What Does Your 3 or 4 Year Old Eat for Breakfast?

Too much sugar (even natural will cause hunger). Think beyond breakfast for food - my TEENAGERS generally have non breakfast items in the a.m. which can keep them going thru the day.

Some yummy suggestions we eat: Rice w/chick peas (we eat it cold, but you may want to heat it up in a pan). I make a HUGE batch on the weekend and the kids eat this combo like a savored treat.

Veggie pancakes (I use potato as the base and add shredded carrots, onions, green peppers, spinach etc.) Make on the weekend a large batch and put in toaster oven in the a.m. for a "hearty and healthy" breakfast. (mine add salsa, ketchup or hot sauce to the top).

Beans and rice (I made a large batch last night for dinner and it's gone in one sitting, but also a great alternative in the a.m.).

Not sure if you are vegan, but when I'm feeling "lazy" about the week ahead, I put together a quiche and throw everything leftover in it (so it's packed w/veggies) and the kids grab and go.

Skip the juice and switch to herb tea's (without sugar). I have a ton of fresh mint, sage and rosemary all year long, so I infuse with Organic black and green teas - the kids like the Mint the best. I buy juice on occassion - but we generally drink herb tea's and water (to stay away from the sugar).

Being a "former" vegatarian of 18 years, I really had to watch the natural sugars from fruit - I found over the years that veggies keep the kids a bit more on balance in the a.m.

Good luck - and have fun mixing up the breakfast routine (you'll love it really).

Hi L.,

My little one is only 2.5 and has always been a fussy eater BUT weekend breakfast is always much bigger than the weekdays. His weekend breakfast is usually 2 (med/lg) pancakes with compote and sometimes a yogurt, along with a full glass of milk. He is not fat (only 5th percentile) so we are more concerned that he does not get enough. Our pediatrician says that they will eat what they need and if worried to supplement with a vitamin. We have found, though, that the addition of a protein source (other than yogurt) fills him up more and he seems much more active and healthy. My thought is to try some more protein in the morning and less carbs like waffles. Maybe some peanut butter or cheese. Morningstar farms has nice ginger rice cakes that we eat, and we always make smoothies with soy/whey protein added.
Good Luck!
S.

Keep feeding her as long as its healthy. And give her protein filled foods, like eggs and meat. I understand that you are a vegetarian but don't make the choice for her. She needs sources of high protein and iron. And do more reading about giving children soy products, I've done my own research and found that it's not very good for them. Glad to hear she is so active, so many aren't and congrats on graduating with 2 babies and a husband, I've been there and its work!

Hi L.,

Oh, your note struck a cord. My daughter nursed almost every hour & as she got older & ate food, she would want to eat all day long. She is now 15 & is still a grazer... which is actually very healthy.

One of the things that worked best was to DAILY put out a tray of various foods at her low reach level... ex: cheese, crackers, canned green beans, cut fruit, cut veggies, dip, & a sippy cup of water. I would suggest to other parents that when she visited, that they may want to do the same; Otherwise she would drive them crazy asking for food & sweets. We still continue this routine today. And now I need to make sure there is something healthy & substantial for when she arrives home from school... a bowl of soup... or salad...or the tray.

Now for breakfast, since age 2, my kids have always had a Shaklee Protein Drink, mixed with Oj , Soy Milk, or Milk, (plus their vitamins). Often I add frozen fruit to this in the blender. One child often asks for this again before or after her sports. If they want anything else for breakfast with this, they can have what they want for I know they have already gotten great nutrition to start the day! Today a large daily breakfast would typically be Protein Drink, 1/2 banana, oatmeal, vitamins.

It seems your child is eating great for breakfast, especially since it is the most important meal of the day. She has all day to burn it off. Just don't let her get caught up in a day long cycle of carbs such as sweets, crackers that are NOT whole grain, cereal, etc. Keep that to a minimum.

