum! Good Luck!

Answer 7

Well, he is growing. You might offer him cucumbers or celery - they are "freebies" very low in natural sugar and few calories - or some other fruits and veggies. Just make sure anything extra he gets is a healthy snack - little or no sugar - then you will be satisfied that he will remain healthy and he will feel full. Also stay away from sports drinks, juices, and soda - too much sugar there - water is the best option for these snack attacks...

Good luck -- Mom of 2

Answer 8

Probably a growth spurt---fill him with healthy filling food. No junk.

Or--offer him plain bread or crackers or a piece of fruit. A truly hungry kid will eat bread and butter like its a feast. If he is bored---or trying to stay up late---the crackers or bread won't appeal to him.

Is he on any medication during the day that might curb his appetite? Adderall XR (an ADHD drug) is known for curbing kids' appetites during the day. When the meds wear off around 7-8 at night the kids are ravenously hungry.

If he is on any meds, check with his doctor and let him know whats up and keep feeding him.

Other than that, if he's a healthy weight keep feeding him even if he starts to look a little chunky at first. Some boys eat alot, look pudgy for a couple of weeks and then they sprout up an inch or two and they don't look pudgy anymore.

It's like looking at a slinky...it gets chunky and expands....over and over again.

Answer 9

Show him some pictures of morbidly obese men. That might help. Tell him if he wants to eat all the time he will end up looking like that. If he insists on a snack give him carrot or celery sticks, apples, grapes or anything healthy and fresh from the produce department. That way you don't have to fix anything and his caloric intake will be low, but he will feel filled.

Or you could take him to see a physician and talk it over with him.

Answer 10

I even have 2 youngsters - a daughter who used to eat properly now its specially in basic terms fowl with waffles and a son who'll eat something. I was hectic like mad that she replaced into no longer ingesting properly and can get ill and so on then i watched a toddler programme in this undertaking and the scientific expert there reported that toddlers and so on in basic terms eat 7 tablespoons of food an afternoon and if 4 of those go on dessert then something is on little else - this reassured me and now my husband and that i in basic terms say to her eat - this lots then you definately could have in spite of else you opt for - it is often fruit via fact she would not eat candies or candies. She wonderful for her weight age sensible and the medical doctors are chuffed - i think of its harder in case your toddler has a tendancy to eat too lots. attempt to relax and particular placed out food on your son to graze on - nibbles and so on , carrots sticks, small sausages and so on.