2nds & 3rds & 4ths At Meals?

[MG&Lsmom]

I know this has been discussed but I couldn't get the search to come up with anything.

If a child does eat everything on their plate and asks for 2nds or even 3rds, where do you draw the line?

On Friday I happened to serve all my new dcg's favorite foods (grilled cheese, broccoli and pears). She was screaming for more after 3 servings of everything. I was literally out of food and she's crying for more food saying she's hungry. She's 2.9y and is bigger than my 5yo in both height and weight. In fact, she's got 10 lbs on my 5yo. I charted her height & weight and she's in the +95%ile for weight. I had to tell her no. She ate a whole cup of broccoli, whole cup of pears, 1.5 grilled cheese sandwiches & 8oz of milk!

Today she barely ate because it was food "she does not eat" and cried to me most of the day about being hungry.

[Hunni Bee]

I had a parent say to me when I told her her child ate 2nds and 3rds at meals "Never give her thirds. That's how kids get fat."

I have another who screams for 2nds and 3rds on only one item on the plate, without touching the rest. I don't believe in that, so I see a lot of tantrums from her.

What I do (when we have pizza or something I know they are going to screaming for more of) is give them a smaller portion at first.

Also, I decrease by half on every subsequent portion...2nds is half of firsts, 3rds are half of seconds, and by the time she asked for fourths she would have been getting one brocolli stalk and a piece of pear slice.

[happykidschildcare]

first off if the kids want more of something they have to eat everything on their plate. I allow 2nd's but serioulsy I dont make much more past a serving per each kid when we do meal count.

[Auntie]

We only do seconds on fruit and veggies if any of those left. And that is after they eat everything on their plate.They get their serving size dished up to them for their age group. VERY RARE now do we hear requests for more.

My class also drinks enough water through out the morning to and I think this helps. Sometimes people will eat and what they they really are is thirsty. So I wonder how much this helps them? HUMMM

[PitterPatter]

I only offer 2nds if everything has been eaten on the plate. I rarely give 2nds because I have a couple grumpy kids that only want junk and fruit. I will ask them to at least TRY a bite of such and such and I get the arms crossed and NO with the grumpy face. Sooo that was their lunch, sorry! We don't serve ravioli from a can and nuggets everyday here! When I tell DCM that they didn't like such and such today she will reply with "oh we don't give them that stuff" Perfect example today I gave them frozen gogurt tubes for a snack before leaving. DCM said "what in the heck are u eating?" They were making faces like it tasted horrible. I said it's yougurt I just freeze them for a cool treat. She said "oh they have never had yogurt u guys can throw it away if u dont like it" They ran to the garbage and tossed them Just, why??

I had a 3 yr old who never knew what pineapple was when I served it at lunch 1 day so I was glad to offer it again at snack time just because it was new and exciting. Things like that I try to make exceptions for but if they are holding out and wasting to be stubborn, sorry charlie.

[childcarebytori]

Thankfully my kids seem to adjust to our table rules and manner very quickly. I fill my dck's food trays with portions fit to their age, and they must finish everything on their plate before asking for a 2nd serving of anything. Of course, I do have kids who generally do not like a certain food and they must eat one bite for their age (a 3yo must eat 3 bites of food), before I give seconds. After that, if I have extra fruit or vegetables that will be their 3rds.

I don't get any complaints after the first month of new kids. 90% of my dcks start as tiny babies so they're used to my system and how things work. I recently started a new 1.5yo dcg who is an extremely picky and pokey eater, so I'll be trying to break her out of the mold before the 1-month mark.

I honestly believe that most children who eat a healthy, well-balanced diet full of the proper serving suggestions shouldn't need anything other than a 2nd serving. It seems like TOO much food for their bodies to properly digest.

[Meyou]

I offer seconds to anyone that asks if they have an empty plate. When I make pizza it's usually veggie pizza but I still offer a very, very small slice of pizza with a good serving of veg. Once they've eaten all of that they can have more pizza.

3rds and 4ths just seem like she's gorging to me. Especially since it's only things she likes and she starves herself on other days.

