While you will have to stick to a regular meal plan with older children, preschoolers tend to be very energetic, and their energy needs are fairly high. He’s probably very busy playing, and with all that growing to do, his body needs more calories than you’d think. Your child’s appetite is a barometer of what those needs are, and if he’s telling you he’s hungry, then that means his body needs more fuel. Not to mention that your child is likely to be moody, unhappy and cranky when he’s hungry.
While sticking to a meal schedule is more convenient for you, it’s not always possible, and if your child is hungry, then it’s perfectly okay to give him a snack – as long as it won’t interfere with his meals! Establishing a schedule also means that you will be able to eat together, as a family, and that his hunger pangs will be more predictable – and not at inconvenient times, like the middle of his preschool day!
Be flexible about snacks and meals, but keep these general rules in mind:
Don’t let your child snack too near to mealtimes – it will interfere with his appetite.
Always offer healthy snacks. Rather than chips, cookies or other treats, offer fruit, vegetables, cheese, wholegrain sandwiches and so on.
Make sure that your child understands the importance of eating healthy food. Make a food pyramid together, and explain that healthy food makes you grow big and strong.
Make sure that your child sits down to meals with the family, even if he says he’s not hungry. Eating together is as much about bonding and communicating as a family as it is about eating, so make sure your child is present.
Children can also have higher metabolisms than others – even others their own age. So while asking for food may seem like attention seeking to you, there’s a good chance that your child is genuinely hungry, and as long as his snacks aren’t interfering with the rest of his meals, feel free to give him food when he asks for it.
While sticking to a meal schedule is more convenient for you, it’s not always possible, and if your child is hungry, then it’s perfectly okay to give him a snack – as long as it won’t interfere with his meals! Establishing a schedule also means that you will be able to eat together, as a family, and that his hunger pangs will be more predictable – and not at inconvenient times, like the middle of his preschool day!
Be flexible about snacks and meals, but keep these general rules in mind:
Don’t let your child snack too near to mealtimes – it will interfere with his appetite.
Always offer healthy snacks. Rather than chips, cookies or other treats, offer fruit, vegetables, cheese, wholegrain sandwiches and so on.
Make sure that your child understands the importance of eating healthy food. Make a food pyramid together, and explain that healthy food makes you grow big and strong.
Make sure that your child sits down to meals with the family, even if he says he’s not hungry. Eating together is as much about bonding and communicating as a family as it is about eating, so make sure your child is present.
Children can also have higher metabolisms than others – even others their own age. So while asking for food may seem like attention seeking to you, there’s a good chance that your child is genuinely hungry, and as long as his snacks aren’t interfering with the rest of his meals, feel free to give him food when he asks for it.
