Anonymous
07/26/2015 14:32
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
I understand doing this when kids are small because it's easier for the parents, but really, it's fine--better, even--to be hungry before a meal.
There's a fine line with my daughter (7) -- if she gets too hungry before a meal, then she'll start crying over some imaginary issue and I can't get her to calm down enough to eat. I've gotten good at coming up with small, nutritious snacks to keep her mood steady.
When my girls are hungry before dinner, I give them the veggies from dinner to gnaw on while I keep making it. If that means they eat raw broccoli instead of roasted, that's fine. If it means they eat carrot sticks and sliced green pepper instead of brussel sprouts it's fine.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 14:24
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
I understand doing this when kids are small because it's easier for the parents, but really, it's fine--better, even--to be hungry before a meal.
There's a fine line with my daughter (7) -- if she gets too hungry before a meal, then she'll start crying over some imaginary issue and I can't get her to calm down enough to eat. I've gotten good at coming up with small, nutritious snacks to keep her mood steady.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 14:19
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
I understand doing this when kids are small because it's easier for the parents, but really, it's fine--better, even--to be hungry before a meal.
Food shuts kids up.
Doesn't mean it's good for them.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 14:16
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
I understand doing this when kids are small because it's easier for the parents, but really, it's fine--better, even--to be hungry before a meal.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 14:12
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
+1. And meetings, practices or activities must have snacks. After 45 minutes everyone needs to eat??
I agree with all this, especially for little kids. But OP said her kid is a lanky tween boy. I think all bets are off. I haven't experienced a growing to teen boy in my house yet, but I remember my brothers eating. Maybe some moms who have been through teen boys can chime in. I think it's good for him to figure out when he is full, and not impose our "over 40 dieting mom appetites and portions" on a growing teen. Does everyone remember the thread about the mom of teens who never had leftovers?
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:51
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
+1. And meetings, practices or activities must have snacks. After 45 minutes everyone needs to eat??
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:51
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
+1
++
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:49
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
+1
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:47
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
This obsession of always having a snack ready, packing snacks wherever you go, or making a special stop for a snack, is way out of control.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:44
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:American children snack too much. It's fine to feel hungry. I'm inclined to think it's good for them.
yup. that is why we have a liver, and every now and then, the fat cells need to be recruited.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:44
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Not providing snacks and feeling hungry before meals is perfectly healthy, IMO. But teenagers eat ALOT. It depends how old your kids are, and how active they are. Michael Phelps was fit and skinny on 12000 calories a day while training.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:37
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
American children snack too much. It's fine to feel hungry. I'm inclined to think it's good for them.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:37
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:I have heard from everyone that I am being a bad mother by letting my kids go "hungry".
It is really just one child who always complains about being hungry. I told him that there is a difference between being hungry and "I could eat some more". We go out and he wants me to order two meals for him. He is always interested in events that have a lot of food. I give him fair portions at dinner, then cut him off. I don't even offer a "healthy snack" I just want him to be able to function without being stuffed.
He is in the 95th%ile for height and the 70th%ile for weight. His pediatrician is happy and says that it is not unreasonable for them to be lanky in the tween years.
I grew up in another country and no one ate the way my kids do. I remember real hunger, not because of poverty, but because of logistics. Food was not everywhere, so if we were at a place with no food, you went hungry until we got home. I remember gnawing hunger at times, where we eat anything. That was just the way it was.
My kids have never skipped a meal. At times when they say they are hungry, they get picky! No, they don't want cookies with chocolate chips, or a peach, or chicken. That is a funny kind of hungry.
Maybe we define that term differently, but for now, I am pleased that they are a little thin.
How do you know how full/not full he feels when you cut him off? How will he develop an internal sense of fullness if you impose your ideas of portion control on him?
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:37
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
Anonymous wrote:I have heard from everyone that I am being a bad mother by letting my kids go "hungry".
It is really just one child who always complains about being hungry. I told him that there is a difference between being hungry and "I could eat some more". We go out and he wants me to order two meals for him. He is always interested in events that have a lot of food. I give him fair portions at dinner, then cut him off. I don't even offer a "healthy snack" I just want him to be able to function without being stuffed.
He is in the 95th%ile for height and the 70th%ile for weight. His pediatrician is happy and says that it is not unreasonable for them to be lanky in the tween years.
I grew up in another country and no one ate the way my kids do. I remember real hunger, not because of poverty, but because of logistics. Food was not everywhere, so if we were at a place with no food, you went hungry until we got home. I remember gnawing hunger at times, where we eat anything. That was just the way it was.
My kids have never skipped a meal. At times when they say they are hungry, they get picky! No, they don't want cookies with chocolate chips, or a peach, or chicken. That is a funny kind of hungry.
Maybe we define that term differently, but for now, I am pleased that they are a little thin.
You have serious food issues, OP, and a possible eating disorder. Offer healthy foods as snacks and let it go. No child should ever go hungry - they are too young and go through very different growth cycles where their caloric needs are ever changing.
Anonymous
07/26/2015 13:31
Subject: Why is it not OK to feel hunger?
I have heard from everyone that I am being a bad mother by letting my kids go "hungry".
It is really just one child who always complains about being hungry. I told him that there is a difference between being hungry and "I could eat some more". We go out and he wants me to order two meals for him. He is always interested in events that have a lot of food. I give him fair portions at dinner, then cut him off. I don't even offer a "healthy snack" I just want him to be able to function without being stuffed.
He is in the 95th%ile for height and the 70th%ile for weight. His pediatrician is happy and says that it is not unreasonable for them to be lanky in the tween years.
I grew up in another country and no one ate the way my kids do. I remember real hunger, not because of poverty, but because of logistics. Food was not everywhere, so if we were at a place with no food, you went hungry until we got home. I remember gnawing hunger at times, where we eat anything. That was just the way it was.
My kids have never skipped a meal. At times when they say they are hungry, they get picky! No, they don't want cookies with chocolate chips, or a peach, or chicken. That is a funny kind of hungry.
Maybe we define that term differently, but for now, I am pleased that they are a little thin.
It is really just one child who always complains about being hungry. I told him that there is a difference between being hungry and "I could eat some more". We go out and he wants me to order two meals for him. He is always interested in events that have a lot of food. I give him fair portions at dinner, then cut him off. I don't even offer a "healthy snack" I just want him to be able to function without being stuffed.
He is in the 95th%ile for height and the 70th%ile for weight. His pediatrician is happy and says that it is not unreasonable for them to be lanky in the tween years.
I grew up in another country and no one ate the way my kids do. I remember real hunger, not because of poverty, but because of logistics. Food was not everywhere, so if we were at a place with no food, you went hungry until we got home. I remember gnawing hunger at times, where we eat anything. That was just the way it was.
My kids have never skipped a meal. At times when they say they are hungry, they get picky! No, they don't want cookies with chocolate chips, or a peach, or chicken. That is a funny kind of hungry.
Maybe we define that term differently, but for now, I am pleased that they are a little thin.