Summer Appetites, I Can't Keep Up!

Just to let you know, it only gets worse..especially with teenage boys. I have a 14 and 10 year old and I am always cooking, shopping or washing up dishes. My boys are both very physically active with swimming, junior lifeguards and basketball camp. I have learned the value of protein..especially protein powder in a smoothie as a breakfast option in addition to something else and also as an afternoon snack. Whey protein is great and I like it for my boys because they are super skinny and it helps them build muscle while they are doing sports. It was recommended to me by a very kind swim mom who notices how super skinny my boys were.

Quick if they are still awake. Measure them and place a date with their measurement. Once school starts.. measure them again and see how much taller they are!

Summer is an awesome time in children's growth.. All of the activities, exercise and good sleep.. They go through major growing spurts.

Yes, they consume more, because they are using so much more energy.

I used to purchase huge packages of Chicken legs and then grill them. Place them in ziploc bags. They can be reheated in the microwave and either eaten as is or with their favorite sauce. Chicken thighs are also good grilled and then can be used in tortillas like tacos. add cheese and some lettuce, tomato.. so good.

Make Turkey hamburger patties. same thing.. Grill place in ziploc. easy to reheat and have a burger any time.

We kept lots of cut up vegetables in the fridge. Jicama, carrots, cucumbers, celery, cherry tomatoes. Lots of lettuce rinsed so we could have rolled up sandwiches or rolled up chopped salad in them. (she thought this was a fun way to eat salads, sandwiches)..

Whole wheat crackers. I would cube cheeses.. Cheese freezes too,

I purchased the good frozen cheese pizzas from Costco's frozen section. I cannot recall the brand. They are thin 3 to a box. I let our daughter add vegetables to it if she wanted. We grilled them on a preheated grill and followed the cook time.

I would freeze fresh berries, pineapple, or nectarines and let her eat them frozen or use them as "ice cubes" in water..

Frozen grapes..

Grilled cheese sandwiches your son is old enough to learn how to make grilled cheese on the stove in a skillet.

I kept a cooler in the car with water, juice, fruits, veggies.. and then always had some sort of cheese to place in there. That way we did not stop at fast food when out and about. Our daughter knew we did not eat out when running errands.

This is very normal..

I have a drawer in the fridge specifically for his snacks. I also have everything washed, cut, and ready to go. There is carrot sticks, zucchini, cucumbers, snap peas, broccoli, plums, apples, watermelon, grapes, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, yogurt, cheese, strawberries, raspberries, applesauce, pears. He does go through them fast in the summer, as well.

He also likes toast with sun butter and eggs. Those snacks keep him fuller for a longer time. They have more protein, so it helps.

Snacks with protein will help.
-Bags of frozen edamame (takes 5 min to microwave and can be eaten warm or cold. I would imagine each bag would last a few days)
-Peanut or almond butter (apples, bananas, celery, crackers. You could even make pancakes, freeze the extras, and they are very quickly defrosted in the toaster and taste great with some peanut butter, like a little sandwich).
-Hard boiled eggs- I make a flat of them at a time and they last at least a week
-Hummus with the veggies or crackers
-Tuna on crackers, salad or bread

We also like grapes, they are eaten more slowly when frozen and are fantastic that way. Bananas are pretty filling.

I would also suggest writing out a meal and snack schedule because otherwise it is too easy to eat too often, out of boredom.

I'd add some extra protein to their "snacks" to hold them longer. Strawberries and celery don't last in their tummies very long. My kids loved cashews, almonds and walnuts and crackers with peanut butter. Also, grilled cheese sandwiches might hold them over a little longer. Good luck!

Yep, the summer growth spurts as well.
One summer, I swear my daughter must've grown like 3".
And she and my son's appetites, increases during summer.
They grow tons during summer.
I can already see it.

Just be sure your kids are eating due to hunger, and not just boredom.
But yes, your kids are active.
The summer season.

