Do You Let Kids Eat Until THEY Stop or Cut Them Off?

[crazydaycarelady]

Maybe it is just school-agers - they eat so much! Dcb is 7yo and skinny as rail. I give snack at 3:00pm and I don't want them to be starving when they go home at 5:00-5:30. So far he has had 2 bananas, full glass of milk, 4 crackers and a slice of cheese. I'm thinking if he asks for more I probably will just give him some water.

[daycare]

Maybe it is just school-agers - they eat so much! Dcb is 7yo and skinny as rail. I give snack at 3:00pm and I don't want them to be starving when they go home at 5:00-5:30. So far he has had 2 bananas, full glass of milk, 4 crackers and a slice of cheese. I'm thinking if he asks for more I probably will just give him some water.

no way. I feed the required amount permitted by the USDA food program. If they are still hungry after they have cleared their plates I offer more veggies and water.

I teach children not to eat until they are full, but to eat small portions often.

[Cradle2crayons]

no way. I feed the required amount permitted by the USDA food program. If they are still hungry after they have cleared their plates I offer more veggies and water.

I teach children not to eat until they are full, but to eat small portions often.

same here. I feed according to the recommendations and then also offer an additional veggie serving and water.... I don't give seconds on milk ever... If I don't serve a veggie option with snack I offer seconds on the protein.

[permanentvacation]

I expect them to be hungry when they go home. I tell my parents on the interview that they will be hungry when they go home; just like school kids are hungry when they get home right after school. The kids eat snack, SNACK, NOT a full meal around 3, they get picked up around 5. It will be normal for them to be hungry by when they get picked up.

I feed the kids what is required by the Food Program.

[daycarediva]

I expect them to be hungry when they go home. I tell my parents on the interview that they will be hungry when they go home; just like school kids are hungry when they get home right after school. The kids eat snack, SNACK, NOT a full meal around 3, they get picked up around 5. It will be normal for them to be hungry by when they get picked up.

I feed the kids what is required by the Food Program.

Yup. No seconds on snack, either. It isn't a full meal.

[Play Care]

I expect them to be hungry when they go home. I tell my parents on the interview that they will be hungry when they go home; just like school kids are hungry when they get home right after school. The kids eat snack, SNACK, NOT a full meal around 3, they get picked up around 5. It will be normal for them to be hungry by when they get picked up.

I feed the kids what is required by the Food Program.

Exactly! Feeling hungry at dinner time is a GOOD thing! It means our body is working correctly. I did have some bigger eaters in the past and I would offer more veggies or fruits at snack but only for seconds. My line is "it's a snack, not a meal!" I keep kids water bottles filled all day as well.

[mountainside13]

Ug! I know how you feel! My 6 yo dd is constantly hungry! It's driving me insane! Every hour, it's I'm hungry! I feed healthy meals with a lot of fruits and veggies. When she eats, she eats a lot! She isn't a picky eater! It is really frustrating. She actually has an appointment to make sure something else isn't going on.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

no way. I feed the required amount permitted by the USDA food program. If they are still hungry after they have cleared their plates I offer more veggies and water.

I teach children not to eat until they are full, but to eat small portions often.

Me, too. They almost never want seconds if it is veggies LOL.

[AmyKidsCo]

My children get the CACFP minimum portions, and seconds. Then if there's veggies left they can have more veggies but I'm pretty good about not making too much. The next meal is just 3 hours away...

[mountainside13]

Me, too. They almost never want seconds if it is veggies LOL.

I'm lucky with this group they love veggies!

[melilley]

I will usually give seconds for lunch, maybe thirds, but all my kids are 3 and under and the portions aren't that big. I do have one child who will be 2 in August and I swear that he eats more than an adult can eat. I do limit his amount and have talked to his parents, but they just laugh and say him and his bro (he's 3) will eat them out of house and home.

Snacks I will sometimes give seconds depending on what it is. I tell them that it's not lunch..