Ok, I have a weird question . My son is 21 months old, and of average size (well, his head is enormous) and he is slightly taller and heavier (between 50-75th percentile for both). He is typically a happy guy (he has his moments) and very active/busy. The issue we have is that he EATS LIKE A HORSE. At this age, it's too young for him to eat recreationally, right? I mean, right now he's a perfectly "normal" size by all the charts, but in light of all the hype about childhood obesity, etc, I just wonder when I should say no. I try to only give him healthy snacks and meals(with an occasional treat), but it seems he's never satisified. He always cleans his plate, never leaving a crumb behind. I don't want him to be hungry, but it seems as though 85% of his "meltdowns" are because he wants ANOTHER snack or more food, and I won't give it to him.
For instance, yesterday I picked him up from the sitter (where he has a snack about 3:00ish) and he wanted a snack at home (about 5:00pm). So I give him some cheerios to snack on while I make dinner (about 1/2 cup). He ate those and came back for more. I gave him a handful. He ate those and came back again. At this point, dinner was almost ready so I said NO (he freaked). Then we had dinner (ravioli and some baby carrots). He ate about 1/2 of an adult serving of ravioli, a full/large adult serving of carrots, and a cup of whole milk. He wanted more...I said NO...he freaked. See the pattern?
After we get out of the kitchen and engage in another activity, he seems to chill out, but if we're in the kitchen, he has to eat. We have battles like this every day.
I don't want to give him a complex about food or anything, but I don't want to foster bad eating habits. As a child, I was chubby and it's no fun. I haven't had a weight issue for a long time, but I want to spare my son from having any issues like that. Am I projecting my own fears onto him? Should I just stop worrying about the food thing? Am I crazy? :huh:
For instance, yesterday I picked him up from the sitter (where he has a snack about 3:00ish) and he wanted a snack at home (about 5:00pm). So I give him some cheerios to snack on while I make dinner (about 1/2 cup). He ate those and came back for more. I gave him a handful. He ate those and came back again. At this point, dinner was almost ready so I said NO (he freaked). Then we had dinner (ravioli and some baby carrots). He ate about 1/2 of an adult serving of ravioli, a full/large adult serving of carrots, and a cup of whole milk. He wanted more...I said NO...he freaked. See the pattern?
After we get out of the kitchen and engage in another activity, he seems to chill out, but if we're in the kitchen, he has to eat. We have battles like this every day.
I don't want to give him a complex about food or anything, but I don't want to foster bad eating habits. As a child, I was chubby and it's no fun. I haven't had a weight issue for a long time, but I want to spare my son from having any issues like that. Am I projecting my own fears onto him? Should I just stop worrying about the food thing? Am I crazy? :huh:
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