i wanted to get some opinions on my almost 3 year old and her snacking habits. She's in daycare everyday and they provide 2 snacks a day. I give her breakfast every morning and then make dinner at night. Our routine has been one snack and drink after school and then after dinner she gets another snack if she eats a good dinner. Lately, however she is insatiable and eating non-stop. I guess it could be a growth spurt but i never tell her she can't eat something. She is VERY active and is an awesome eater. Loves eggs, broccoli, edamame, carrots, starche's, chicken, turkey, pasta, meatballs, seafood, etc etc. i really am quite lucky that her main courses are all very very healthy and she LIKES them :). my question is am i creating a bad habit by letting her snack as much as she wants? i feel like toddlers are so active they must be constantly burning calories. Do i need to put a stop to the constant snacking after dinner? As far as what the snacks are: organic ice cream, pretzels, organic gummies, watermelon, peanut butter, grapes, apples, chips, chocolate etc.. she is not over or under weight either.
Eating when you're hungry is not a "bad habit." Bring her food as often as she's hungry, makes sense to me. :)
My son is 2 1/2. He usually eats about half of his dinner with us. We leave it out and when I announce it's time for his shower he runs and eats the second half of his dinner. I worry that I'm creating a bad habit too letting him eat like that, but I don't want to make him eat dinner if he's not hungry and I don't want him to wake up in the middle of the night because he didn't eat enough. I'm hoping this is something that he grows out of.
i would ensure that her snacks are just as healthy as her meals. my son (when i am being a "good mommy") include carrots, broccoli, raisins, apples or oranges...i really try not to limit his quantity, as long as i can provide good quality. i do limit him if we are reduced to animal crackers, graham crackers, etc. we don't keep candy or "real" cookies in the house, but dang...mine is 4 and 98th percentile for height and weight, and he eats ALL the time. he's not fat either - you're right, little ones burn a lot of calories!
I don't think there is a problem, if she's snacking healthy. Personally, I would cut out the gummies, chips, chocolate, and ice cream as a snack. I would reserve those for a "treat" and only serve them every so often. They are organic, but still not healthy!! They are also not a good thing to eat at night. It will also teach her to reach for the other healthy things you offer as a snack. I was always taught I can snack as much as I want, as long as I eat something healthy, and don't ruin my meals. I allow my son to snack on healthy things as often as he wants, and follow those same rules. He is never offered sweet treats as a snack, thought. They are ONLY treats, are they are limited to special occasions, or the random "just because."
As long as she eats her meals, I don't see anything wrong with it. I would be careful with gummies, chips and chocolate, since those can be empty carbs and not really filling her up, causing her to remain hungry and want to eat more. The other things (even the ice cream) is pretty healthy and she should eat as she needs...in my opinion. I let my kids snack when they need to but not if it'll spoil their meals;-)
I wouldn't stop her. Because lots of little snacks is actually the healthier way for adults to eat too, we're just trained to eat 3 big meals and it's difficult with our schedules sometimes to snack all day instead. But she's doing the best thing for her body, and it's not a bad habit.
At 3 years old, yes. There's no reason for a snack after dinner. She goes to bed not long after that. The only reason adults snack after dinner because they're up later and about 3 hours after a meal you start to get hungry again. There's no reason a 3 year old should be up that late after dinner. I think it is creating bad habits even if she's eating healthy. As kids get older they begin to eat less healthy, especially after entering school and as parents get busier and meals become made to be quicker and not healthier. 3 meals a day, a mid-morning snack and an afternoon snack if more than enough. Some kids don't even need a snack sometimes, maybe just a drink, depends on the child. Limit snacks to what fits in their hand. My kids seem to think that a snack is yet another meal and then won't eat as much at meal time. No, a snack is a snack, to tide you over until the next meal. If they can go meal to meal without a snack then they don't need a snack, or at least just give a smaller snack, couple bites. Milk with each meal, juice or juice/water mix at snack time. You don't want to create a habit that something needs to constantly be going into the mouth because sooner or later unhealthy foods will start going in and that will not be good. People eat to survive, not survive to eat.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
My nearly 3 year old went through a phase in Jan/Feb where she ate a ton! My husband was concerned but I thought it was just a growth spurt. Sounds like you're feeding her very nutritious stuff. Keep it up!
Her meals sound great, but she needs to be concentrating her calorie needs at meals. My 3 year old doesn't get snacks except occasionally at 3 pm snack. He needs to eat at meals. I don't have a problem with an afternoon snack, but by 3 they should be dropping their morning snacks. And I would totally eliminate ice cream, pretzels, gummies, chips, chocolate. Just because it is organic doesn't mean it is healthy. Those are treats, not snacks-- maybe once a week or so? And I think the after dinner snack is totally unnecessary-- she goes to bed after dinner, right? Sounds like she's a great eater, just make sure she's not getting junk in her snacks.
Let her eat. If she is eating because she is hungry and it is healthy that is great.
No if she is as active as you say she pry needs that. My 2yr old eats CONSTANTLY but he is still only 23pds because he is constantly running around like a crazy monkey.
