I have a 5 yr old girl who regularly complains about being hungry. I have every reason to believe that she is only asking to eat because she is bored, and not truly hungry (although she insists otherwise). I believe this because she only asks when not engaged with activities or playing with friends. It happens during quiet times, while watching movies, or at bedtime. She eats three square meals a day and eats well at mealtime.
When she asks,I often try to distract her by playing with her, thinking she asked out of boredom. This only serves as a temporary solution though. I've also warned her that eating too much when she is not hungry is unhealthy (similar rationalizations have worked well with her), but this has no effect.
Should I be worried about overfeeding her? Or should I trust that she knows when she is hungry? Is this maybe just a phase she is going through, or should I persist in trying to educate her against this?
Thank you, any advice or experiences are appreciated.
2007-12-31 03:43:05 · 51 answers · asked by CyberTommy Gun 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
show her this picture http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/archive/00245/Manuel_Uribe_245144y.jpg and tell her if she keeps eating too much she'll turn out like that.
2007-12-31 03:47:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 10⤋
Just make sure that you are feeding her healthy snacks. If you look at most camps kids get a snack in the morning and afternoon in addition to there three meals a day. So having a snack here and there is not a bad idea,just make sure that they are good for her.
2007-12-31 19:25:18 · answer #2 · answered by Me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kids need snacks as well as the 3 regular meals. Just offer her healthy options. They are growing so much that 3 meals are not enough to help with all the energy she is burning. Yes she can ask out of bordeom but if it has been a couple of hours offer her some fruit, a muffin or some milk
2007-12-31 20:46:56 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's hungry. Feed her. If she wants a snack, give her a fruit, a low-sugar cold cereal, or 1/2 sandwich. If you think a snack means cookies, it doesn't. That's a treat. Don't use the words to mean the same thing. She's a growing child and needs food throughout the day. Just don't give her junk.
2008-01-02 07:11:22 · answer #4 · answered by Melissa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have three square meals a day but we also have smoko and afternoon tea and dessert.
usually eggs on toast or cereal for brekky, then cheese and crackers, yoghurt, bit of homebake bikkies apples sometimes i make a bit of a platter of stuff for smoko, then lunch is sandwhiches and afternoon tea is sometimes scones and jam or fruit or even an icy which is a cup of juice and a heap of icecubes in a blender till real thick or we do it with milk and crack in an egg bit of honey ,vanilla heap of ice wizz her up, healthy but fun.
At school they get smoko and usually when they get home they are starving so they have a bit of a snack so its pretty normal really.
2007-12-31 22:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Offer her healthy selections such as fruit, veggies, wholewheat crackers with cheese,etc. Look in the healthy section of your super market and pick up some low fat drinks and cereals.
And if she insists on having junk food, tell her it's the fruits and veggies and healthy stuff or nothing.
Good luck!
2007-12-31 10:23:27 · answer #6 · answered by Dina 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can do what I do: stock up on fruits, veggies, yogurt, flavored water, and by all means do not keep junk food in the house. the kids get used it after awhile.
2007-12-31 03:59:20 · answer #7 · answered by Brown eyed girl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know what you should do. You should ask her why she is always so hungry. If she doesn't know then give her things she doesn't like. Then, she won't ask anymore because she doesn't want something nasty. Or give her only healthy snacks. You won't have to worry about her not being healthy.
2007-12-31 03:49:02 · answer #8 · answered by supdog180 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
SAY NO AND OFFER HER GIVE HER GOOD VEGGIES AND OR FRUit something like Mangos that are sweet and tasty and full of fiber and other nutrients at the same time Hope this Helps.
2007-12-31 03:49:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
talk to her or show her maybe some pictures of bigger obese people and scare her or you can tell her no and why you dont want her to have so many snacks
2007-12-31 03:48:40 · answer #10 · answered by =D 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋
keep a plate of healthy snacks available
celery, baby skinned carrots, cucumbers, nuts,
she may be thirsty, offer a small glass of water
play tea time with her
keep the small set with water available
stay away from pastry, breads, cookies,
2007-12-31 03:47:57 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