Would you cut him off? Will this become the new norm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 10yo eats like this before a growth spurt. Unfortunately, that period can last months at a time. Not cheap. He's a beanpole, though -- 5'4" and 90something lbs.

O/T but 5'4"@10-yo? woah!

[Anonymous]

Kids going through a growth spurt need a LOT of fats and calories! Yeah, and protein!

They might easily eat 3000-4000 calories a day for a while.

Most of your child's foods sound like perfectly healthy choices. They are "real food" not overly processed. Goldfish crackers are fine, too and help him get the extra calories he feels his body needs.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Let him eat. Complex whole grain carbs and lean protein is what his body needs.

However you need to educate him on healthy eating (no whipped cream, for example). I gave my 10 year old a cookbook for kids (the DK Fun and Healthy Coookbook for Kids, it's excellent) and he learned a ton about nutrition and why some foods are good or bad.

Watch his weight and height. As PPs said, he might get chubby before he shoots up.

[Anonymous]

I think a little whipped cream with strawberries for dessert is fine. Everything OP's kid ate was fine for a kid on a growth spurt.

My 9 yo dd is 5 feet tall. a 5'4 10 year old would not surprise me overmuch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My 9 yo dd is 5 feet tall. a 5'4 10 year old would not surprise me overmuch.

But how many 5'4" 10-yo BOY have you seen? I've seen zero yet in my neck of the woods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So background info: my son is 9 (almost 10), normal weight and height, active and HUNGRY. This is what he had for after school/dinner/constant stream of eating last evening and was wondering if this is normal/should I "stop" him at some point? Perhaps this is just a peak into the teen years?

2 apples and 2 string cheeses afters school, had 2 roast beef and avocado painni's with a baked sweet potato for dinner, after dinner had 2 bowls of oatmeal, a banana, and another string cheese. before bed he had strawberries and whip cream, some goldfish and a hard boiled egg. He also prob drank 1.5 glasses of milk between this time. Is this just what the teen years will look like?

seems normal to me and pretty healthy. My son is 11 and eats like this sometimes/ He is skinny and very active so I don't worry at all.

[Anonymous]

My son is 11 and 5'1. For what it is worth, I was 5'8 at 12. (female).

[Anonymous]

My daughter is 5 feet and 8 years old

[Anonymous]

I really would not get worked up about some goldfish and some whipped cream with strawberries in the context of the rest of his daily diet. It's pretty minor as far as treats go IMO, unless he's really going nuts with the quantity (of goldfish and whipped cream).

[Anonymous]

I have a six year old boy who can eat like that and always has. He has enormous puppy-dog feet and you can count his ribs. Unbelievable caloric intake with zero fat to show for it. His metabolism must be on fire, and it looks like he'll be tall.

[Anonymous]

Brains need FAT.

Fat is perfectly acceptable for growing children. Cream is good. Butter is good. Fats in meat and fish are good.

OP, your son can be drinking full fat milk for extra fat to fuel his growth. Make oatmeal with cream! Make milkshakes with ice cream and full fat milk.

Add nuts to oatmeal. Add trail mix for snacks.

Make desserts -- banana pudding made with full fat milk.

Do not be scared of fat!

[Anonymous]

My dd who is whip thin and looks 8or 9 despite turning 12 tomorrow, will eat like this during a growth spurt. It'll last a few days to a week, and then stop.

As long as its not every day it's fine. What he ate was pretty healthy.

[Anonymous]

Also -- I bet you the cheese sticks he is eating are reduced fat mozzerella. See if you can fid some full fat cheeses.

Kids are growing. Don't feed them what adults eat (lean meat, reduced fat foods). Growing children need fat and calories and lots of nutrient rich foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is he eating earlier in the day?

This doesn't sound like that much to me, unless it's persisting at that rate all day. My 6 yo DD eats about this much after school and before bed, and she's rail thin. But she tends to eat less earlier in the day to compensate.

are you sure?

- 2 apples
- 2 string cheeses
- 2 roast beef and avocado painnis
- a baked sweet potato
- 2 bowls of oatmeal
- a banana,
- another string cheese
- strawberries and whip cream
- some goldfish
- a hard boiled egg
- 1.5 glasses of milk

this is not much???

This is after school meals, correct? I assume he had a breakfast and lunch before all this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brains need FAT.

Fat is perfectly acceptable for growing children. Cream is good. Butter is good. Fats in meat and fish are good.

OP, your son can be drinking full fat milk for extra fat to fuel his growth. Make oatmeal with cream! Make milkshakes with ice cream and full fat milk.

Add nuts to oatmeal. Add trail mix for snacks.

Make desserts -- banana pudding made with full fat milk.

Do not be scared of fat!

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