If you keep that tray out for several hours, you may want to put a bag of ice under it, or put on a chill platter. The food tray also worked very well on vacations. The kids would come in from playing & food wold be waiting for them. Other parents couldn't believe that their kids would eat certain vegetables. But if that is what is out, & they are starved, hey! Sometimes that is what works!

What do you think?

(Congratulations on getting your degree while raising a family!!!)

D. M. Focht

"Shaklee -Creating Healthier Lives & Environment"

click on: www.Shaklee.net/Focht

______________________________________________

L.,

I'm glad to see someone else has a big eater. I too was concerned about my 4 year old twins and their eating habits. Mallory can down a waffle, 1/2 cup of whole milk yogurt, 7 or 8 strawberries, and be hungry in 2 hours. My NP told me not to worry about it; she said generally kids don't have the bad eating habits that we adults do (eating out of boredom, overeating, etc). She also suggested that I let the girls serve themselves; they take a smaller serving that way (but it also assists in the development of self help skills). I've seen one of my kids down 2 chicken fajitas at a sitting.

My daughter is tiny, but boy can she put away the food. Her most favorite breakfast is two scrambled eggs, a biscuit with preserves and a vegetarian sausage patty. She will also eat two pancakes or waffles along with some fresh fruit, or two small bowls of cereal and fruit. This is her usual breakfast, varied through the week.

I think its good to figure out first if she's eating out of boredom or because she is just burning through the calories. My daughter will eat about 5-7 times a day, small snacks in between the bigger meals. As long as she's getting mostly healthy snacks like veggies and fresh fruits I dont worry about it.

My daughter, who turned five last month, also loves to eat. I am thrilled about this because her older brother has never enjoyed food and is underweight as a result. Sometimes I do worry that she is eating too much, but she is also active and not overweight. I find that she tends to eat more right before she has a growth spurt. I will notice her eating a lot and gaining a little weight, and within a few weeks she will have grown significantly and will have thinned out again.

When I read your list of food that your daugther eats for breakfast, I smiled because it reminded me of my own sweet child. I also have two other friends with daughters who are now six who loved to eat (and were a little chubby) as preschoolers and have now thinned out and do not want food as much as they used to. They just grew out of the need for so much food. I think that it may be developmental and perfectly normal.

We focus so much on food and weight as adults, we forget that children are born with a healthy sense of hunger and fullness. We need to encourage that natural instinct.

As long as she is a healthy weight, I would feed her when she requests food. Every book that I have read said that you should feed young children (something healthy) when they request food. This teaches them to trust their hunger instinct, which will also guide them to stop eating when they are full. As a result, it prevents the development of unhealthy attitudes toward food. So, relax...your daughter is a normal and healthy preschool girl! :)

I agree with the moms who told you to offer more protein. I know you just mentioned what she eats for breakfast, but I noticed it doesn't include any real protein - except for the yogurt and I'm not sure how much protein is in that. You also want to be careful about giving growing girls too much soy, since it has estrogen in it. It's great that you are a vegetarian but it is very hard for a growing child to get enough of the vitamins and nutrients they need on a vegetarian diet. I'm sure you know that, but it could be why she seems to always be hungry. I'm sorry, I know several people who tried raising their children on vegetarian diets and it didn't always go so well. You may need to work harder at giving her a balanced diet - and don't worry about the grazing, as one mom said it is actually healthier to eat that way. Good luck.

Try giving her something a bit more filling, my son ()4 years old) eats a fairly big bowl of Cheerios, a whole banana and a BIG glass of milk, sometimes he eats more, sometimes less. He isn't overweight, just active. I say let her eat till she is full. Unless she says she is done and then wants to start over after you have put everything away. Now for that I would say she could wait till a mid morning snack. If she was in daycare that is what would happen. I made the mistake of letting my old kids, when they were around that age just eat whenever they wanted, that makes for a hassle at meal times and when they get into school or daycare it can be a major adjustment.
Good luck!

My son who is four is also a big breakfadt eater. He will eat tw waffles, a bowl of cereal or oatmeal, yogurt if we have it and still ask for more. But he does not eat much the rest of the day only breakfast. I think as long as she is not gaining weight quickly it should be fine. If her body was not using the food she would be goinin weight.

