Hello all!
I am writing to see if anyone has had this issue with thier child. My son is three years old, and has ALWAYS been a hearty eater! He doesn't have any weight or growth problems, he's just a growing boy who enjoys eating!!! Problem is, when he eats, he shovels his food in. He doesnt' take a breath, he just keeps shoving his mouth full of food. We try and discourage it, I cut his food up into little pieces, but to no avail. If we give him a plate of food before we sit down, its gone by the time I get to the table. When we eat we constantly have to tell him to slow down and have to verbally tell him to slow down. He honestly eats like he's starving to death, yet he gets several snacks a day and nice healthy meals at meal time. We allow him to eat as much as he wants (of the healthy stuff) but he just shovels his food in! We don't want to take his plate away from him and feed him one piece at a time because to me, that's just teaching him to hurry up and eat! Has ANYONE had this problem and do you have any suggestions? He's allergic to milk, so drink supplements like Carnation instant breakfast are out of the question! Thanks everyone!
J.,
Hello!
I think the more of a big deal you make out of it, the more you are drawing attention to it, the more he is going to do it.
Try to ignore it & see what happens....
H.
This describes 3 of the 4 males I have in my family. One is a little timid with everything, so his bites are dainty. There's a whole other problem there. Instead of grabbing something, he'll try to balance it on his fingers.
Anway, back to your little guy... I can't explain it to you why it happens with males, but even my husband does it. He sits down and it looks like tries to take the largest bite he can fit. I even have to remind him to slow down. It's just a part of him and he's always done before the rest of us. The kids do the same thing most of the time. I still do the reminders. And the older one is almost 8 and he still does it every once in a while, but he has learned to slow down. Manners go a long way here and they do get better when they get older. But I think it'll always be a part of how they eat to some extent.
I tend to eat fast myself. I do notice, however, that if I am in conversation I slow down without even thinking about it. So try encouraging conversation at the table, I know many parents think this is bad manners, but as long as the food swallowed before talking it is fine. Even though he has no weight issues it is still a good idea to work on this problem because it can cause weight issues later and is a hard habit to break. One of the things they tell you in weight loss groups is to eat slowly, taking time to chew food and talk or drink water between each bite. That gives time for digestion and for the signal to get sent to your head that you aren't hungry anymore. I would encourage these things with him. Constantly praising every time he does these and is polite will gradually increase the praised behavior over time. If it is continued as though it is a normal part of everyday life those behaviors should eventually become habits, but it does take a long time.
Table manners has to be a part of it. Remind everyone in the family to use their manners when they forget and praise them for using good manners whenever they do. This will get it into their heads that they should always use good manners. You know, simple stuff like swallow food before talking, saying please and thank you, complementing the food, chew food well so it can properly digest, use fork or spoon for what it should be used for, wipe mouth before talking, use a napkin, take time and enjoy food, etc. Then every time anyone uses manners or is polite comment on how good they are doing.
You can also make a game out of it and have them practice while playing pretend, play with them to set the example, teach them table setting, or let them pretend to be a waiter or a customer, pretend you are slowly eating a delicious desert enjoying the flavors in every bite, and let them take turns. It will be fun, they will get hands on examples of good dining behavior, and they will learn.
My oldest son (I have three) was like this from birth. Must be in the DNA, as their father shovels it in, too.
I was always the last at the table when growing up with 8 brothers. (My job was to set the table, then have the pleasure of eating at my leisure) but they were done in minutes!
I insist on good manners; but I have witnessed no change in my sons' eating...he still shovels it in, then complains of a stomach ache. And to explain "it's because you don't chew your food" has been to no avail.
If I had to do it again, perhaps I would play soft music and ask the child to relax and take the time to chew the food, even imagine where it was cultivated. This of course, is how we stop eating so much meat.......
Giving him a smaller portion may alter this ravenous behavior, let him know there is plenty; but it's to be enjoyed, not destroyed! Blessings, dear. You are being a good mom.
The picture you painted gave me a chuckle. Just to experiment, feed him a good filling snack (like a banana) a 1/2 hour before you eat dinner. See how he eats. If he shovels it in, you know its behavioral. If he slows down, you know its hunger. In which case, bigger snacks. Thanks for the chuckle at your expense. You set a great picture with the way you described it. I could see him (having a 3yo boy myself who loves to eat) and I bet there are times you have to laugh at the site. Good luck.
put less on his plate leave all the extra food in the kitchen. If he asks for more tell him he'll have to eait til Mom gets it from the kitchen but don't hurry.
Being Diabetic 50+ years I'd have him tested. Diabetics eat but lose weight because the body can't break it down to use. Exceesiv thirst and urination, sleepy, sweet breath.
Fat people tend to turn diabetic.
Merry Christ mas
Rather than just "discouraging it" by comments and cutting up his food smaller, maybe it is time to introduce table manners. Explain to him that there are certain rules of politeness (like when you say thank you when someone does something for you) for the table. Then proceed to show him good manners and explain what he is doing that is not following the politeness rules (eating too fast, too much food in the mouth at one time, chewing with mouth open, elbows on the table, etc.. the whole thing). He is old enough to understand that there are rules about how we eat. Help him learn them. I'm sure he is a considerate child, help him see that that shouldn't stop or "pause" being polite and considerate just b/c he's eating.
Good luck!
He is 3 and is very busy -- which is totally healthy. Let him shovel it in... as long as he doesn't choke and he gets plenty to eat, he is fine. Not really a problem in my opinion. I am envious of your son eating so well, my daughter doesn't eat well because she plays with her food.
Good luck!
if there is no weight problem, then I would just keep doing what you're doing...trying to slow him down...use words like 'mannars' and teach him 'other' mannars as well, like naokin in his lap, etc, so it's not like you're constantly focusing on the fast eating...
tell stories to him while your in the car;
"once upon a time there was a little boy who ate too fast!" make it fun & silly w/ a moral to the story :-)
also sometimes hearing it from others he 'respects' works. too, like a teacher or even the doctor...
I have been here! One of my children ate so fast they were constantly gagging themselves. First, we started serving them only after everyone was at the table. Second, we only put a few bitefuls of food on their plate at a time, chopped up small. Then if they finished quickly, we made them wait until mom or dad had eaten a few bites before serving them more. We also only give them seconds after mom or dad has had a chance to finish their first serving. We stressed the fact that mommy and daddy deserve to eat too. We also talk about how if you eat slowly and let your food settle, you may feel full sooner. If you eat really fast and keep eating, it will hit you all the sudden that you are full and you may get sick to your stomach. It took awhile, but they all slowed down. Even our two year old waits (with his food in front of him) to eat until everyone is served and none of them shovel their faces anymore. We also occasionally played, and still play games like "who can eat like a mouse" or "can you move in slow motion the best?"
