Children and Appetite Control

Parents often worry their young children are not getting enough to eat. But in the first years of life children appear to be quite capable of eating exactly what they need; they will eat more food at one meal when hungry and less at the next if they do not need it. But by age four or five, children exposed to foods rich in sugar, fat and salt may lose that ability to balance food intake and if they develop a taste for chips and cookies when young they can start a lifetime of overeating.

To help your child manage his or her food intake keep sweet and salty foods in their place. Limit foods with a lot of sugar such as sweetened beverages (soda, fruit drinks) to special occasions such as a birthday party and serve desserts such as cookies, candy, pudding and ice cream in small portions and usually as part of a meal not at snack time. To prevent eating out of boredom have your child eat in one designated area such as the kitchen, to prevent hunger allow your child to eat as much as he or she needs at a meal just make sure the meals includes at least three and maybe four items that include a fruit or vegetable or both.

Because we live in a world where food is so plentiful you must make a plan to help your child maintain healthy eating instincts. To do this serve predictable meal, sit down with your child at meal times and eat a variety of good food yourself.