Eating and Behavior Habits of Girls

I do know that you have to be careful not to make too big of a deal about food one way or the other, as you can set up a battle ground! That is not an area you want that to happen. If she feels deprived when she's hungry, it can become too big of a focus for her. I always have asked my kids, when they seem like they are just eating to eat, "Are you still actually hungry in your tummy, or do you just want more because it tastes good?" I did talk to them about how our bodies know just how much they need and that it's not healthy to put more in than that. But I always told them if they were really still hungry in their tummy, they could have more. I would give them a SMALL amount, and tell them to see how they did after that. They are all a healthy and normal weight at 15, 14 and 9. I also went the other way with this, in never forcing them to eat when they said they weren't hungry. I think it's really important not to make too big of an issue out of food, or they will too! On this subject, I noticed when my son hit his teens that a few of his friends started getting overweight. I also noticed a lot of those parents would go on and on about 'Wow, he eats so much! I can't believe how much teen boys can eat!' Then they would go and list everything their kid ate for supper that night, or what not. I started to see that the parents of some of these kids were proud of it, and it became a matter of pride to some of the boys as well. But not with healthy results! Well, teen boys DO eat alot... but not at every meal, if you don't make a big deal out of it. My son would pig out occasionally with no comment from us except,"Hungry tonight, huh?" A couple days later, he would eat very light, because he wasn't especially hungry. The body really does let us know if we learn to tune in to it, and teach our kids to do the same. I hope this helps!

can't comment on boys vs. girls, but I'd recommend keeping the snacks and meals as healthy as possible. Don't put her on a diet, but encourage her to eat healthy foods... and limit any "extra" snacks to fruit & veg.

also, is there a physical activity you can find that is special for her? like gymnastics/tumbling, swimming or ballet? maybe you can find a class that she'd enjoy... never hurts to teach her to enjoy exercise too. My daughter is 2, and loves swimming (mommy & me... good fun for both of you).

I have a boy and a girl, but my boy eats and my girl doesn't. And my boy is a rail--he could eat all day if he wanted and it wouldn't stick to him. My daughter has always been in the 50% no matter how she eats, and she is also very active. So I can't speak to the weight issue. But I agree that you should not make a big deal of the eating thing--my dad was always trying to tell me (as an adolescent) to watch what I was eating, and I still have food issues (I over eat and am always fighting my weight). You do NOT want to give your daughter a complex about her body. I would just make sure that you always have healthy snacks available to her. When she says she is hungry for a snack, offer her veggies or fruits. If she choses not to eat them, then she probably isn't really hungry. ANd, your daughter is still young; she will probably lean out as she grows taller--both my kids have done that.

you didn't say what percentile her height is in. if its not close to the weight percentile, you need to discuss this w/the pediatrician pronto. I probably would anyway -w/out her in the room. she shouldn't be hungry all the time or gobbling like she's starving, particularly if she's eating as much or more than her older brother over a consistent long-term period (like 3 months or more). there are hormone and other medical issues that can make kids overly hungry and not feel like activity. also, its not a girl vs boy thing - each kid is just different. both my kids are thin but my girl is a rail - we work hard so that the battles are not eat more, eat more. boys do tend to burn it off more but I've seen girls that are just as active. You say she's not interested in physical activity - that's just not real normal - something else to bring up w/ the dr. dance, gymnastics, elmo exercise videos - something should interest her. I don't think I've ever seen a kid who wouldn't just run on the playground 'cause its fun to run and jump! good luck.

Kids at her age typically won't eat unless hungry.
She may or may not catch up with her size.
I would only offer her and your son healthy, low fat snacks.
With meals I tell my kids to wait 8 minutes before I give them seconds, telling them to let their brains catch up with their stomachs. If she is eating just to be eating and not as active then you aren't being a bad mom not allowing it.
There is a difference if they are truly hungry. Don't talk to her about weight issues, but teach her healthy habits.
When my kids come ask for snacks, it isn't allowed anywhere near mealtime. Then I always ask them to wait a bit and see if they are truly hungry. If they come back for seconds it is rare, because their body has sent the signal it is full.
I have a son that is 98% and as tall as his seven year old sister and he is 4! My daughter is very petite but they eat the same amounts to a degree. They typically kick it up a notch with food when they are going through a growth spurt.
I know the difference if they are eating out of boredom or just because they are hungry.
My daughter ate two bowls of cereal this morning AND A BAGEL! She is barely 44 lbs and seven years old! My son had one bowl and half a bagel.
So it varies and you know your kids best. Talk to your Pediatrican if you are really worried.
Just offer them both only healthy options with snacks and never close to meals. Then when they ask for seconds on dinner give them some time to process whether they are really hungry.
Hang in there, sounds like she is just fine.

One of the big things I promised myself when I had my daughter is I would not argue about food and weight, especially at such young and tender ages. Girls and women in our society have volumes of media attention focused at them to 'be slim' and 'be sexy'. I want happy, healthy kids, ones that have a sense of self and not a preoccupation with their weight and what they may/may not eat.

To that end, I don't discuss weight with my kids or argue about what they eat. I put healthy options in front of them and they eat as much or as little as they desire. Some days I could swear they live on air. Others I worry how I'm going to feed them when they become teenagers; we may need to buy a semi just to get to the grocery store.

Some kids put on lots of weight in anticipation of a growth spurt, they just pack on calories, grow a bunch and thin out again. Since you asked, I would lay off commenting on what she eats. I would also find a way to reinforce healthy bites more by modeling than referring to not-so-nifty role models such as princesses. Who knows, maybe she's destined to be a 6' tall head turner, she's going to need a lot of calories to grow!

BTW, my son is a ton more active than my daughter, but she uses her brain a lot more than he does :-)