2.5 Year Old Loves to Eat a Lot - Ok?

My youngest always seems like he is eating too. But he only eats little bits at a time as his tummy is small. Then he is active and wears it off and then wants more food. I used to get frustrated at that but I realized that really is how people should eat. Now is he's eating large portions at a time that's not good.

My kids, are very big for their ages, not in girth, but in height. And they are very lean and have good percentages for their development. But are high in the height category.
We eat healthy too. Hardly any junk.
Our Pediatrician has no problems, with they frequency of their eating or appetites.

My daughter, who is now 9, eats a lot. By a lot, I mean, she gets hungry very often. So we let her eat. The reason is: BOTH my kids, know their body and its cues. They KNOW when they are hungry or full. When full, they stop eating. When hungry, they know it and tell me.
They do not eat out of boredom or for emotional reasons. They eat, because they are HUNGRY.
AND when my daughter is going through a growth spurt, she can get hungry even 20 minutes after eating a meal. AND she is the type, that needs to "graze" otherwise she gets fussy.
She has been this way, ever since she was born.

With my son, who is 5.... he too will eat frequently, when having a growth spurt. He is a picky eater, but eats well. PER his body's cues. BUT... my son is a "grazer." Meaning, he will eat small amounts, throughout the entire day. That is how he always has been. My Husband is a grazer too. Even if they do eat their meals at meal time. They are grazers. Many people are this way. It is actually, a healthier "way" of eating.
When my son or Husband graze, they are not eating, "meal" sized things. But small quantities, until they are full. Which does not take a lot. They know, their bodies. And that is a good thing.

Eating a "lot" does not mean, the person is eating a "lot." It means... that the "FREQUENCY" of their eating... is more frequent. Not that they are pigging-out, each time. So there is a big difference, between eating a "lot" and the frequency of it and the actual "amount" they are eating.

As I said, my kids eat FREQUENTLY. Which is common for kids. They are very active and their metabolisms, are higher. Thus, they need to graze. And need to have more than ONLY 3 meals a day. Kids, need to "snack." Snacking does not, mean it is "bad." It means, that they CAN have things in between meals.... and just feed your kid healthy things. Not junk food.
And to eat by their body's cues, for hunger and fulness.

Your child, as you said, is LEAN. He is not overweight. So you do not have to be concerned.

My kids are lean. They eat very frequently. I am feeding them ALL day. But it is fine, no big deal, and they are healthy. Because I do not feed them junk. For my son, a "snack" can even mean a little salad. Which he loves. For my daughter, she eats fruit. So you see, "eating" frequently, does not immediately mean it is "bad."
If my kids are HUNGRY and their body needs it, I feed them. And my kids are active. As most kids are.

The key thing is: that a child or person.... KNOWS their body's CUES... for hunger or fulness. We have never "made" our kids, eat EVERYTHING on their plates or forced them to eat etc. For example. We taught them to eat according to what their body is saying. Full or hungry. If they get full after even just 4 bites of something at mealtime, fine. They are done. In that way, a child/person, learns to eat, for normal reasons. Not dysfunctional reasons. And then, they learn to eat, for their body's cues.

My daughter, eats frequently throughout the day. Because she is hungry. And she has always been that way... ever since she was a baby.
One summer, she was eating like every 1/2 hour or less. She was HUNGRY. And then, once school started, she grew in height a TON.
As I said, our Pediatrician, has no problem with my kids' eating habits. In fact, he said they are eating properly. They eat per their body's cues, and know it, and they are lean TALL kids who grow like weeds. And they are eating, healthily. Not junk.
We taught our kids, about nutrition.

I NEVER fear, that my kids are eating for the wrong reasons. Because, they KNOW their body and its cues for hunger and fulness. They never, eat, just to eat. They eat, because they are hungry.

Boys eat more than girls, most of the time. My boys 15 and 5 eat a lot, both of them. My oldest is very skinny, which he hates when I say that and then flexes his muscles. My youngest is a little bigger bone, but not fat at all. At 2.5 I'd let them eat as much as they want of healthy foods. You said his daddy is big bone, so he's probably taking after him. I also have two cousins that are 2 years apart, they have different bone structure too, the oldest is like mine, very skinny and 2nd born has a broader frame, neither has ever been "fat" don't think my cousin or my son will ever be over weight, but sure eat a LOT. Really at that age I wouldn't worry at all, my youngest was a butter ball when he was a baby, he lost all the fat, but even if he hadn't, I'd let him eat, this is important time in their growth. The only thing to watch, is if he gets upset if food calms him down, that's bad, but if he's just hungry, let the boy eat!

I don't think there is anything wrong with feeding an asking child, if they are genuinely hungry. Especially, when that food is healthy. I DO think it's a bad idea to give him food (or anything else) when he yells for it. He is not asking, he is demanding. And, you are giving in to those demands. He will soon figure out he can just yell, and get what he wants. If he hasn't already. I wonder, though...if this eating all the time isn't more of a habit. I think you need to try to assess if he is actually hungry, or if he just wants to eat. Eating for the sake of eating when one is not hungry, is a really bad habit. It's a habit that will carry through like. IF he is actually hungry, feed him healthy foods. If he is not, see if he will drink water or milk instead. Oh, and don't reward his yelling!!

I would feed him when he is hungry. Kids should listen to their bodies and eat when they are hungry and not eat when they are not. We would all be better off if we did the same. That said, he should ask politely for food, not yell. I am not sure from what you wrote if chicken, beef, bread, cheese and pasta make up most of his diet. He should be eating mostly vegetables, fruits and grains with less in the way of animal fats and animal based protein.

Yes, I'd let him eat whenever he's hungry.

Here's some advice from the FAT lady on how to be sure your kid doesn't grow up to be a fat lady (or gent!)

NEVER, EVER make food a power struggle or argue about it to much

Teach them to TALK or EXERCISE when they're upset, NOT eat!

You and dad are the adults that control your child's diet. Cut down on portions and sweets and learn to say NO that's enough for now.

I have a grandson who is exactly how you describe your son with regards to his love of eating. I noticed it when my daughter on some occasions left him with me to watch when he was about a year old. I was surprised on the amount of food he could eat in one feeding. And, yes, he was always hungry. Now, he is 11 years old and always looking for food. He is not fat, though, but has lean muscles. I have been telling my daughter to limit his food intake as we have a history in the family of heart disease.

I believe that it's pretty normal as he is growing to be a good looking 11 year old boy, with a nice physique.

Hi Mom of 2,
My 2 1/2 year old is exactly the same way. He eats fruits, veggies whole grains, he will eat meat, but not much. He does not like sweets, he will eat a plate of fruit at a birthday party, then walk away from the cake and ice cream. I was so concerned about the amount that he ate that I spoke to my pediatrician about it. She advised me to keep feeding him as much as he wants. He knows when he's hungry, he's very active and growing and eating wonderful healthy food.

I hope this helped.

Best,
R.