Sounds like she's just hungry. She is growing constantly and will have times when she wants to, and should, eat more than normal because she's experiencing growth spurts. As long as she's eating healthy let her eat. If you have her on your vegetarian diet make sure she is getting enough protein and fat. Her brain and body need both. As active as she is it's no wonder she is constantly snacking. :)

Maybe someone mentioned protein already because I saw your comment about eggs. What about putting peanut butter on that toaster waffle instead of jelly? And/or let her have a second waffle. My little ones (oldest same age as your oldest and a two year old) always ask for a second waffle. My kids also like bagels with cream cheese and "snack mix" (cheerios, peanuts, and craisins--which is great for any time I need them to eat in the car). Good luck!

I agree with you on the protein issue. She's getting plenty.

It really does vary from kid to kid. My son, at that age, just ate a yogurt and that was it. But they had snacks pretty soon at daycare.

I agree with the idea of just giving her plenty at breakfast and wait until she acts full before quitting.

One thought I had was is she sleeping well? Is she getting plenty of uninterrupted sleep? Often kids can confuse tiredness with hunger.

My children eat one of these each day: oatmeal, cereal, mini waffles (about 8) or two large waffles, mini pancakes (about 8), or toast. I would try a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of wheat toast. The fiber should fill her up. I would also suggest milk to drink to help fill her. You could give her a side of cheerios when she is done with no milk. Maybe she eats when she is bored, or maybe she is going through a growth spurt. I would tell her that you need to sit at the table until you are full and then once you leave the table, you can come back in two hours for a snack.

It is healthy to eat 6 times a day so maybe she can eat two hours later and have fruit and yogurt.

Good luck!

Try finding things that have more protein in them. I have found that eating things high in protein curb the appetite a bit more. Eggs, peanjut butter. I have some great Nutrilite protein bars and meal replacement drinks my daughter loves. Your daughter being so active, she might need to eat often, but try the protein. I have even found that when I started buying the "good" dog food for my dogs, they don't beg for food anymore. They are satisfied until the next feeding. That is when I reallly realized what protein does for the body. Hope that helps.
P.
www.pbarnard.qhealthzone.com

You may want to add some kind of protein to her breakfast. What you have listed sounds good but burns quickly. Eggs are a great source of protein but of course you don't want to overdo those. Some others I saw listed somewhere are:
* Canadian bacon

* Cheese wedge

* Egg substitutes

* Herring in tomato sauce

* Lowfat cottage cheese

* Nuts added to cereal

* Salmon, smoked

* Steak (last night's leftovers)

* Turkey sausage

* Whitefish, smoked

* Yogurt

Now some of those things I don't even think I'd eat, LOL, much less a 3yo for breakfast. We cook bacon and that seems filling as well.

You can google pediatric nutrition information and find ideas for filling and delicious breakfasts (and other meal) that might help with her constant hunger. Small children burn a lot of calories, their little bodies are in constant motion and growing. So don't worry about overfeeding her but you also don't want her to start to fear you're going to withhold food and have issues on that end of it.

This looks like good information...I skimmed it:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlernutrit...

I would suggest a book like "Child of MIne: Feeding With Love and Good Sense" by Ellyn Satter if you're still worried about this. She explains a LOT about our worries about giving our kids too much and those kinds of issues. She also explains a plan for having meals and snacks that sounds sensible to me and also cuts down on in-between-time grazing if that bothers you. But of course, you know your own child and family best so you know best what will and won't work for you! Best of luck.

Is she drinking enough water? So many times I myself feel hungry and realize I'm actually thirsty. But kids are growing so fast at this age. I'd let her eat whatever she wants as long as she's at a healthy weight. The breakfast you described sounds like a good healthy breakfast to me!

