Hi Mums,
I have a 5 year old son. About a year ago I started to get really concerned about his appetite. He went from eating that of a 4 year old, to that of a grown man. His normal ‘feeding routine’ just wasn’t satisfying him anymore. Our grocery bill literally grew about $50 a week more just by buying extra fruits and snacks to satisfy him.
At first i thought maybe he just needed to be wormed. We wormed him and also introduced vitamins and fish oil supplements every day. Didn’t notice a change, and I started to notice abit of weight gain, so I went from just giving him whatever was in the cupboard, to really being conscious about what he was eating and making sure he was getting proper foods. At the moment, this is what he eats: (this is what he has eaten today)
Brekky: Bowl of Nutrigrain, glass of milk, and 3 pieces of toast with vegemite
His packed lunch for school consisted of:
Cheese and bikkies, 2 ham and cheese sandwiches, yoghurt, a fruit bar, a packet of biscuits, an apple, a banana, grapes and a popper.
Afternoon tea this afternoon:
A mini banana muffin, an apple, some tiny teddies and some cheese and kabana
He ate all of this, and 20 minutes later he was complaining that he was still hungry 😪
For dinner tonight we have a vegetable curry with rice, which he will smash, and most likely ask for something after dinner, which is normally another piece of fruit, or a yoghurt.
I asked his teacher (as he is still in prep and eats under supervision) if he was definitely eating all of his lunch and she said he was. I just feel like i live to constantly make food for my kid 🤣🤣 he just eats so so much!
On occasion, if he whinges to me that he is hungry, I tell him to go and have a big drink of water and come back to me in 20 minutes if he still feels hungry. He comes back to me every god darn time!!!
I took him to his GP when I started getting concerned and he assured me that he was just a growing boy, but I just feel like surely this can’t be normal. He just CONSTANTLY eats!
He drinks heaps of water everyday, about 2 x 1ltr water bottles and I get him out in the back yard most afternoons so he isn’t just sitting inside on the couch being bored, but he still complains that he is hungry when he is outside riding his bike or jumping on the tramp. It’s like all he thinks about is food.
Anyone else experiencing this? Is it normal? If not, what have you done for it? Id appreciate any comments/advice!
10 Replies
Nutri grain is pretty high in sugar so won’t be filling him up in the mornings for very long. Would he have eggs or baked beans instead? Or porridge with rolled oats (as opposed to quick oats which are more processed and less filling).
I’d use wholemeal or multigrain bread again for the fibre and helping him to feel full. Could you add in a smoothie instead of milk? I have been known to throw a handful of oats or even a weetbix in smoothies here, and Greek yoghurt hides really well! Add some cheese to the Vegemite toast perhaps?
Look at the yoghurt he’s having too, if it’s high sugar it will burn off quicker and leave him hungry again. Greek yoghurt is a good choice if he will eat it. Cheese and bikkies are great if it’s proper cheese as opposed to a Le snack type thing. Again check the biscuits as there might be some wiggle room.
The fruit bars are also pretty high sugar so won’t really count for much energy type food. Will he have a boiled egg or even some hommus instead?
His afternoon tea sounds yummy. Maybe he could have a plate of cut up veg to munch on while you cook too, or another smoothie?
I think he’s probably fine, but you could tweak some things to try and fill him up for longer. Otherwise I wouldn’t worry too much, it sounds like he has a good variety of foods and you’re doing a great job.
I have 3 boys and this is pretty normal at this age, he will do some serious growing over the next few years and they just eat the whole house to prepare for it. Protein helps, if I really want to shut them up it's lots of protein. Scrambled eggs is pretty easy and can be done in the microwave so it's quick. That with some multigrain toast and orange juice and fruit for breakfast. Add some more protein to his lunch box. Add some chicken to your curry. Just have protein in each meal.
My 11 year old son has had a massive appetite since he started school, so I think it is pretty normal.
Some suggestions though:
1. Cut back on the fruit, all that natural sugar can act as a laxative which may be impacting his appetite. Try and incorporate some things like cherry tomatoes, capsicum, carrot, cucumber, celery and good fats such as nuts and tuna!
Boiled eggs are great too.
2. Cut white bread! It has literally no nutritional value, he'd be burning through those carbs in no time.
Look for low GI options instead.
Weet bix or oats would be a better breaky option.
3. Sometimes (and I do this frequently with my son) you just have to say "You know what mate, you've actually had enough. You need to wait til dinner now". It's probably partly habit, his body has likely become used to constantly eating so creating new eating habits may be necessary.
Remember, he won't starve. He's getting quite a lot
I think it’s okay if he is eating lots if he is hungry and not gaining mass amounts of weight. Keep an eye on weight , and it’s good you continue to keep his water/exercise up.
I’d probably just have a chat to him about how hungry actually feels. Is his belly actually feeling empty, or is he just in habit of having to have an over-full tummy.
I would also try to cut out the cereal for scrambled eggs (protein) on his toast. And cut out the popper and anything else high in sugar. Chicken or tuna sandwiches are a good way to get protein.. protein will keep him fuller longer
Make home made smoothies as snacks, that might be a good way to change the switch in his brain that makes him think he needs to eat.
I would be going and getting him checked for diabetes and thyroid hormone bloods.That is way too much food for a 5 year old( 7 pieces of bread). If ur Dr wont do bloods go to a new one and express ur concern. In the mean time keep a food diary everyday so u can show them exactly what his had and include the water intake too. Good luck!
Yes!!!!
I have twin boys, on and off this happens. Sometimes it’s just before a growth spurt.. but other times... WORMS! Usually if they keep it up I’ll go to the chemist and buy worm chocolate and the whole house gets a bit. Just in case.
The first time I complained to a friend about the amount of food my two were consuming and they suggested worming them I was like yeah right, I highly doubt that’s what it is we don’t eat bad food. But I gave it a go anyway - I WAS AMAZED it was literally an overnight transformation with how little they ate compared to the night before.
Give it a go, it might not be the same thing but give it a go!
Add more protein.
Make a doctors appt and don’t leave until they have agreed to test his blood sugar levels and thyroid etc so you can rule out anything medical. Then change his diet to include much more protein and much less simple carbs. Protein fills you up for longer. Get rid of the Nutri grain except occasionally and give him eggs, baked beans, mushroom, avocado on whole grain toast etc. Give him more leftovers for lunch (pasta, rice dishes, chicken drumsticks) not just sandwiches and fruit and snacks. He’s eating a lot of simple/high gi/empty carbs that don’t actually provide nutrition and sustained energy.
Nutrigrain is terrible, oats, eggs are a way better choice & healthier.
You need to add alot more protein There's lots of fruit there why not add in some vegetables - carrot sticks ect is be swapping ham for shredded turkey or chicken something higher protein and switch to wholemeal bread/brown rice if your using white. Start looking at recipes like sweet potatoe brownies healthier,less sugar ect but also good carbs., smoothies add things like spirulina, chia seeds. Roasted chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds make a mix, brown rice cakes with peanut butter