Should children be able to snack whenever they want?

Extract from the archives: Is it OK for children to snack at any time of the day? It’s a question tackled by nutrition columnist Jennifer Bowden in 2018, but it remains as relevant as ever.
as young people settle into the new school year.

Question: Our grandchildren get snacks at all times of the day – after school, in the car, at the movies. If they report being hungry 15 minutes before a meal, they are given a snack – no one seems to worry if they can’t or won’t eat their own meal. Isn’t it good to have an empty stomach every now and then?

Answer: Children are born with an innate sense of knowing what, when and how much to eat for their own growth and development. So even though young children’s eating habits may outwardly appear haphazard – with piles of food eaten one day and almost nothing the next – their energy and nutrient intake invariably spreads out over several days to meet their needs, the researchers found. researchers.

Since young children have a strong connection to their appetite, what is the limit between requests to eat? The Division of Responsibility (DOR) is considered the gold standard in child feeding. Developed by registered dietitian and food expert Ellyn Satter, DOR encourages parents to show leadership in what, when and where to feed, while allowing the child to determine how much and whether to eat what you provide. Thus, gently teaching children to eat well.

From birth, it is recommended that babies be fed on demand, allowing them to find their own feeding time. However, as infants develop and become more consistent in their eating habits, the caregiver gradually takes responsibility for when and where feeding is done.

Most children are ready for a routine of meals and snacks with their families by the end of their first year or the beginning of second grade, according to the Ellyn Satter Institute. From this point on, the division of feeding responsibilities applies, throughout early childhood and adolescence, with parents and caregivers responsible for maintaining a family meal structure and sit-down snacks throughout these growing years.

Ideally, a routine of meals and light snacks every 2-4 hours is created, with snacks eaten at least 1.5-2 hours before main meals, especially by children, so as not to spoil the appetite . Having established snack times rather than eating all day allows your body to sense and respond to important signals of fullness and hunger. Additionally, grazing almost always disrupts family meals.

Obviously, all children are different when it comes to their eating habits. My oldest son always ate larger main meals and tended to snack rarely starting at age 1-2; whereas my youngest son always preferred smaller meals and took advantage of every opportunity given to him to snack.

Regardless, we as parents should ideally create a good snack and mealtime routine and ensure that these are sit-down occasions with food served on a plate and without any distractions (such as television or telephone). Keep in mind, however, that flexibility is also required to accommodate changes in appetite resulting from growth spurts or increased energy needs.

Every parent will have experienced the phenomenon of a child’s seemingly bottomless belly during a growth spurt. Rather than questioning the child’s request for more food at mealtimes, our role, according to the DOR model, is simply to provide appropriate foods at the appropriate times and trust our child to eat enough to meet its more or less significant energy needs.

Just like main meals, the goal of snacking for adults and children is to focus on nutrient-dense whole foods, rather than processed snacks. So whether it’s fruits, vegetables, nuts, wholemeal breads or crackers, yogurt or milk, an interesting variety is always a good idea.

DOR Guidelines for Parents:

Choose and prepare food.

Plan regular meals and snacks.

Make meal times pleasant.

Step by step, show your child by example how to behave during family meals.

Pay attention to your child’s lack of food experience without taking into account their likes and dislikes.

Do not let your child eat or drink (except water) between meals and snacks.

Let your child grow into the body that is right for him.

Trust your child to:

Eat the amount they need.

Learn to eat the food you eat.

Expand predictably, in the way that works for them.

Learn to behave well at mealtimes.

Source: Ellyn Satter Institute.

This story was originally published in the March 3, 2018 edition of the New Zealand Listener.