Why does my 5 year old son eat so much?!
Why does my 5 year old son eat so much?
The other day he ate 4 corndogs and wanted more but i told him NO!! It seems like I cant keep him full. By 10:30 - 11:00 he wants to eat lunch..but they are on a schedule so i try not to break it. I made some hamburgers here at the house and he had 2 of them then half of his sisters too, I said thats it NO more and he was mad. The weirdest part is that he is sooo skinny he looks anorexic..!!
Answers:
The first thing that comes to mind here is nutrition. What is your son eating? Corndogs are mostly fats and starch, there's no nutritional value in a heavily processed food like this. If his diet is heavy on carbohydrates and starchy foods, then he's probably burning through them quickly and getting hungry.
Try giving him more lean protein and less carbs. Fill his diet up wth good foods like lean meats, yogurt, cheese and dairy, eggs, whole grain carbohydrates like whole wheat pasta and bread and multigrain hot cereals, also lots and lots of fruits and vegetables.
The increased protein and the fiber from the whole grain carbs and fruits and veggies should help to curb his appetitite and hold him over between meals. Also, increase the amount of water he's drinking. The recommendation for adults is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day to maintain optimal cellular functioning. So, if you weigh 140, you should be drinking about 70 ounces of water a day. Make sure your son's getting enough water. I'd cut out the juice and soda and make him drink milk and a lot of water throughout the day.
If you increase his protein intake and make sure he's getting a balanced diet and he still has an excvessive appetite, then you might consult your pediatrician and have your son checked for a thyroid condition. An overactive thyroid can lead to an excessive appetite. There are other medical conditions that can lead to excessive appetite as well, so it's worth having him checked out. I'd first start with the dietary modifications first and see if that has any effect. It's important to be mindful of his nutrient intake, not just his "food" intake.
Good luck!