Growing up, kids require sufficient nutrition for overall physical and mental development. But does that mean that it is fine if toddlers are always hungry? Should they should eat all the time? That’s a big No! Overeating is a major problem among toddlers; in fact, almost 20% of children in the US are obese.
So, it’s not wrong if you worry about your kid’s weight. But why is your toddler always hungry? This guide will help you identify the possible reasons behind it and find out if it is normal for your kid to eat so much.
Why Is Your Child Hungry?
Several factors are at play if your child feels hungry all the time, usually more than the normal children of his age. Here are the reasons.
1. Your toddler’s experiencing a growth spurt
Your kid’s appetite fluctuates differently throughout different phases of growing up. That’s why toddlers may tend to eat very little food one day and loads of it the very next day. However, when your little one hits a growth spurt, you will notice a sudden uptick in their appetite, which often seems even hard to satisfy.
To tackle parenting challenges like managing the increased appetite in children, offer them a diet rich in protein and calcium. It’ll support their growing bones and fulfill the nutritional requirements. This will also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Stock up on nourishing foods like nut butter, whole grains, avocado, and cheese to ensure your child has healthy options whenever they’re hungry.
2. They link food with comfort
Just like the adults, your toddler may also be facing emotional eating issues, a kind of disordered eating behavior. Whether raising boys or girls, if your kid turns to food whenever they’re upset, stressed, or anxious, then they may be eating due to emotional reasons.
However, it is prudent to mention that it may not necessarily be bad, but it can quickly become a problem if your kid makes it the only way to deal with any emotion. To cope with your toddler’s disordered eating behavior, you can come up with things that you and your child can do together instead of eating, like urge them to walk or run more.
3. The food they have may not be filling enough
Another major reason behind your toddler’s constant feeling of hunger may be the wrong kind of food. You may be thinking that you have been providing them with kid food like crackers, fruit snacks, sweet granola bars, etc., so why is my toddler always hungry?
While so-called ‘kid foods’ are filled with calories, they aren’t hunger-satisfying, which is why your baby is always hungry even after eating them. Therefore, make sure you include protein, veggies, fruits, and fiber-rich whole grains in your toddler’s diet. It is not necessary to completely cut off the snacks. Just reduce their serving portion and satisfy your kid’s hunger with better alternatives.
4. Your kid may be feeling deprived
It is a common practice for the parents of obese kids to restrict the mealtime of their hungry children. However, such practices backfire very often, and you may fail to control your child’s increasing weight. If your child is not allowed to have snacks or sweets, they will eat uncontrollably more whenever they get a chance. It may develop a habit of overeating.
If your toddler is always hungry, it’s important to let them decide when they’re done eating. If you restrict your own meals but overindulge in desserts, there’s a good chance your child will mimic these habits. So, to raise a child correctly, you first need to understand how to become a better mom.
5. Your kid may be mistaking thirst with hunger
It might be surprising, but children often confuse thirst with hunger. They spend hours playing, drawing, watching TV, and doing other activities, sometimes forgetting to drink water. Because their brains are still developing, they misinterpret thirst signals as hunger.
If you feel like your toddler is always hungry, give them a water bottle instead of a heavy lunch. Explain to them that sometimes thirst can feel like hunger.
Controlling the eating habits of your kid
While your toddler may constantly nag around asking for something to eat, it is important to control your kid’s eating habits to ensure that they are not overeating. Here’s what you can do to ensure that you are feeding your kid correctly.
- Replace junk food with healthy snacks like veggies, fruits, and other nutritional foods. Do this not only for your kid but yourself, too. It will set an example for your kid.
- Do not force your toddler to clean the plate, as it may lead to eating problems like obesity and overeating.
- Make sure your tot has a healthy breakfast in the morning to ensure that they get essential nutrients.
- Schedule snack time for your kid, and do not offer snacks more than twice during the day.
- Encourage your kid to indulge in physical activities like swimming, running, bicycling, etc. It will allow them to burn calories and prevent obesity.
- Don’t give them screens while eating. It will make them eat mindlessly.
- Don’t force bites or use food as a reward or punishment.
- Offer 3 meals + 2 planned snacks daily to prevent grazing during the day.