Your preschooler eats lunch, then 20 minutes later claims to be hungry. Is it OK to offer a little something? Maybe yes, maybe no. Here's why:
Around the preschool years, many kids start to use the word "hungry" to express other feelings such as boredom, loneliness, sadness, or other emotions they don't understand or can't name. Using food to relieve sadness, for instance, will establish the connection between food and feelings other than hunger. Over time, that can be increasingly hard to undo. And it won't address the underlying reason for the sadness or another emotion, either.
If your child complains of hunger, take a minute to gently ask questions to see what's really going on: "What have you been doing?" or "Would you like me to come play with you for a while?" If your child quickly forgets about a snack, you'll know they were in search of your attention or just looking for something to do. If the hunger complaints continue, you probably have a hungry kid on your hands.
It's wise for parents to talk to kids about what it means to be hungry and what it means to be full. Most of us are born with the ability to gauge our body's need for food, but over time we can learn to ignore these signals, which may contribute to weight gain.
Kids who truly understand when they're hungry — or full — can better regulate how much food to eat. Not surprisingly, kids who don't recognize when they're full are more likely to be overweight.
Here are some ways to encourage kids' awareness of when they're full:
The average preschooler eats 3 meals a day plus 2 or 3 snacks. But given the chance, many would choose to snack all day long. Kids who "graze" like this might never feel hungry for a regular meal.
It's important to discourage grazing because:
A regular routine of meals and snacks helps discourage grazing, and kids like it because they know what to expect. For example, if kids start to feel hungry during story time, it helps when they also know that it's always snack time afterward. And a child who doesn't feel hungry when it's time for an afternoon snack knows it's OK to skip it because dinner is just around the corner.
On very active days, though, it's perfectly normal for kids to be extra-hungry and need more than usual to eat. On those days, be flexible if your child wants an extra snack or eats more at mealtime.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date Reviewed: Nov 14, 2021