Stimulants + eating lunch at school

[Anonymous]

7 year old started methylphenidate recently. His teacher has noticed a growing pattern where he is not eating his lunch in the cafeteria, but then is hangry during afternoon work and is ravenous by mid/late afternoon. This becomes disruptive when he demands to eat during afternoon instruction and his behavior declines.

Open to any and all ideas on how to support him to make sure he is eating his meal during lunch.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Bigger breakfast with a lot of protein and full fat. And then whatever he will eat for lunch when he is not actually hungry. A donut? Whatever crap works just to get some calories in him. Then, do “first dinner” right after school and “second dinner” later.

[Anonymous]

My now 13yo is on 30mg of the same drug. She doesn’t eat lunch. I pack a granola bar and pop corners in her backpack to eat whenever but they’re rarely eaten.
She has a big breakfast , usually 2 eggs on Nannie’s bread with cheese, and either veggies or fruit and a glass of juice.
Then dinner after school around 4pm. This works for us with sports anyway.
A large snack around 730/8pm.

[Anonymous]

Naan bread. Above.

[Anonymous]

I let my kid buy ice cream at lunch most days in 3rd and 4th grade because it was the only thing he'd reliably eat.

I did also pack him lunch, but that was mostly ignored. I shifted to packing him a snack box rather than actual lunches--so he'd get a multi compartment container with fruit, veggies, crackers, cheese stick or cut up ham, etc. I think it was less daunting to eat bit and pieces of things instead of a whole sandwich.

He's in middle school now and while he still doesn't eat much for lunch, he eats a lot more than he used to.

[Anonymous]

Big breakfast.
Whatever she'll eat at lunch. Turns out she loves peanut-butter sandwich crackers, so that's what she gets.
A big snack after school.

I our experience, she adjusted pretty quickly. The body gets used to the new eating schedule.

[Anonymous]

I had a non eater and would go hypoglycemic.. Big breakfast & put a case of Orgain with the nurse. Have them drink one in the afternoon. Takes 2 minutes. I am suggesting nurse because the drink is cold, no peers are around and they will gulp it down quickly to get to recess or specials.
I’m with the person suggesting ice cream as well. You got to do what you got to do. Be prepared for teachers calling and trying to lecture about cookies and ice cream…..even if your kid is literally the skinniest kid in class.

[Anonymous]

Our 504 hides our kid an afternoon snack. Won’t eat lunch (even sweets) on meds.

[Anonymous]

Carnation instant breakfast drinks - high protein ones in either chocolate or vanilla, ready made in the carton containers. The trendy protein drink is Alani and they have a lot of flavors.

I usually just pack a protein drink with an ice pack, some type of salty munch (so they can eat later in the afternoon if not lunch)

At the very least a carton of milk from the school (whatever flavor) - make the agreement that it has to be the bare minimum. Positive reward at home.

Some kids will drink calories but not eat a thing and that has to be ok.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the big breakfast and letting him have whatever he wants for lunch or snack, but bear in mind that this may not help with the disruptions. He may be hungry and disruptive for the same reason. His meds are wearing off. Even with more food, his focus may not be there. He may need the extended release. It's something to consider.

[Anonymous]

For lunches, I used to pack a bento box with a variety of small items. There was something about the ability to pick at cheese cubes, carrots, chicken cubes etc that he enjoyed. It wasn't really "eating lunch", it was just one bite. Eat enough "one bites" and you have lunch.

[Anonymous]

We do a protein and fat heavy breakfast—bean burrito with avocado, tomato and sour cream, plus a mango. Or Greek yogurt with fruit, plus a scrambled egg with spinach.

For lunch, I pack my kid cucumber slices, a bag of not-too-sugary cereal, and an apple with nut butter. She has a few bites of each, but not a lot.

Then she eats an after school snack and dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the big breakfast and letting him have whatever he wants for lunch or snack, but bear in mind that this may not help with the disruptions. He may be hungry and disruptive for the same reason. His meds are wearing off. Even with more food, his focus may not be there. He may need the extended release. It's something to consider.

+1
Adjusting meds maybe part of the solution. Also, our kid wasneating big lunches before meds - lunch is short, and also social time.

[Anonymous]

Have you talked with the teacher about if he can be allowed an afternoon snack? My DD is a little older and is currently having some weird anxiety/hunger issues and her teacher has been really accommodating about allowing extra snacks when she needs them (discreetly, I assume).

[Anonymous]

Mine used to be able to stay in the classroom for lunch and then go to recess after he finished eating. It was in his IEP.