Portion control

[mlle.coccinelle]

Hi ladies, I was just wondering if when you feed lunch to the children, there is a point where you say ok you had enough?

I have a little girl that doesn't seam to be able to be full. This morning, she had 1 toast with jam, 1/2 an orange and a few strawberry and she was asking for more ? I said that she was still hungry and cried for half an hour... I texted her mom and she said she had a cereal bol with a banana this morning! Now its almost lunch time and I'm wondering if I should just keep on feeding her until she is full ( or until she explose!) or if I should give her a second portion like I always do, give her some desert and say that she have to wait until snack time for more food!

She seriously eats more than me, and she is TINY... so I always feel bad when I say ok you had enough :S

[monkeymama]

I have a dcb like this...hes 3 and never stops eating! I usually give him a larger first portion, he always asks for seconds and then a yogurt or applesauce or piece of fruit after that. If he still asks for more I get him to drink a glass of water and wait 5 mins. Hes never asked for more after that

[Skysue]

I have a tiny one like that and if your offering a good balance if food, what is wrong with 2nds. When they are growing they need it, if your giving 2nds of junk than I would say no. Just make sure there getting the right balance of grains and protein. If there not getting enough protein than they won't fill up properly.

[Spixie33]

I have a DCG like this too. She can eat more than my 8 year old.

I sometimes worry about whether I am overfeeding her but if she insists then usually I will give her more. Her parents are aware she eats a lot and aren't worried. I wouldn't want to make it a big deal for the girl or her parents.

Other times I will cut her off after seconds or thirds and invite her to come play or take her to wash hands (which she loves doing) and see if she moves on to the next activity. I usually draw the line at thirds with all the children.

Some other kids I have can eat normally but then go through a growth spurt and suddenly eat a horse. Maybe your dcg is just going through a growth phase?

[Inspired by Reggio]

...If there not getting enough protein than they won't fill up properly.

Agreed .... this is why I serve a protein with every meal/snack because the protein helps you to feel full longer and regulates the glucose levels in the blood stream of the other foods you eat,

The only thing I portion control to one serving is 'the grains/carbs' ... they can eat as much protein, fruit and veggies that their body can self regulate eating if they are truly hungry ~ but you only get one serving of 'grain product/pasta/rice/potato' which breaks down too easily to sugar that gets stored as fat cause the body cannot use it all if you are hungry you can fill up on the 'healthier choices'.

IMO the challenge with children 'over eating' and not learning to tell when they are full is when they are over eating the high carb / processed options that are basically 'empty calories' that within a short period of eating they are 'hungry again' because it takes so much of them to 'feel full' that the stomach ends up getting 'stretch' that it does in deed take more and more to fill it!

I know I can eat a whole bag of chips without noticing because I never feel 'full' eating them ... but a 1/3 cup of almonds and an apply I cannot finish cause they take longer to chew, take longer to digest and stay in the stomach longer to 'get that full feeling'.

[sunnydays]

My daughter is like that! She can eat a lot...and she has not gained even one pound in the past six months...so I guess she needs it! She sometimes eats as much as an adult...other times she eats less. She is 2 1/2 and not one bit chubby, so I think she just has a high metabolism and needs the food for energy. As long as it is healthy food, I would let her tell you when she is full. It is good for kids to learn on their own to know when they are hungry or full so they can monitor this as they grow.

[mlle.coccinelle]

well, you are for the first time in months, she didn't ask for seconds! ahah! We had lazagna ( and she usualy eats ALOT on those days) but today after 1 portion she was done, she didn't even want desert! ahah, it's funny!

And I for snack in the morning, what kind of protein would you give? my son is very allergic to peanuts so scratch peanut butter.... for lunch time its not a problem, but morning i never knw what to give them

[Skysue]

For morning snack:

Youghrt, Wow butter (soy spread is ok once a week), cream cheese, eggs, cheese cubes, pumpkin seed butter!

It's ok for them to have toast with jam but incorporate it with yogurt and a few berries, cream cheese bagel, scrambled eggs with toast etc...

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup for morning snacks ... yogurt, egg, cheese, tofu, baked chickpeas with some cinnamon on them are a nice 'breakfast snack', quinoa made into an oatmeal or porridge or muffin, avocado sliced or hidden in foods, hummus on toast ... all foods high in protein and filling!

Coconut flour / Chickpea flour and so forth in place of 'wheat flour' in baking muffins / pancakes and and so forth makes them higher protein.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Oh I forgot my most recent find ... we have recently added Hemp hearts to our diet as a source of protein as well ... virtually has no taste but 10G of protein and loads of omega3 and 6 in them and can be hidden in a muffin, added to cereal or applesauce or yogurt!

http://manitobaharvest.com/category/13/Hemp-Hearts.html#trail

[Momof4]

Children go through growth spurts where they eat so much, then all of a sudden they aren't hungry any more and you've prepared their usual large portions. It's because then they hit a plateau for a while and eat less. I learned that with my own children years ago. When my daycare children tell me they are still hungry I will always give them a little bit more but I had one little boy who would eat 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, so I started cutting him off after 3rds!

[mom-in-alberta]

I was going to say the same as Mom-of-4. My kiddos seem to go through phases, in which they eat everything that isn't nailed down... LoL
I would use your good judgement, and only give more of the healthy options (not carbs or treats, obviously). But if she is saying she is hungry, she probably is. As long as her body weight is at a healthy point, I wouldn't worry about it!

[mlle.coccinelle]

Okay sounds good! I found some `'' no nuts'' it tasted just like peanut butter but its soy based! The kids LOVE it! so That will help me alot. Yesterday I have her some eggs with fruits and a jam toast and she kept on saying how full she was all morning! :thumbsup: It felt good! :)