dragons in the flower bed Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Do you give them leftovers? Make them wait til breakfast? We have a pretty tight evening routine here: neaten up, cook, eat together, bathe, read, bed, one right after another. After the kids are in bed I often make some sort of sweet or baked thing that I leave for the kids for breakfast. (They're always up before me.) Lately, during reading time, my three-year-old son has been saying he's hungry. He eats just fine at suppertime, usually. I gave him leftovers to munch while we read for awhile (and he ate all of them and asked for more), but now it's becoming a routine for him to have a second supper. What do I do? I already tried getting more into him at suppertime. He always leaves the table claiming he's really truly sated. An hour later, though, he's begging me, "I'm so hungry!" It's really hard to ignore that. Should I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Sounds like he's having a growth spurt. I'd allow it. I bet it will taper off in a few days/weeks. If it doesn't, then maybe try to tactic of, "nothing more after xyz...better eat what you want now!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Have you tried giving him a snack a few hours before dinner, so that dinner is the last meal of the day? I would hate to start the ongoing habit of a 2nd supper. A snack before bed maybe, but not a meal. A bedtime snack for us includes protein like cheese and crackers, pb on toast, yogurt, or cold chopped meat (dd's favorite). Kids typically eat a lot before/during a growth spurt, is that what is going on, or is it more of a habit that is forming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I don't happen to be one of them, though. Perhaps because I have a 12 year old who has been a grazer her entire life, from nursing to now. I'm convinced she simply has a small stomach. And why not? The rest of her visible parts are small (ears, nose, hands :001_smile:) I wasn't sure how she'd ever get through a day long class or whatever, because she eats about every hour if she can - but she has matured enough to get along without imploding if having food between meals isn't an option. I've chosen to just let it go. Drives my mother batty, but particularly now that dd is older, it doesn't trouble me so much. I do try to encourage her to eat wisely -- a piece of fruit, a cut up carrot or green pepper, some nuts or raisins, yogurt. Maybe your little one is going through a growth spurt? What if you had a little tub of things he could get to on his own (not sure what you'd want to put in it, though!)? Just trying to figure out how you could relax a bit on this one but not have it make YOU batty! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Mine seem to do that when they are growing. I have a short list of healthy foods they can eat after dinner. For mine, I have to judge whether they are procrastinating and making a junior power play or are truly hungry so the short list helps determine need. Right now the list is a slice of goat cheese or a banana. Both are things they can eat while I am reading and both will help feed a growing child and neither will cause upset tummies later or are worth getting out of bed for if you aren't truly hungry. They share a room and if one goes downstairs to eat, it seems to cause cascading delays so I make a priority of keeping them near their beds once we get there. I can't say "No" to tearful little eyes begging for food, but I can still try to keep bedtime on a schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaS Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 For us, the rule is, if you are hungry after dinner you can have raw veggies or fruit. That will usually tell us who is truly hungry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtb1999 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I would just let him have the leftovers, or a small snack that doesn't require preparation, like a yogurt or fruit, or something like that. He may having a growth spurt and really is hungry. I mean, if he's eating it, and asking for more he's obviously hungry. Alot of the times my oldest will pick at his dinner then want something else. :glare: In that case, I offer him a snack that doesn't require me to cook a whole new meal, and preferably one he can get himself. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 My kids are in the habit of having a small snack before bed, something healthy. They have all done this since they were small and as long as they eat at meals, I don't have a problem with it. I agree with the above opinions, you child is probably going through a growth spurt. Let him eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcjlkplus3 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 A three year old has a really small tummy. He probably is full and if bedtimes is more than an hour or two later, hungry again. We will let them eat more if something healthy if... they ate their dinner. Mine do not always eat dinner well, and we eat late as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 We offer very limited after dinner options - like Cheerios, toast... things that could not be construed as a treat or reward but will still serve as a decent before-bed snack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 My kids can eat fruit and vegetables right up until bedtime. It's the best compromise we could come up with; they don't have to be hungry, and I don't have to live in the kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 My kids can eat fruit and vegetables right up until bedtime. It's the best compromise we could come up with; they don't have to be hungry, and I don't have to live in the kitchen. This is us, too. I don't care if they eat after dinner, but I am DONE getting food for kids by then. So fruit or carrots that they can quickly grab by themselves are fine. That way they also don't have any reason to eat poorly at dinner in hopes of scoring something more exciting later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I can't stand the thought of our guys going to be hungry. If they say it in time it's pretty common to have a before bed bowl of cereal or such; fruit is good too or yogurt. It has to be pretty extreme for me not to allow something to eat if they are hungry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 We end up eating right before bed (except ds17 - who stays up later and is almost always hungry), so they don't get another chance after dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Growth spurt. Let him have left overs and raw carrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 We eat early and our whole family typically has a snack later in the evening. I could lie and say it's always popcorn, but sometimes it's cookies or ice cream! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Veggies, fruit, or our standby, popcorn. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I allow cheese as an after dinner snack. DD will only ask if she is starving, because it's not a favorite of hers, and ds likes it, but usually is satisfied by just a few cubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzf242 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 When dd6 seems to be asking for extra snacks excessively, I offer plain brown bread and milk. If she is truly hungry, she takes it. If she is just looking for a special treat, she won't. Suzanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Our kids go to bed so soon after dinner that they aren't up long enough to get hungry LOL. I would probably offer more from dinner if there was more to be had, or I'd give them a bowl of cereal or crackers with sunbutter on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 At three, I would say it is probably a growth spurt and he' probably needs more, but definately wouldn't allow sweets etc. Only healthy/raw veggies and fruit or toast etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I would just try some things out. My kiddo gets teary and headachy even after mac and cheese and applesauce. Since he ate well, I'll give him some ice cream, and in an hour, he's ready for buttered toast and a pear. If I'm "not sure" I'll give him a few cubes of cheddar. Carrot sticks and milk or apple is good. I'm just amazed at what he can eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 Our kids go to bed so soon after dinner that they aren't up long enough to get hungry LOL. How soon? He's done with supper at 6:20, out of the bath by 6:40, read to by 7:00, and then put to bed -- hungry again. Unless I heat up leftovers for him, in which case he's in bed about 20 minutes later when he's done scarfing it all up and having his teeth rebrushed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 Thanks for all the ideas, folks. I'm going to give him a booster meal of peanut butter & jelly about an hour before supper to see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'll just let him have carrot sticks or raisins or something easy & not so tempting that he'll want to eat it just for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 If dinner was politely eaten and not "picked at" or declined, I'd allow a healthy snack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest janainaz Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 As long as my kids have eaten their dinner, they can snack all night long. They can have one dessert, but can eat apples, cheese, healthy cereal, etc. I have a son who is nine and he is always grazing on good stuff. But, everyone is different, we are just really relaxed about stuff like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 My boys usually take a snack with them while they read or watch a movie before bedtime. Snacks are things like good cereal, cheese sticks, pretzels, apples, celery, sometimes chips. Sometimes they'll get more dinner. My boys are all very thin, so I feel like I should definitely encourage any eating they want to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I've got teens doing the same. I feed them (or rather I let them eat). They claim to be full at dinner then an hour later they are "starving". I trust they are growing. I am not strict about set mealtimes. My dd has blood sugar issues and a sensitive digestive system- she feels she can't eat then suddenly she'll be starving. I let them snack, and just keep trying to think of healthy options to keep around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 My kids can eat fruit and vegetables right up until bedtime. It's the best compromise we could come up with; they don't have to be hungry, and I don't have to live in the kitchen. Same here. I buy extra bananas just for this purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.