My girls are constantly asking for food, I mean all.the.time. They will eat a meal, get down, ask for a snack. Or eat breakfast (3 pancakes, fruit, cereal) and then ask for more food or another snack. It's not all crap they are eating either, but I literally can't keep up.
How can I better control this? I bet they average asking for something 18 times a day. Times 2 kids.
grapefruit / 4584 posts
Are they bored? My 2.75 yr old DD does this if she's home with me and I haven't helped her get actively engaged in playing something (her sister, who usually leads creative play, is in school). It's every few minutes!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@PinkElephant: hmm I don't know because it's ALL the time. Even if we are heading out the door to go somewhere. When they get in bed at night. While playing. Not while playing. It's kind of ridiculous.
nectarine / 2987 posts
We just cracked down on when we eat when we hit this stage. All meals and snacks happened at the table and included a protein and a fat. I also made sure each kid was drinking half their weight in ounces of water per day (40lb kid aiming for 20oz liquids in a day). Every time we sat to eat I reminded them that this was their chance to fill their tummies and that next we were going to do X and we wouldn't eat again until the next meal. Then when they asked for a snack I was confident that they had recently been offered enough food and would be again soon and just told them no. There are children who don't eat for days, mine can wait two hours. But we did have to be strict about it for a bit to stop the incessant asking. Upping the protein and fat and slowing down to sit to eat helped a lot, too.
pomelo / 5093 posts
I would look up protein and fat requirements for their age and weight and make sure they're eating enough of that. My children ask for food way too often when they're not eating enough of that stuff.
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
I have yet to implement this but similar to above I read a book that suggested food zones. You set three meal and two snack zones (like breakfast 7-8) based on what works for you, even make a chart to post if it helps. You always offer during those times so you know they're not starving, and you always refuse if it's outside the zone. my older can read the clock so in theory she could see for herself when it's time to eat by comparing to the chart. Like I said though I've never actually followed through! 
pomelo / 5678 posts
Kids are hungry. But I know what you mean, it can make you feel like a constant servant. I try to encourage her to eat as much as she can at each meal and remind her that that's it until the next meal. I also allow anytime foods she can get herself like apple and carrots.
pomelo / 5573 posts
Could you introduce a snack drawer or cupboard with things they could get themselves? At least then you're less of a servant to it.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@erinbaderin: we have those and it's still constant! I mean they can get it themselves but it's like omg we just went through that much food in one day?!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
This post reminds me of a clock I saw in a food court. Every 15 minute increment had a signage for a snack/ meal.
Do you serve meals and snacks on a regular schedule? Do they know what time they will eat again and can look forward to it?
Are they allowed to fill up on water, milk, or juice at meals? They may be too full to eat food at that meal or snack time. On the flip side could they fill up on liquids between meal time?
@bhbee: we follow our daycares food zones 8/11/2/4:30/6:30 I feel like we feed our LO all the time because he also gets bottles, but yeah he is ready for meals & snacks!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
My kid eats all the time. I don't know where she puts it. If it's 30-45 minutes before a meal I tell her no. Otherwise I let her eat as much as she wants.
coconut / 8472 posts
I just say no. My kid will get declare he's done eating breakfast, leave the table, and five minutes later asks for a snack. I just tell him no. He can eat as much as he wants at meal times and we also do morning and afternoon snacks, where again we don't limit quantity of food. Sometimes he's just bored, other times he wants something just because.
Like a previous poster we remind him at meals (mostly dinner) that this is his opportunity to eat. I would just tell them tomorrow that from now on you eat only at meals or designated snack times. Also, maybe stop buying some of their favorite snacks foods. If they have less desirable choices maybe they won't want to eat every few minutes.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
I'm not sure but we have the same problem with DD1. She literally is planning the next time she eats while she is eating. It's driving me bananas. I saw your snack drawer but her constant need for food is actually the reason I'm afraid to implement one at my house. Saying no doesnt help. She will just talk about it until the decided eating time rolls around. I can't handle it.
pomelo / 5258 posts
My kids are known for asking for all the foods at daycare and preschool. My just turned 4 year old has been asking for food at bedtime. We've told her she has to eat enough at the meal so that she doesn't need to eat again until X (preschool, morning, etc). Sometimes she eats more food and sometimes she doesn't but it's cut way down on the requests.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
If they eat enough protein and fats, then they shouldn't be THAT hungry. It could just be a habit. I would start saying no, drink water, and see what happens.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I try not to let my kids snack. We have 3 meals a day and usually just one afternoon snack. I make them wait otherwise. If they insist they are hungry, I offer something like cucumbers. I also do not allow them to serve themselves.
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