Mealtime can be one of the most strenuous times of the day around our household. The kids are hungry and complaining a half hour before I even start dinner. After reading several articles on child hood eating habits and experimenting with my own kids I have found kids are natural mealtime grazers. Let me explain.
As each tiny newborn entered our house, they were put on a three hour feeding schedule until they could sleep through the night. Some parents choose to feed newborns on demand. The point is babies eat often.
When I ran a childcare center for infants to age twelve, the USDA regulated how often we offered food to the kids. Their rule was every three hours no matter what the age. We had to offer them food. They didn’t have to eat but the option was there.
Did you catch the similarity in eating every three hours?
Suppose I ate every three hours. How many meals would I be eating? Depending on sleep patterns, that would require five to six meals per day. But the typical American diet contains only three meals a day, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. When and why do we transition them to this pattern? Is it the best for them? Is it the best for us?
Now lets take that tip from our tiny ones. Remember the fussiness that accompanies a hungry tummy? “A child’s demeanor often parallels her eating patterns. Parents often notice that a toddler’s behavior deteriorates toward the end of the morning or mid-afternoon. Notice the connection? Behavior is at its worst the longer they go without food. Grazing minimizes blood-sugar swings and lessens the resulting undesirable behavior.” www.askdrsears.com
And Dr. Tim Reynolds says “Eating more often with less food makes sense no matter how old you are. It raises insulin levels less, which allows you to keep hormonal changes in better balance. If you eat six small meals a day, you will also be less hungry when you do eat. This means you will have a much better chance of eating nutritious foods instead of reaching for something high in sugar.”
From personal experience letting my kids have small meals more often in the day has made for a much happier home. My kids are much more content, less whiny, and that makes for a happier mom!
To your health,
Coach Nancy
Comments on this entry are closed.