My son won't stop eating?

Question

My son is 9yrs old and weighs 86lbs and is almost 5ft tall. He has the biggest appetite ever. He is a lil chunky but not too bad,we do make sure that he's active like sports and activities. He just eats so much is he going through a growing phase or what? When he asks for food he asks for chips or junk food (which is normal for a child). and the other day we were dancing around the living room for light excercise and instead of getting a drink of water he grabbed a banana. I tell him to eat fruit when he wants a snack, but when your'e excercising shouldn't you get a drink instead of a snack? And at dinner time before he's even half way done he asks if he can have seconds. He eat's the same amount as my husband does. I guess my question is am I depriving him of food or is he eating way too much and just eating because it's there?

Answer 1

I would get rid of the junk food. He doesn't need it. He needs to learn how to eat right as a kid, so he continues to eat right as an adult. Eating 6 small meals is better than eating 3 traditional American meals. Ups metabolism more often, so we burn more.

When hes eating at dinner, make sure he is taking his time eating, it takes time for our stomach to tell our brain we a full. Teach him, not to eat till he's stuffed, but until he's satisfied. Dinner should not be a feast, it should be just enough to last till morning.  Maybe add more fruit to dinner time. That way he has the sensation of "eating a lot", but its good for him and not high in calorie, and has a lot of water in it.  Just a thought, really talk to his doctor if you are concerned.

Breakfast is the most important, and best time to eat the biggest meal, because you have more time to burn it off.

Answer 2

He's probably just growing. I know that as I get older, I eat more, and by the time I was 12, I was eating as much as my parents. Do not worry about his weight, though. It is normal for a kid of his height and age to weigh as much as 98 pounds.

Answer 3

Sounds normal to me, just make sure he gets atleast an hour of exercise a day. :)

Answer 4

hes probably just going through a growth spurt, just keep him active and he should be fine

Answer 5

Keep the junk food out of the house and cook healthy. As long he eats healthy and well balanced food he should be fine. Talk to his pediatrician if you are worried. My 3 year old son eats as much of more than my 6 year old daughter. I witnessed this kind of eating behavior growing up as well.

Answer 6

Sounds normal, he's growing. This ended for my younger brother at about age 20. Especially while playing sports he would go through food like it was nothing.

Keep the snacks healthy, and meals healthy. Fruit, veggies, lean meats and low fat cheese for snacks, and lots of water and fat free/low fat milk. The more water the better. Don't offer junk because it doesn't help with curbing the appetite it's usually full of empty carbs and sodium which dehydrates you and makes you feel hungrier.

Answer 7

If he is going lots of exercise it is normal to be hungry, because he is burning calories.. But I will suggest you to serve him a ligth dinner and no later than 7:30 pm. so by the time he goes to bed he is not full, and serve him just enough so he can be satisfied not full.. Also make sure he drink planti of water or gatorade and limit the cokes and juices... Fruits and vegetables are important in a daily menu. Also lower the flour tortillas, corn tortillas , bread and greasy foods. I am not saying not to eat them just lower the amount.. Continue with the excercise and even dance is a really good excercise.Don't worry this will not make you a bad mommy because you are taking care of him ...:)   `

Answer 8

the best thing is to check his body mass index regularly so that he wont be over wight but yea that sound healthy to me 86lbs and almost 5 feet.