If she isn't overweight, she isn't overeating. She's probably going through a growth spurt, esp. if this hasn't been a habit ever since she started table foods. My daughter would suddenly eat more, plump up a little, then have a noticeable height spurt. As long as you're offering the healthy foods you mention, I wouldn't be concerned. Children will pretty much eat what they need.

Hi,
I have a daughter who is now 5, but we have had the same problem with her since she was about 3. What we ended up having do was give her cups of water between meals. Sometimes she says she is still hungry, but we just give her a glass of water. She would ask for 3rd helpings and then some at every meal. Her doctor told us it was normal too, but she is about twice the size of a normal 5 year old now. She hasn't been as hungry with water between meals. Hope this helps.
S.

My daughter who is 5 now eats the same as when she was 3-4:
--A big glass of milk
--Some fruit (like a banana, some cut up apple, fruit cup, etc)
--Scrambled eggs (1.5)
--a homemade muffin
--a piece of ham or similar (poached salmon, etc)

That is at 8:30. At 10 am she needs a snack.

Maybe you should try feeding her a little heavier or add more to what you are already feeding her for breakfast, Especially since she is so active. Can she eat eggs? If so, you could add an egg along with the toaster waffle, or cheese toast with an egg. It could be a matter of adding more or just changing what she is eating to be more filling for her. But kids no matter what they eat, usually still want a snack shortly after a meal. Mother of 3 grown kids, were very active and on weekends ate heavy breakfast and still ask for snacks minutes after eating.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and she has all day to burn it, so I'd let her eat her weight in healthy foods! My six year old daughter, who is 4 feet tall and weighs a mere 48 lbs, can put away 11 silverdollar pancakes, bacon, fruit, juice, yogurt, and milk.... (and has eaten like this since she as 3) The rest of the day her meals are smaller, but I think a substantial breakfast is a healthy habit to start. It's the bedtime snack that could turn into the devil..

Hello, L.. I have a 4/5 year old son who also likes to "snack" all day long. He is 4 now but will be five in June. He also eats well and is very active throughout the day. He eats 3 square meals each day as well as 2-3 snacks each day. He is always asking for a snack though. I have only recently been able to stay at home with him full time, so he thinks the snacks are fun, I suppose. Has there been a change in the amount of or what kind of snacks your daughter has been getting? Maybe she also thinks that snacks are fun and wants them frequently. I have been telling my son that if he doesn't eat is regular meals, then he does not get a snack. Though he occassionally whines for snacks throughout the day, I have managed to change the subject and encourage him to do an activity so that he is not thinking about the snack. If you do receive some good advice from other moms, please let me know what you find out. I do hope this information is at least a little helpful. Good luck.

I would add more protein to her diet. This web site is geared towards kids but I like it because it will give you foods kids will eat! And when you read down it tells you how much she will need too. Sounds like she is pretty healthy and active. It wouldn't hurt to make sure she is getting enough calories to meet all those sports!
http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/protein.html

I think she eats a great breakfast! My son only eats one waffle which he usually doesn't finish and a glass of orange juice. He's just not hungry in the morning. He eats a very large lunch and dinner. Perhaps your daughter is more hungry in the morning and not so hungry later in the day? Maybe she's going through a growth spurt? When she asks for a snack, does she want a healthy one? Perhaps giving her a choice of carrots or fruit for a snack will help. That way she is eating something healthy when hungry. If she is busy playing, does she still ask for a snack? I guess only you will know if it's from boredom or if she's truly healthy.

I had one snacker, one meal oriented child. For our snacker we kept small containers of grapes and large containers of green salad which he could eat at any time during the day. My feeling was if he was truly hungry, those foods would satisfy him between meals and if was just bored and wanting to eat, he'd not eat them.

The one thing I might suggest is upping the fiber and protein. I don't know how much protein is in the yogurt you gave, I have never used that brand, but the average toaster waffle is not very nutrious and may not be keeping her filled. How about a slice of 12 grain bread with some peanut butter (or good, real cheese if peanuts are an issue in your home) on it and the other items you listed instead? That blend of complex carbohydrates and protein will help them feel full, longer. I know with my own snacker if a meal had those elements present he would go two or three hours before a snack (he'd normally snack between lunch and dinner, but sometimes after breakfast).

