Reply to 8-year-old DD Binge Eating?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm a NP, I wanted to ask about your kids not having to ask for food in the house. My kids are 7 and 9 and still have to ask. We have healthy food for the most part, but my son will easily knock back 2-3 bars and then not be hungry for meals. He would constantly snack if we let him because he tends to eat when he's bored. Is it really a thing to let them eat whatever they want whenever they want without asking? Why is doing otherwise setting them up for an eating disorder? It's not that we always say no unless it's within a 3 meal a day structure, but if he asks for a snack 30 minutes after a hearty breakfast I'm likely to say no. Or I'll offer vegetables that he likes and he rejects them. [/quote]

I'm a NP, too, and I totally agree with you, although I think it's a little different for a 9 year old to ask than a 15 year old.  My kids also ask, but they are not teens yet.  I think when they're teens, it might be a different story.  The point here, I think, is that if you're too restrictive and the kid learns that you are the gatekeeper of food, then she won't learn to be her own gatekeeper and won't learn healthy eating patterns.  With younger kids, I absolutely think that it makes sense to ask because you're right -- they will just eat whatever whenever with no regard for mealtimes.

If I were having trouble with a teen eating tons of snacks and then not eating dinner, I'd probably try making a rule about not snacking within an hour of dinner or something, and I would also aim to have healthy foods around -- maybe even a drawer in the fridge and a cabinet labeled specifically for snacktime, packed with things like cheese and yogurt and whole grains, etc. -- rather than ice cream or candy.  But I think what you're doing is totally right for your kids' ages.

As for the OP's issue, I think it's hard to say if this is true "binge eating."  It sounds a bit more like she's sneaking around with stuff and feels she should't be doing these things.  I think this is why so many people suspected the OP was being strict with junk food -- because the DD is sneaking around like she'll get in trouble.  If she won't, then why is she sneaking around?  OP, there are some unanswered questions, and I think it might be best to investigate this with your ped and then with a therapist -- perhaps first by yourself and then with your DD.[/quote]

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