Moms: How do you avoid the constant snacking culture?

[sonrisa]

I grew up on three meals a day. Eating between meals was a rare occurrence and would "ruin your supper." Meal portions were healthy and moderate. Learning the difference between an empty stomach and actual hunger was as much a part of learning self control as saying please and thank you, sitting still during class time and not peeing your pants. Weight control has always come easier to me than most.

Now a days, I feel like everyone eats all the time. It starts right away with kids. Preschools have midmorning snacks and the afternoon programs have another snack. My husband grew up with that default snack culture and has more trouble watching his weight.

I want to raise my kid like I was raised but I'm finding that hard to do in the US. How do you get away from the constant food? Ugh.

[thebuddhagouda]

As an adult, I prefer to eat smaller meals and healthy snacks between them, so I don't really have a problem with him snacking. My issues are when he wants nothing but processed junk for said snacks. As long as he'll eat a carrot or an apple for snack, I'm okay with it.

We still have designated snack times though, and he doesn't get anything outside of those times or too close to dinner because then it will mess with his dinner consumption.

[iamgrace]

I don't know that kids eat all the time. Maybe it's different where I am.

I know that without snacks I would be very hungry. I agree that there needs to be self control between meals, and with too many snacks, Henry won't eat his meals. I do think kids need snacks, though. Well, my kid does. And I do.

I've never had an issue with my weight, and my kid is in the 10th percentile for weight (which is actually concerning me, but that's another story).

[luckyval]

To some extent, I don't worry about the snacking, particularly if the kid is really active. It's more about what we're making available to them.

Also, I try to give Hart water first, because it's easy to mistake thirst for hunger

[Deleted]

Keep water around alllll the time. We just leave their water cups out so they can always get to them.

And keep the snacks healthy. It's actually generally better for maintaining level blood sugar if you eat less more often. I notice a difference in my own stamina and moods throughout the day if I eat throughout versus eating large meals.

[adamantium]

Honestly, I don't eat 3 meals, never have. I have always been more of a 3 smaller meals with 2 good snacks. I have never had a weight issue nor a problem controlling portions. I think the key is to make sure they understand food fuels their bodies and while it can taste good it serves a purpose. I think it's more important for them to learn what good foods are early and to see the example you set for them. Take them to pick berries, farm stands, let them see where food comes from and our relationship to it.

[eddy]

I am a snacker and have never had an issue with my weight. I actually think it is healthier. I eat small portions and never get super hungry where I default to eating all the things.

So I guess I don't have an issue with it and instead encourage it with my kids. We have healthy stuff around so if he wants to munch on an apple have at it buddy.

[textbookcase]

Aug 12, 2013 10:02:50 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

I don't know that kids eat all the time. Maybe it's different where I am.

I know that without snacks I would be very hungry. I agree that there needs to be self control between meals, and with too many snacks, Henry won't eat his meals. I do think kids need snacks, though. Well, my kid does. And I do.

I've never had an issue with my weight, and my kid is in the 10th percentile for weight (which is actually concerning me, but that's another story).

I agree with this, too. I think snacks are especially important for kids, since their stomachs are smaller and don't hold enough to keep them satisfied between meals. As long as the snacks are healthy (nuts, hb eggs, fruit, yogurt, etc.) I have no problem letting them snack. My kids generally have 2 snacks per day, in addition to their regular meals. Sometimes 3 snacks. I pretty much let Bonnie eat whenever she wants because we struggle with her weight (5th-10th percentile)

[thebuddhagouda]

Also, when he goes into the full "OMG I'M STARVING" melt down mode, I offer him something like peas or broccoli. If he's really that hungry, he'll eat them. If he says he's not hungry for that, and he needs goldfish I assume he's not actually that hungry. Last night, he ate two helpings of peas right before bed so I'm assuming he really was starving.

[Deleted]

I struggle with my kids wanting to snack all day. I am trying to limit it to a reasonable amount and keep the snacks healthy.

