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How to help him eat less: get his child to eat at a fixed time
Difficult at this age to last until 13 p.m. or 20:30 p.m.! Consequence: he will nibble before sitting down to eat and thus increase his intake since, unlike a child who has little appetite and quibbles once he arrives at the table, he will still be hungry in front of his plate.
Never feed your child in front of the TV
When he is captivated by the screen, he is unable to recognize the satiety signals that his organism naturally sends him. Systematically combine vegetables and starches. The first give volume to the plate, while the second promote satiety. And those who are not especially focused on tomatoes or cauliflower eat them more readily when served with potatoes or pasta.
Prevent your child from snacking and limit sugar
The repetition of small food intakes disrupts his perception of hunger. But sometimes a child who says ‘I’m hungry’ is actually hungry and not just craving an extra cookie. Then give him the choice between fruit or yogurt, preferably plain. Rich in protein, dairy products have the advantage of setting well. The slice of bread, demonized for too long, is also allowed, even for those who are slightly overweight. On the other hand, limit foods that are too sweet, which provide little nourishment.
Encourage your child to play sports
Compensate for his good fork by encouraging him to move more. It is true that at this age, it is sometimes difficult to enroll him in a sporting activity proper. But going to school every now and then on foot, running in the park, skipping rope or walking up one or two floors is also good. For the whole family.
Your child’s food instinct
At this age, his instinct for eating is still relatively secure. Unlike what happens in adults, the mechanisms of hunger in him have not yet been disrupted by repeated diets, snacking or staggered meal times. Result: his feeling of hunger is most often in line with his real needs. And just as it is common to say that a healthy child will never allow themselves to starve to death, it can be said that if a child has a good appetite, his body really needs these calories. Because he exerts himself a lot, because he is growing or quite simply because he has a metabolism which naturally burns a lot of energy.
Consult the pediatrician
Before decreeing that he eats too much and putting in place a certain number of measures to limit his food intake, it is essential to have his weight curves and size by a doctor. These notions of “overeating” or “too little eating” are far too subjective. And the consequences of an unnecessary or inappropriate diet in a growing child are far too serious to be based solely on feelings.