Growing children need nutrients—I get it. But, why oh why do I feel like a short order cook most of the time? It’s like the kitchen never closes at my house. There are always requests for juice or water or snacks or another lunch (I swear they ask for lunch twice all the time). Now, I don’t always indulge their requests, but that doesn’t stop the asking.
I’ve tried everything I can think of to curb the appetite. I’ve offered only vegetables for snacks. And, I’ve raised a kid that will always eat more broccoli. I’ve offered nothing but fruit. And, she willingly eats that too. I’ve offered yogurt, dried fruits and lots of healthy stuff. She nearly always eagerly accepts. I know that she isn’t burning off that many calories, but I don’t know how to stop the asking.
Again, I say no to snacks A LOT! It’s not that I don’t feed her at regular times. We have a relatively set schedule. Granted that schedule varies by the day and her schedule of activities, but it is a schedule. I try to make sure our meals offer plenty of vegetables and protein so she is full. I have no idea how to stop the urge to snack.
What I know for sure is that I’m sick of playing kitchen police all of the time. I can’t even begin to count all of the times I say “no” throughout the day—or how much worse it would be if I didn’t work all day.
My name is Mom. I live in Fairy Tale Land with a Pirate, a Fairy and the Princess. My job duties include: head cook, Chief Executive of Laundry Operations, Vacuum Maintenance Engineer, Chief of Picking up Random objects and Primary Sherpa. I spend a great deal of time carrying sparkly, sequined, glitter covered tutus and miscellaneous dance shoes for the Princess. I long for moments of quiet and a mani/pedi. Trying to strike a balance between being a grown up and being a good mom.
Ha! I have a friend who has an “anyttime” drawer in the fridge and in the pantry. Her boys know what’s in the there is ok to eat at anytime, and when it’s gone, it’s gone (Idk if it’s daily or every other day that she restock). May be a way to teach the girl how to pace herself!!!
Oh, Michelle – that’s brilliant! That would be a little harder for me, with 3 kids on full feed, but I wonder if I could give them each their own “anytime” snack space. Likely, Lorelai would just eat everyone else’s when hers was empty, but it might be worth a try.
[…] out of control. There’s breakfast, of course. Then, second breakfast. Followed by lunch. And, second lunch. Plus, the afternoon snack. I’m amazed they’re actually hungry by the time dinner rolls […]