[CheekyChick]

We usually serve up to thirds and stop there. NOBODY needs 4 helpings of anything IMO. Oh, unless it's chocolate.

[SimpleMom]

KIds grow. I have different ideas here--even from my hubby
If they are hungry, they will eat. I offer fourths if I know they are really hungry and it's healty (not sweet treats). I offer lots of fillers, too--bread and saltine crackers are always good to fill with. Then if they just don't like the food there is always something they will eat. I try to get the kids involved in the meal planning. Maybe helping to pick sides or the main dish. I do have a picky eater as well and it's hard. They eat a lot like the one you described. I just figure if it was mine, I would want them to eat. Plus, they are a lot less crabby with a full tummy.

[AnythingsPossible]

We only do seconds on fruit and veggies if any of those left. And that is after they eat everything on their plate.They get their serving size dished up to them for their age group. VERY RARE now do we hear requests for more.

My class also drinks enough water through out the morning to and I think this helps. Sometimes people will eat and what they they really are is thirsty. So I wonder how much this helps them? HUMMM

This is what I do as well. Only fruits and veggies as seconds. The only time I will do 2nds on a main entree is if I give them a small serving if we are trying something new. If they like it, they can have a little more.
I have never offered 3rds.

[daycare]

This is what I do as well. Only fruits and veggies as seconds. The only time I will do 2nds on a main entree is if I give them a small serving if we are trying something new. If they like it, they can have a little more.
I have never offered 3rds.

ditto on this here too!~!
Sometimes hunger can be mistaken for thirst... I always do water breaks between activities. I also never offer 3rds....

I don't want to participate in a child being over a healthy weight...

[MG&Lsmom]

Thankfully she loves water so I'll try that tip to add more water into our day. I do make them take water breaks every 10-15 mins while playing outside and they have access to water all day. But I'll push it more while inside and see if that helps.

She's only been here since Thursday of last week, so there's still more time to show her the ropes. Today I'm closed for an emergency dentist appt, so we'll see how the rest of the week goes.

[jojosmommy]

I don't have a set rule on what I offer seconds of but I do tell the kids to listen to their bodies and I make them wait before I serve them seconds of anything. If they ask and I am busy eating my meal or serving a baby or getting something in/out of the dishwasher they wait 2 min or so and then I offer it. Often kids say they aren't hungry for seconds anymore.

[kidkair]

I know this has been discussed but I couldn't get the search to come up with anything.

If a child does eat everything on their plate and asks for 2nds or even 3rds, where do you draw the line?

On Friday I happened to serve all my new dcg's favorite foods (grilled cheese, broccoli and pears). She was screaming for more after 3 servings of everything. I was literally out of food and she's crying for more food saying she's hungry. She's 2.9y and is bigger than my 5yo in both height and weight. In fact, she's got 10 lbs on my 5yo. I charted her height & weight and she's in the +95%ile for weight. I had to tell her no. She ate a whole cup of broccoli, whole cup of pears, 1.5 grilled cheese sandwiches & 8oz of milk!

Today she barely ate because it was food "she does not eat" and cried to me most of the day about being hungry.

I serve what they need according to the age and the meal program. I don't offer seconds and rarely get asked for them. If I had the kid you described I would offer her the food she doesn't eat after she finishes everything on her plate. I do that when the kids start pestering me about being hungry. I've even gone so far as to save an uneaten plate and hand it back when they are 'starving'. That shuts them up pretty quick and they have all learned that they can eat what's in front of them and that's enough to hold them until the next meal.

[MG&Lsmom]

I've even gone so far as to save an uneaten plate and hand it back when they are 'starving'.

I do this already. If they haven't eaten enough at lunch and say they are done I save their plate for snack. If they still don't eat it, I send it home with them. Let mom and dad see how much food they throw away. I had one mom complain about it and I'm sure that the food program would have a problem with it. But these kids also learn how to hold out for snack when they will get something they like to eat, like crackers and cheese or more milk. I am stopping milk & crackers at snack because of this. Fresh fruit & yogurt, veggie stick & hummus, yogurt & homemade granola with water from now on. My only 3 snacks right now