I feel a bit embarassed about this problem, but I am desperate for some ideas of things to try. My DD is four, nearly five, and really loves her food. She is chubby, so we try to give her healthy things all most of the time. She frequently asks, "What's for dinner, dessert, morning tea, etc.?" and even after she has had a big plate of something she will ask for more. Her teacher says that she stays at the table and finishes all the fruit off the communial plate well after the other kids have gone off to play. We've had to limit her to only five pieces of cut up fruit because she will just eat and eat and eat until it is finished. I have talked to her about being greedy and not eating or taking more than she needs, but she just seems to always be thinking about food and when she will eat next and what it will be. Do you think I am over-reacting? Do you think this is a serious problem I should try to stop now, before she reaches teenage years when her weight could become more of a serious issue? How do I get her mind off food? Please help...

Snap! You have exactly described my dd, right up to the part about her sitting at the table finishing off all the friut Your dd doesn't look chubby in her photo!

Hi

I think perhaps it is an age related stage. My DD is 3 and although quite skinny, she does not stop eating!!!! Chloe is also the first to sit down to eat and the last to get up, I would say she probably has at least 3 vegimite sandwiches a day...plus 2 bananas and numerous other snacks.

I would continue to offer healthy choices and encourage lots of activity. I think these little ones just burn a lot of energy and require more fuel IYKIWM. With my DD, I'm sure it's just habit aswell, perhaps offer a distraction if she is asking all the time.

HTH

On the upside at least she loves her fruit and isn't eating bad food. But I can understand your concern. As a previous poster asked is she really active? Another suggestions is have you tried giving your DD some worm tablets? It's an awful topic, but children can pick them up so easily, off other children.

Gosh! I'm envious of you.I'm not sure if its good or bad. My 2 year old eats like a sparrow. She has 1 weet bix or 1 piece of toast for breakfast. Lunch she has 1 lsice of bread with cheese and half a piece of fruit. Dinner 1-2 lamb cutlets and a picking of vegies.
She's very petite for a 2 year old but full of beans.
I wish my girl would eat and eat.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, ladies! I really appreciate your comments and suggestions. My DD uses her trampoline daily, but I wouldn't say she is overly active. Her snacks are fruit or rice crackers. A lolly (jelly bean) maybe once a week. She only has a small drink of orange juice with her porridge/cereal at brekky; the rest of the day she drinks water. Her chubbiness is all in her belly; it can look quite swollen sometimes. The pre-occupation with food wouldn't bother me so much if she was genuinely hungry, but the truth is that she just LOVES food. We will try to take more walks or bike-rides. I will also investigate the worm possibility... thanks for that.

my son is the same and is nearly 4. I now just offer as much healthy food as he wants and keep him very active.

HI There,

MY 4 1/2 year old DS is the same. It is quite embarrassing at times. We go places and I take a snack, well he polishes it off an nags me for more until other mums give him some of their food. At parties, he will scoff the cake and if someone doesn't eat theirs, he will ask for it.

He is always asking for food at home. I only offer healthy food unless it is a special occassion. Just after lunch, he is asking about afternoon tea!!! It really gets to me sometimes.

I must admit I love food and I don't keep any junk food in the house so I don't eat it. If I open something, I have to eat it until it is all gone. I had weight issues as a child and I am very conscious of my diet, without being pedantic. I make sure we all get plenty of exercise. DS is not chubby at all because he is so active.

With obesity in the family, I promote a healthy lifestyle for our family, hoping it stays with them in life. I was releived to read your post, it always helps to know someone else is the same.