My kids love having “home days” as we call it – days where we are home all day playing, reading and learning in different forms. But, being home all day means they are regularly gravitating to the fridge/pantry and ask over and over for food, uttering the phrase “I’m hungry” over and over and over and over… With the end of year break approaching and the prospect of more regular “home days” being on the horizon, I’ve put together this post full of strategies to keep kids nourished between meals, without driving you insane:
1. Make sure they are eating enough at mealtimes
The first reason they could be genuinely hungry is that they didn’t eat enough at the previous meal. So, at breakfast or lunch when they leave half a plate and claim they are full, calmly discuss whether they are really full or whether they want to get back to their latest Lego project. (true story!) Chances are that it’s the latter, so my strategy is to discuss that if they actually finish their lunch and make sure their tummy is comfortably full then they will be able to concentrate better for longer on their Lego project. If they finish their meal and insist they have had enough then fair enough, however if half the plate is left then it goes straight into the fridge and will be offered in the first instance when an “I’m hungry” is mentioned.
2. Offer a second helping of the previous meal
If the “I’m hungry” comes relatively close to the previous meal, then chances are that they were not in fact full and then a second helping of whatever the previous meal was is offered. For example an additional piece of toast with avocado if that was what they had for lunch. (It’s my kids lunch of choice!)
3. Make a fruit and vegetable platter
Once the previous meal is completely done and dusted put together a fresh fruit and vegetable platter to fill in the gaps of what was missing from the previous meal. So, if their previous meal was lacking a fruit or vegetable portion (or both) then put together a platter with the missing element. Even better – when the “I’m hungry” is muttered, get the kids to help you put together a fruit platter by chopping and having a bit of fun with creating their own healthy plate full.
4. Make healthy snacks
As with the fruit/vegetable platter suggestion above, get in the kitchen and cook up a healthy snack together with the kids. Try one of these 40 Healthy Kids Snack Ideas for a start. Making snacks yourself means that you’re aware of every nutritious ingredient inclusion and can avoid artificial, nasty ingredients which may have a harmful reaction on your kids. Plus cooking with kids is a beneficial activity for everyone. (See 20 Cooking With Kids Activities for inspiration!)
5. Fill a bowl with dried fruit and nuts
Sort of like make your own nourishing trail mix. Buy ingredient in bulk, getting your kids input on their favourite nut/seeds/dried fruit. I like to fill the bowl, place it on the dining room table and tell my kids to eat their portion slowly as hunger strikes because once the bowl is finished there will be NO more food until the next meal. I’m not suggesting that you work through each of the above tips between EVERY meal. Pick and choose what suits you on the day and which technique or strategy works best for your kids and your family.