HTH!

I have a 3 & a 4yr old they will eat more than that for breakfast especially, and neither of mine are anywhere chubby at all. thier breakfast is usually a bowl of cereal w/ milk , some fruit apple, banana or strawberries..... and juice or kids yogurt drink ... when they have toaster waffles they will usually eat 1 1/2 - 2 each
If your child is not having weight issues then her apptite generally does mean she is hungry - growing kids need fuel for their systems - if she is active as you say she is burning a lot off and needs a refil

Our 3 year old eats an organic breakfast bar(that has tons of vitamins, protein and fiber, 180 cal) in the morning and does not ask for snack for 2 hours......but he is not a breakfast kind of guy:) If your daughter is very active, she just runs her breakfast out very fast. If she snacks on healthy things, it would be just fine.

It might be that she needs more protein in the morning instead of mostly carbs.

To me growing bodies need to eat to keep up with their activites.When my boys were younger..and still to this day 16yr & 17ys later..I never limited what they could eat..well none of the good healthy food.Junk food was a treat.I always had fresh fruit,veggies,crackers any thing good for them in their reach so when they were hungry they could get it.The rule was only one piece or package at a time.I never had any waste and the boys didnt whine at me for being hungry.We were all happy..

One thing though I have had your daughter checked for tape worm?No matter where you live its possible to get this if your child plays outside and if she has a worm it could be taking all the nutrients from her for it.You can go to your CVS/WAlgreens and pick up meds for this..if she doesnt have any worms it wont hurt her and if she does they will die and come out..good luck..
S. B

My 5 year old is the same way. She eats a lot early in the day and a good but not huge dinner. I have found that when she does not eat for long periods she gets very ill. She can go hours w/out sleep but not food. I just think it is her body needing the energy. Just make sure she snacks healthy (grapes, carrots, yogurt) and I think all will be fine.

My boys eat dry cereal in the morning, 2 bowls each. And not little bowls either, the regular bowls full. Then they eat a pb&j sandwich with a banana for lunch, then some cookies or cheese curls for a snack then a regular dinner. They are the skiniest kids!! They are almost 3 and 5 years old. If your lil girl is still hungry, give her a bowl a dry cereal to snack on until lunch. If this keeps her from eating her lunch, don't give her as much. Kids have smaller stomachs than us adults, which means they eat less and their stomachs empty faster than ours do. They really do need to eat every 3 hours to keep from going hungry. If you're worried about her calorie intake, don't put jelly on her waffles; cut back on sweets whenever you can. The great thing about kids is they are more active then us adults and they burn off more calories then we do. Don't feel guilty about giving her cereal as long as it's low in calories and high in fiber and whole grains. If she refuses to eat the cereal, tell her that's all she's gonna get til lunch; she may change her mind.

L.,
It sounds like you're giving her all the healthy foods her little body needs. She should feel full longer if you give her more protein rich food and whole grains. I'm not sure if she has any food allergies, but have you tried a portion of chopped nuts over her yogurt? When I make pancakes or waffles, I substitute some whole wheat flour for white. Just some thoughts. Hope this helps!

Hi L., your little girl has a good appetite. Remember protein will stay longer. A grilled cheese or peanut butter and apple will stay longer. Try something other than carbs, and see if that works. Remember too, this snack thing may be her way of getting you up once again, and getting attention. First children are needy. I wonder if she had you doing something with her right after breakfast, like a book, game, or painting, if she would still keep asking for food.

Hi L.! Both my children are big morning (breakfast and after) eaters. Our kids are both pretty close to the same age ... my son was 3 in February, and my daughter just turned 16 months old.

My son goes through spells where he hardly eats for days, and then eats anything and everything in sight for a day or few. ;) I asked my pediatrician about it, and he said small children tend to eat the bulk of their daily food intake in the morning or early hours.