I also remind myself that most healthy eating ideas center around the idea of 5-6 small meals/snacks a day. Not 3 meals a day. I think eliminating snacks for your kids will eventually lead them towards eating huge meals to prevent the hungry feeling between meals.

You say your husband struggles with his weight more. Did he grow up eating healthy snacks?

[karmasabiotch]

They say smaller meals throughout the day is better.

I say no for the most part to snacks. If I do its a cheese stick or a yogurt.

[eddy]

I do limit a couple hours before meal time though. I want them to be hungry for the meal. Otherwise if Jack claims he is hungry and he hasn't eaten a huge portion of food I give him a snack.

[sonrisa]

lol. Okay. So it's a losing battle. I just have to adapt :-)

I keep the options healthy. I guess that will have to do.

[eddy]

Aug 12, 2013 10:07:22 GMT -5 thebuddhagouda said:

Also, when he goes into the full "OMG I'M STARVING" melt down mode, I offer him something like peas or broccoli. If he's really that hungry, he'll eat them. If he says he's not hungry for that, and he needs goldfish I assume he's not actually that hungry. Last night, he ate two helpings of peas right before bed so I'm assuming he really was starving.

We do this too. I test his hunger with the healthy stuff. Like before bed he claims he is starving even though meal time was just two hours ago. Okay have a banana, but that is it. If he eats it he was hungry. If he doesn't want it then he was just trying to stall bedtime.

[roxysoxy]

My husband grew up not having many snacks and I was the one who had the snacks.  We regularly disagree about whether or not our kids need snacks.  I know I get really hungry and moody if I don't have a snack and so do my kids.  Like others have said, just make sure to give your child healthy snacks and reasonable portion size and you should be fine.  I have snacks and have never had problems with weight management. 

I do get annoyed with my kids constantly asking for snacks when I know they don't need one.

[litebright]

I think snacking is generally recommended. Smaller meals, more frequently, are actually recommended for kids. And adults -- the problem is usually the food choice, not the "between meals" eating.

I rarely snack. I actually run into issues when I forget to give my kids sufficient snacks, because they get grumpy and fractious. I try to look at their entire food intake -- if they don't eat veggies well during a regular meal, we have veggies for a snack. My pedi encouraged me to think about overall food intake rather than pushing them to eat three regular meals as toddlers, and I think we've been pretty successful with that (it certainly helped me stress less about how much they do/don't eat -- my kids are skiiiiiinnny).

Hunger cues are tricky. I want my kids to learn them, and I think they are (we don't encourage the whole "clean plate" thing that I think was pushed a lot when I was growing up) -- but I also don't want them to be starving between meals because I think that discourages moderation when you actually do sit down to eat.

I also really try to remember that the portion I should expect a child to eat is much, much smaller than what I would eat as an adult.

[eddy]

The downside to eating every couple hours is that your body gets so used to it and then the hangries can be brutal lol.

H and I always joke to our family to not bother to find us if we get lost in the woods someday. We will have either murdered each other or died from the hangries within a couple hours.

[midnightrae]

I always ate 3 small meals and 2 snacks during the day as a kid and as an adult. Except lately, I have not been eating breakfast. I always had healthy things for snacks, but my mom didn't keep sweets in the house because she didn't like them. My sister and I thought we were so cool when we would sneak carrots out of the fridge and eat them behind the couch.

[sonrisa]

Aug 12, 2013 10:08:01 GMT -5 @bearysweet10 said:

You say your husband struggles with his weight more. Did he grow up eating healthy snacks?

His mom is very good about healthy options only - both at meals and at snack time. He seems to have trouble going 5 hours without food and not "wanting to eat all the foods" (as someone above mentioned ;-)

I think the whole "huge meals or multiple snacks" dichotomy is a cultural one more than a biological one. Food is so abundant that it is easy to mistake an empty stomach for the urge to eat. But if that works for people, great :-)

Her breakfast was a quarter cup of edamame and a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter so it's not like I'm starving her at meal time. I guess I should just cut back on lunch size during the school year to adapt. 

