Not Enough Food?

[cheerfuldom]

Do you know the family very well? Are you sure that she is being well taken care of at home?

I say this because as a young child, I would eat like crazy at other peoples houses because there was very little at home. I wasnt necessarily hungry for all the food I was eating elsewhere, but I wasnt used to food being available and didnt have any sense of self control about it. I am not saying that is your responsibility to single handedly address this issue but that there are more reasons besides hunger that a child might be eating and asking for so much food.

[countrymom]

Do you know the family very well? Are you sure that she is being well taken care of at home?

I say this because as a young child, I would eat like crazy at other peoples houses because there was very little at home. I wasnt necessarily hungry for all the food I was eating elsewhere, but I wasnt used to food being available and didnt have any sense of self control about it. I am not saying that is your responsibility to single handedly address this issue but that there are more reasons besides hunger that a child might be eating and asking for so much food.

I wonder this too because my dd babysits for a well to do family who control food in their house. So when the child comes here,they eats like crazy because they are not use to it. And really most kids burn it off.

[dave4him]

some kids just eat!

[Unregistered]

I have a new six year old girl who started last week. Every morning she says she's still hungry after breakfast. She's the only one. Today we had scrambled whole organic large eggs (2 oz. scoop), 1 slice of turkey bacon, half a banana, half a slice of whole wheat toast with pumpkin butter, 6 oz. glass of milk and a 4 oz. glass of orange juice. She ate/drank every bit! It far exceeds CACFP standards and I'm not reimbursed for all of the components but I feed them like I feed my own children. Right after breakfast she said: "Miss? I'm still hungry!" To which I replied: "Well, I think we're going to have another glass of milk and then be done until snack time. That's more than enough for pretty little six year old." Now I feel bad. I would never want a child to go hungry, but I find it so hard to believe that she's truly still hungry. No, she's not overweight and she has no diagnosed medical conditions besides latent asthma. EVERYTHING I've learned about nutrition, child development, and portion control says that she should no longer be hungry after that complete meal. I wouldn't be hungry after that meal! Ideas? Am I wrong, here?

My slim 5 year old son would eat double that for breakfast. Some kids are just big eaters or go through big eating phases.

I don't want to hurt your feelings about the comment "that's more then enough for pretty little six year old" but saying that really could send an unintended image issue message to the girl. "Pretty" should have nothing to do with her asking for seconds. Just my honest opinion.

[littlemissmuffet]

Sounds like it was plenty, but I would have offered another piece of toast (with PB) and an apple - cheap.

[youretooloud]

I think I would give her a little more than that. It seems like around 4-6 they eat a ton. I'd give her at least a full piece of toast and two strips of bacon.

If you can, cut back on the juice and milk, and give her more food. Although, I know how expensive it can be.

[spud912]

First and foremost, your food sounds great! Can I come over and eat too?!?

Second, I think the primary problem here is that she is used to grazing throughout the day. I've found that when I get a new child who is accustomed to grazing, they tend to act "starving" all day for a few weeks. Eventually, they get into the swing of eating 3 balanced meals and 1-2 snacks and they find they are no longer "hungry" throughout the day.

Lastly, I did want to mention that some children (and adults) have different appetites and metabolisms. As a (skinny) child, I remember frequently eating more than my father, who ate a lot. To this day, I can still pack away a good amount of food and maintain a normal (lower) BMI. In fact, I'm not sure if you're familiar with the restaurant Chipotle but I can easily eat one of their gigantic burritos, plus an appetizer and dessert without even feeling close to "stuffed." It's no surprise that my younger dd inherited the good eating gene also. I still remember her packing away 1-2 whole wheat Belgium waffles (with applesauce topping instead of syrup), 1-2 scrambled eggs with cheese, 1.5 cups of plain Greek yogurt and 1 cup of pureed steamed fresh peaches in one sitting when she was 11 months old . I always joke with everyone that she will eat us out of house and home. During her 1 year birthday party, she ate the equivalent of a 6 inch sub and about 2 cups of fruit in one sitting. As far as her weight? She is below the 5th percentile! Her appetite actually had me questioning the doctor on a couple of occasions, but her blood work indicates she is perfectly normal.

If I were in your shoes (and what I currently do for my big eaters), I would serve a normal amount of food. When she asks for more, give the normal amount that you provide for seconds. When it comes to thirds, I would start divvying out the remainders you know the others won't eat. Once the food is all gone (or you've gone through everything you intend to serve), then cut everyone off like you normally do and tell them they will eat again at the next meal/snack. Don't feel guilty though!

[heather]

If she doesn't have a weight problem, I would let her fill up on all the toast/banana she wanted.
Naturally cooked foods like bacon and eggs have to be divvied out, but you can always throw in another slice of toast in the toaster.
I would also talk to her mom about it and if necessary charge the extra food to her alone. As a mother I would not want my kids to go hungry and I would rather pay an extra 50 cents per meal or whatever it costs you than have my child hungry.

[providerandmomof4]

Okay, I guess that I'm not the norm here. I feel like my portions could easily feed me and therefore little dck couldn't possibly be hungry. Sometimes they eat fast and their stomach hasn't had a chance to register the food. I always tell my dc kids that if they're still hungry they can have an apple/carrot sticks but to wait 5-10 mins and see if they are still hungry. There usually isn't any takers. Oh and I wouldn't feel mean. I've had kids that would eat as long as I put food in front of them and that's not healthy. Sometimes you just have to say, "No...we're finished now, we've had enough."

[Nellie]

Most of the kids at my place are morning eaters. Most of them eat breakfast at home and are ready for a large breakfast at my place and are starving at snack. Right now I have a one year old going through a growth spurth and he easily could eat double that on a normal day and for the last week he is starving from breakfast till lunch. He is eating more than the 4 year olds. One thing I'd take into consideration is that this girl is 6 and not 2 or 3. In the summer when I have a few SA and they eat more than the tots. I'd give her a full slice of toast. It is probable cheaper than a second glass of milk.

[daycarediva]

I would up it to 2 slices of toast and a whole banana, because that is what my 4 1/2 yo ds, 5 yo dcb, 6 yo ds and 8 yo dcg all eat (all of it too) but that would be IT until snack.

[SilverSabre25]

I agree with the others that some kids are just morning eaters, and offering more toast/toast with PB isn't too hard and give some more bulk and more protein.

And also...your menus sound incredible! I'm a bit jealous :P

[DaisyMamma]

my first thought is maybe shes just bored. i eat when im bored and i must be bored alot!

I have a 4yo that tells me all day long he is hungry. The other kids are way younger then him. On days when there is no school and bigger kids are here then he is occupied and hardly eats anything... I don't want him to be hungry either, but obviously he is just bored.

[Unregistered]

Thank you for the suggestions! I can absolutely give her toast with PB and a whole banana to see if that helps. I don't want to be stingy and I was really searching for a way to encourage healthy eating while also meeting her needs. I love this site!

As for the "pretty" comment, it had nothing to do with her eating/weight/outward appearance. She is a pretty princess, and I call her (and all my little girls) "pretty princess" all the time. I call my little boys "handsome princes" and it has nothing to do with physical attractiveness. It has to do with their personalities/behaviors, and I encourage inner beauty all the time. Many of the children I get have special needs or are foster children. I encourage positivity all the time because many times their home environments were very negative and encouraged poor self-esteem.

[Auntie'sHouse]

Ask her parents what types of food she eats at home. Maybe they are giving her foods that fill you up quicker and less healthier..??