He said dinner is more of a "social" thing ... but that most children (I'm sure it varies ... but it's true for mine) will consume most of their food by lunch or before.

My children just eat and eat at breakfast and right after, and through lunch (healthy snacks, a nice balance of foods), but don't eat as much in the late afternoon or evening (even for dinner). I think they are just so active (I wish I had their energy most days), that their bodies just need to fuel up in the morning more than ours maybe to keep up! ;)

Sometimes I actually laugh about how much my kids eat before 9 or 10 a.m. ... but they eat good foods, are very active, and are both actually below average (both weight and height) compared to their peers ... my hubby and I just grow small kids! ;)

yes, what your daughter is doing is definitely normal. I have 3 grown and nearly grown boys and one baby that is almost 2 yrs. All of them have done that same thing. It sounds like she is eating healthy... that is half the battle. If she was overweight and eating UNhealthy stuff I would cut back on the snacks but as long as you give her good healthy snacks and she is burning energy like crazy from being so active, let her eat all day long if she wants to. I use to and still do just keep snacks out..... as long as it is healthy. Her being so hungry could be that she is burning so much energy being so active that it is her body telling her that she needs more. Your body has a way with knowing those things, kind of like ....have you ever wondered how cats and dogs know how to deliver babies?....the just know. Our bodies are like that also. Also she may be craving something particular that will curb her food craving. You know sometimes you just eat when you want something in particular, you just aren't sure what it is that you are craving. She could be that way too. Also, sometimes a lack of a particular vitamin can make you crave certain foods that have that vitamin in them. So make sure she gets her vitamins every day. That is a very good habit to get into now so she will carry that throughout her life because she is still growing and her brain cannot grow without the proper nutrition. And I hate to say this but the first one I never gave vitamins to. The other 2 took them religiously and they are very smart. The one that didn't have vitamins... bless his heart, he tries so hard but he just don't have the book smart like the other 2 do. I sware it is the vitamins that supplied their brains what they needed to be smart.
Anyway, it doesn't sound like she is over weight. Let her eat and then let her drink water most of the day. Keep it down where she can get it herself. Then keep nuts or cheese and crackers or lots and lots of fruit out and veggies and dip where she can have that. Then make a 'real time' snack at certain times and then that time you can give her an ice cream or cookie or coke or some kind of treat but definitely allow the healthy stuff all day if she wishes. If she eats constantly her metablolims will run constantly. She will appreciate that when she gets older.

Hi L.,

My 3 and a half year old daughter does the same thing. Unfortunately, she is overweight. When I asked my doctor why she would be hungry and asking for a snack 10 minutes after eating, he told me it could be anxiety. As adults we tend to overeat for the same reasons, including boredom. However, it sounds like your daughter is not bored. I know that any protein is supposed to help you feel full longer, so eggs would be a good choice. Egg whites only if you prefer. That is where all the protein is. Also, don't deprive her of any food.. everything in moderation. Maybe she is getting too many carbs for breakfast? Like the toaster waffle for example. Carbs fill us up fast, but don't last. I am going through the same thing, so I really wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I just thought I would share the advice our pediatrician gave us. Good Luck hon!!
S.

She sounds normal to me! I have a ten year old boy and he eats a ton more than I do. I understand you have a girl and she's much younger and there is a big difference there. But I've spent loads of time with kids as a child photographer, and many kids between 2(closer to 3) and 4 seem to eat constantly. I will do a three hour session with them and it will be hard to photograph them without something in their mouths. I remember my son eating, not eating, eating, not eating. They grow in spurts and need more food at different times. As long as you can keep it healthy for her -- whole foods, low to no refined foods -- and keep a clean attitude about it, I think she'll be fine (my opinion). There are some fabulous books out there regarding girls, body image food, childhood...but I can't remember the titles...google it?

Sounds to me like she's hungry and since she's eating well and not getting overweight - she's likely burning through the calories and needing more. Try something with more staying power - something like oatmeal and some protein based foods like cheese sticks or cottage cheese.