Is your child hungry or simply bored?

Is your child constantly hungry? Are they always peeping inside the fridge or rummaging through the kitchen pantry? Before falling for the: “Mom, I’m hungry” phrase, examine whether your child is really hungry or just bored!

Food is frequently used by children (as well as adults) for purposes other than hunger satisfaction. Children frequently eat as a result of their emotions and sentiments.

If your child is eating three well-balanced meals and one snack each day but still claims to be hungry, they may be wanting food for reasons other than hunger.

Reasons why children feel hungry, when they aren’t

Is it common for your child to grab food while they are experiencing any of the following?

• Boredom
• Depression
• Stress
• Frustration
• Insecurity
• Loneliness
• Fatigue
• Resentment
• Anger
• Happiness

Healthy substitutes

If you feel your child is eating because they are bored, you may need to redirect them to other activities as a diversion.

What you can do

Make sure your child gets three well-balanced meals and one snack every day. This will keep you from feeling hungry in between meals. All children, regardless of their age, can benefit from set meal times. When you set specific times for meals and snacks to occur, you naturally build non-eating gaps in your day, which helps kids tune into their hunger and fullness cues and thus differentiate between boredom and hunger.

Let them snack on raw veggies, fruit, microwave popcorn, vegetable soup, sugar-free gelatin, and fruit snacks. Snacks like chips and chocolate bars provide empty calories that will not fill your child up.

Discuss the importance of healthy snacks with your child. Make a list of healthy snacks on which you can both agree and keep them on hand.

Be sure your child’s meals include filling foods like fibre-rich whole grains, protein, and fruits and vegetables.

It’s not uncommon for thirst to be mistaken for hunger. Kids may get so caught up in playing that they forget to keep drinking, especially in hot weather. Ensure that your child drinks enough water every day.

Help your child choose activities other than eating, such as:

• Walking the dog
• Taking a jog through the sprinklers
• Playing badminton
• Kicking a soccer ball
• Making a painting
• Dancing in the lounge
• Planting a flower in the garden
• Flying a kite