View Full Version : Mum, I'm STILL hungry
My 3 year old has never been a good eater. Dinner has always been a battle.
Tonight for dinner he had about 1/4 tin of baked beans, some capsicum, 1 1/2 whole meal sandwiches (crusts off). I right to get him to eat a reasonable amount of beans
i'm still hungry
grapes, 3/4 banana, a kiwi fruit
I'm still hungry
3 milk arrowroot biscuits
I'm still hungry
A peanut butter sandwich and cup of milk
I'm still hungry
Another biscuit
I know some of these foods aren't the best, but I need to shop. I normally give him carrot sticks and cucumber, boiled eggs, yoghurt etc but basically from after dinner til bed he just wants more food!
ALL day he complains of being hungry, but will not eat more for dinner! He will refuse, if I tell him he needs to eat it or go to bed hungry bed time is a nightmare and he screams and wakes bub, and then wakes up in the night crying because he is hungry!
What do I do?
**Mum, Dad, Big boy (Dec 08) and Baby girl (Feb 11)**
Lovemyfam
20-03-2012, 06:58
I would cut out the snacks that is a lot of snacks. Also is he active? Maybe do something a bit before dinner usually when you exercise you build up an appetite so this may help him be more hungry for dinner
I gave up analysing when my son eats (3 in april) and just focus on what and how much.
Some days he eats no dinner sometimes he eats more than us but i figure he is growning so quickly he will be hungry when he is hungry and growing.
He has energy and is def not overweight so i.figure it can't hurt.
Sent from my GT-S5830 using BubHub
Newmum2012
20-03-2012, 07:40
what does he eat during the day?maybe give him a big breakfast and lunch and then a late afternoon tea and then dinner? is he hungry or is he just eating because he is bored, at night the activities they do are a lot less, so maybe he thinks he hasn't eaten much during the day so wants lots at night?
threechooks
20-03-2012, 07:45
more protein. Will he eat any meats or fish for dinner?
threechooks
20-03-2012, 07:48
Just a guess??? Are you busy with other things after dinner and him saying he is hungry gets your attention Becuase you then focus on him and poor him a glass of milk or make him a sandwich? Same as the middle of the night. Do you have time for just him and you for about 1/2 hour in the evenings? Or it could just be a growth spurt :)
Dd goes to bed at 530 so it's just me and him til 630/7. In that time I wash the dishes, he helps me hang the washing out and water the garden.
He has never liked meal food. Closest thing to a meal he will eat is chicken nuggets (home cooked). I.ve tried having him help me cook it, cooking things toddlers supposedly like, but he still won't eat it. I stop giving snacks 2 hours before dinner
**Mum, Dad, Big boy (Dec 08) and Baby girl (Feb 11)**
peanutmonkey
20-03-2012, 08:12
It would.drive me crazy too, my almost 4 years olds favourite words are 'i'm hungry mum!' All day long!
I just try to make sure its all mostly healthy food. Some kids are snackers, my son has never been one to eat big meals before.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using BubHub
He doesn't like meat very much either.
**Mum, Dad, Big boy (Dec 08) and Baby girl (Feb 11)**
Myztiks#1Fan
20-03-2012, 08:15
Have you wormed him? Oncs we wormed coop the mum im hungry cut down about 50% so now he is back to eating nothing again
Sent from my GT-I9000T using BubHub
I'm still waiting for this to end and my DS turns 6 very soon. Drives me up the wall. I've lost the battle and I give him a plate with our dinner food (as in fish/chicken/whatever DP and I are having) and also fill it up with a bit of cheese, cherry tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, baby spinach and the other things he likes because he would honestly rather go to bed hungry than eat a proper meal. The condition is that he at least tries the dinner, sometimes he likes it and will happily eat a decent amount.
Lovemyfam
20-03-2012, 08:24
Dd goes to bed at 530 so it's just me and him til 630/7. In that time I wash the dishes, he helps me hang the washing out and water the garden.
He has never liked meal food. Closest thing to a meal he will eat is chicken nuggets (home cooked). I.ve tried having him help me cook it, cooking things toddlers supposedly like, but he still won't eat it. I stop giving snacks 2 hours before dinner
**Mum, Dad, Big boy (Dec 08) and Baby girl (Feb 11)**
he sounds like a grazer, which maybe wont be bad now but is a bad habit as it can lead to being over weight as an adult.
Sounds like he's grazing on the right foods, most cultures graze all day as opposed to eating very large, high fat meals. Look at Vietnam - they seriously eat ALL day and they're tiny!
I think Pregnor's boy will be fine.
headoverfeet
20-03-2012, 08:45
Sounds like he's grazing on the right foods, most cultures graze all day as opposed to eating very large, high fat meals. Look at Vietnam - they seriously eat ALL day and they're tiny!
I think Pregnor's boy will be fine.
:iagree:
Honestly, as frustrating as it is I would just give him healthy snacks when he wanted them, if it makes it any easier (because I know how annoying it is going back and forth to the kitchen what feels like 50 times) maybe make him up a lot of snacks for the day in one go adjust leave them for him to graze on as he pleases? I know if I feel more organized grazing doesn't feel like such an issue.
FiveInTheBed
20-03-2012, 08:52
How much water does he drink?
being thirsty and needing for fluids can be confused with hunger - in most people, not just children.
If he hasn't got worms and is properly hydrated, Id be happy with the grazing on healthy foods too...
TripleTime
20-03-2012, 08:59
Sounds like he's grazing on the right foods, most cultures graze all day as opposed to eating very large, high fat meals. Look at Vietnam - they seriously eat ALL day and they're tiny!
I think Pregnor's boy will be fine.
Agreed. Grazing on the right foods can be a good thing instead of stuffing yourself till you can't move.
Thanks ladies, I will get some worming stuff tomorrow to be sure, and just keep up with healthy snacks :)
It's hard to move away from the standard meals, my daughter doesn't seem interested either so I best get used to it!
**Mum, Dad, Big boy (Dec 08) and Baby girl (Feb 11)**
mummy2Luca
28-03-2012, 07:47
sounds like he is eating healthy to me (a milk araroot sounds like an ok snack i give it to my 3.5 year old) and eating more than my fussy eater, your doing a good job.
Was helpful for me to read to worming to, might try that with my ds just to make sure he doesnt have!
I have the same most days, it feels like all morning I hear mum I'm hungry or mum can I have some food. Some days I feel like I run out of ideas for healthy snacks.
In the afternoons I try not to give any food after about 3pm or miss 3 wont eat her dinner. Dinner is usually around 5-5.30pm.
I don't like resorting to bribery like dessert after dinner but sometimes it is the only thing that works!
I do try to say if you dont eat dinner then there is no more food until breakfast rather than saying there is no dessert/icecream etc (it makes me feel better anyway even if there is no real difference)
Elijahs Mum
01-04-2012, 17:29
more protein. Will he eat any meats or fish for dinner?
I agree- try yogurt , baked beans , cheese or boiled eggs as snacks if he won't eat meats /fish
PurpleButterfly4
03-04-2012, 21:53
Sounds similar to my DS. He won't eat a meal like me, but as long as he eats at least two things on his plate I'm happy. I will then offer him fruit, custard n jelly or crackers if he is still hungry.
When my son is home he seems like he's eating nearly every hour. But I think sometimes it's because he really needs water or he's bored. So try to get him to drink water & then he can have something to eat or I prolong giving him something.
I'm going to worm my son & myself tomorrow as well. We're overdue for it.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.9 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.