[thebuddhagouda]

Aug 12, 2013 10:12:28 GMT -5 litebright said:

Hunger cues are tricky. I want my kids to learn them, and I think they are (we don't encourage the whole "clean plate" thing that I think was pushed a lot when I was growing up) -- but I also don't want them to be starving between meals because I think that discourages moderation when you actually do sit down to eat.

This is so hard. I don't want to force him to clean his plate, but I do want to encourage him to try new things AND if he refuses to eat dinner he will be starving later. It's not usually even a matter of him not liking the food. He just wants to be playing. Then, he'll be hungry right before bedtime and begging to have his dinner back.

[blueballoon]

I don't have kids, but my parents were big time no snacks, meals only people. I've struggled with my weight most of my life, and I find weight loss to be much easier now that I snack and have smaller meals.

[textbookcase]

Aug 12, 2013 10:11:11 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Also, keep things handy that the kids can get to whenever they want. KHC knows if he's hungry he can always find carrot and celery sticks in the fridge; I cut them up and toss them in a bowl of ice water and just keep them around 24/7. That kind of stuff he can have without asking, whenever he wants.

Yes, I do the same thing. The crisper drawer is full of stuff that's ready for them to just grab and eat whenever they want.

[sonrisa]

Aug 12, 2013 10:18:21 GMT -5 blueballoon said:

my parents were big time no snacks, meals only people. I've struggled with my weight most of my life, and I find weight loss to be much easier now that I snack and have smaller meals.

Good to know. The only time I've had issues is when I'd join coworkers in daily snacks. That is part of why I'm so reluctant.

Carrots for all!

[cbwm1]

We let Will snack whenever. We just limit the portions and 95% of the time, it's healthy (sometimes, we'll let him have fruit snacks or goldfish or some pretzels).

I read this in a Parents magazine or something, and we've switched to this method and it's worked.

If he's STARVING before a meal, I'll give him carrots, yogurt or a cheesestick, as he likely would have gotten one of those with his meal. Then for dinner, I just omit the snack and give him the rest of his dinner. And if he doesn't eat everything, that's fine.

He'll go through what I assume are growth spurts, where he can't eat enough, and other periods where we worry if he's getting enough calories to get him through the day.

It all evens out in the end.

[papie]

I think snacks are important, and I encourage my children to eat when they are hungry rather than at the Oh-so-important meal time.  Different strokes, I guess. 

[KKD]

We don't avoid snacks; in fact, for Thanksgiving, Kate proclaimed herself to be thankful for snacks. I just try to keep them healthy and limit them before meals. Like eddy and thebuddhagouda said, I test their hunger level by offering fruits and veggies; if they're really hungry, they'll take them instead of begging for goldfish instead.

[hopecounts]

Healthy snacks and smaller meals are a healthier way to eat so I don't worry about snacking.
I just make sure the snacks are healthy and keep them small.
I do baby carrots, apple slices, grapes, cheese, etc for snacks with the occasional treat of goldfish.

Remember kids stomachs are smaller than adults so forcing them to eat 3 big meals a day can stretch their stomachs and get them used to eating more food which can lead to obesity down the road because they don't listen to the I'm full signal since they are used to what is essentially over eating.

[demelza]

I think there is a constant snacking culture movement especially for children. I don't know that anything can be one size fits all so perhaps little snacks all day isn't good for everyone. When you think about the food pyramid and how crazy skewed that was towards supporting the big food industries, I just have trepidation to just go with what ever the new way of eating is. If you were just snacking on fruits and veggies I guess I don't see there would be much problem but that is probably not the majority of the snacking going on.

[starlily]

Aug 12, 2013 10:10:34 GMT -5 kooshball said:

I wish my parents did more snacking and less huge meals. I found the huge meals caused me to overeat because snacking was not encouraged.

Yes. My mom's attempts to restrict my food as a teen completely backfired in that it made me overeat or sneak food whenever I could. I went from a perfectly normal weight to overweight as a result.

[TheSeaward]

my kids are somehow programmed to want snacks as soon as we get to the pool, regardless of when they last ate. they would sit around the pool and snack instead of playing in the pool. we just stopped bringing snacks to the pool