My preschooler has a food fixation. She has always been obsessed with food, and I don't know how to best steer her towards healthy eating habits for her future.
She is not overweight by any means (3 years old and 15.5kgs) but she just cannot stop thinking about food. If there is food around she can't have it sitting near her without wanting it. She will finish food and then tell me she's hungry, despite not having finished her previous meal. She has a very healthy variety of foods in her diet and she is amazing for trying different foods, but I worry that her relationship with food is very unhealthy. I can take her to a play cafe and all the other kids will run off and play and leave their food because play is more exciting, but my daughter will sit and eat for much of the visit. She will often ask for food but then leave it, because she's not actually hungry, she just covets food. If there is a treat around (such as a cake) she will pester incessantly about the cake until she gets it (which I don't give in to). She is unable to be distracted from it with normal distraction techniques. Her family daycarer had to move the childrens bags out of reach because my daughter was rifling through bags looking for food. I have seen her pick up food off the floor of public spaces and go to eat it many times.
I'm at a loss. How do I get her to have a healthy relationship with food? and that she doesn't need to eat everything that she sees?
Food Fixation
Food Fixation
Posted in:
Kids
2 Replies
I have a three year old daughter who is much the same. I feel like it might be a phase with my girl as she hasn’t always been good crazy (although she’s always enjoyed food).
I’ve just been telling her that she needs to let food rest in her belly before having another snack. Or asking her if she is bored and not actually hungry. She’s always saying “I’m still hungry” and I make her wait 15 minutes and if she says she’s still hungry then she can have something else.
I usually allow two snacks (Musli/fruit bar) and a bit of fruit in between breakfast and lunch. And a boiled egg between lunch and dinner. I try and get her to have a good filling breakfast to start her day. Usually porridge or scrambled eggs to fill her up.
My 3 year old is much the same. Doesn't finish food. Says I'm hungry one second later. Wants food, doesn't finish it. Wants something else. Will eat anything off the floor that nobody else would, but guaranteed she will have a go.
Also loves cooking and making and looking in the fridge.
Has never gone through bags or had an issue at daycare.
So, while I think it's normal and she could grow out of it I would advise to take her time preparing food , make it healthy and filling so she can snack all she wants, and fill her up as she is growing.
There's also no harm in seeing a psychologist if you think it's beyond a phase, they can always help.