Boiled eggs
nuts if they are not allergic
whole grain breads
kids burn off lots during summer, they need COMPLEX carbs as well, and protein.
bean & cheese burittos
whole grain cereals. Sure, "breakfast" as a snack why not.
my kids like shredded wheat. Not the ones with sugar on it.

Teach your 7 year old, to make his own.
My son can make his own scrambled eggs from start to finish, since he was a lot younger. For example. He is 6 now. And he can heat up things himself in the microwave. And he can make his own salad. Yes, he likes salad. I keep the prepped veggies in the fridge, he goes and gets it himself and puts it in a bowl. He can eat all the salad he wants. Loves it.

Flour tortillas with scrambled eggs& cheese in it or deli meats, and sprinkle it w/BBQ sauce. Its real good. My kids like that. My daughter & son can make it.

I have noticed this also with my almost 7 yo and 2 yo. They are like ravenous beasts right now.
After a big playing session, I let them have chocolate milk (2%) as a snack. This squelches their appetites and replenishes their electrolytes and has lots of protein, vitamins, and calcium. The milk has more sticking power as opposed to juice drinks, which burn off much more quickly. They'll drink a cup and it satisfies their appetite (for a little while). I use the Nesquick powder. The Hershey's is just too sugary.
They also love any kind of pasta, which also has staying power and lots of carbs for my active kids. I try to pair it up with a fruit or veggie at lunch.
My oldest doesn't eat meat, eggs, or peanut butter for the most part. But does love sliced deli turkey. So we buy the small packets of deli turkey and they'll eat that for snack. Lots of good protein there.
Bread is also filling for little tummies. We do the white wheat bread and spread a little fruit spread on top.
I do feel your pain with the fresh fruit and yogurt. They don't last anytime at our house. They gobble them up in the first couple of days and then whine for more. I just try to keep lots of bananas on hand. They'll keep for a while, are portable, and filling.
I hope this helps a little. I'm interested to see what others do, too!

Maybe add soemthing w/some more "staying" power like protein.
It can be in the shape of protein shakes, protein bars, peanut butter on
bread or in celery, lunchmeat rolled up over cheese or on bread.

Add some dried fruit (easier to keep).

Chicken nuggets.

Hard boiled eggs.

Nuts

I always keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge. String cheese is a good treat, but brick cheese is more economical. My boys will eat a spoonful of peanut butter for a snack and that fills them up for a while, or they dip apple slices in the peanut butter. With all of this snacking are they actually eating meals as well? I do not allow my kids to snack as much as they like. If they would like to have one snack between meals they may, but otherwise I'd prefer they be hungry at meal times and not filled up on snacks.

You may have to rein them in and give them prescribed snack times and serve them vs letting them graze. I would expect them to snack more, but if they are eating you out of house and home all day, take a look at their meals and see if they need more for breakfast, lunch and dinner instead of grazing. I try to limit DD to snacking mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but not too close to dinner or lunch.

Uggg same here!! Between paying sitters everyday and the amount of food they eat I am going broke LOL. Yesterday I took a nap (sick) and when I woke up the 3 of them had eaten two boxes of Go-gurt. They don't really like most of the high protein foods so we do lots of fruit (which does not stick with them). So, I feel your pain but don't have a clue on solving it. I do like the ppers suggestion of grilling up some chicken and meat for the frig. My kids love meat.

Here too. Only we go through a container of strawberries twice a day. A bag of apples a day. They are 4 small kids. They are VERY active in summer. Good exercise! I feed kids ALL day. We're big into fruit. But we have protein too.

Add some protein. Nuts-assuming they are not allergic. Peanut butter- to go with the apples. I make Granola, mix in raisins, nuts etc. You can make your own taqetos- blend a can of black beans, add a little taco seasoning. Put some on corn tortillas (we are gluten free, you could use flour as well). Roll them up and bake them. You can boil some eggs, those are quick. We also make guacamole.

Basically foods that can stay with them.

Have fun this summer.