Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 Very true. I think that it's good that you plan your kids meal at a reasonable time each day and a routine for meals and snacks. I like your schudule that he can choice on healthy snacks, and foods that y'll make. I learned a lot about food, etc. in last semester. So I am proud of your effort, and good job. --- Joan Guthrie Medlen <jmedlen@...> wrote: > At 06:38 PM 12/30/01 -0500, you wrote: > ><<I've just jumped on the computer, my mum is here > and keeping an eye on > >Leigh...school hols for the next 4 weeks, he is > obsessed with food, food and > >more food, always dragging me to the pantry, even > straight after he's > >finished his meals and when I say " NO " he falls to > the floor and cries. He > >is sometimes distracted with music, but that > doesn't last for too long.>> > > > >This is how it is with Ted. He even wants all my > food also. He cries if he > >can't have it. I have a new fridge now, but > previously had drilled and put > >a hasp on the last one. He knows when I leave my > post...the kitchen and > >will come in looking for anything. > > > Andy's been pretty good, but when he's hungry, he'll > head for the kitchen. > Sometimes we find the fridge open and all the > cupboards (our fridge lock > lost it's " stick " and will come off if he pulls hard > enough). > > But....we have found that life is much better if > there is a schedule to the > food that Andy can count on or a system to ask for > things that are OK to > have at any time. > > For instance, he has a snack board on the fridge and > can ask for foods that > I've decided are OK and have on hand at any time. So > rather than saying > " no, " I ask him to make a choice. This year we > learned that sometimes he is > asking for food because it gets us to the kitchen > and then he asks for some > advil. He's amazingly appropriate about this, though > I'm sure there are > days he asks for it when he doesn't know*what* is > wrong. > > But we have a schedule around eating. Breakfast is > within 30 minutes of > morning medications. He chooses from a menu of 6 > things (or less) that I am > willing to make. If I'm not willing to make it, it's > not on the list. > > He is allowed to have water or soda (diet) after > breakfast. If he wants > more he can ask for something from teh choice board > on the fridge (usually > includes a variety like: broccoli, celery, apple, > apple sauce, or toast) > > Lunch is at 11-1130. Again, I figure out what I'm > willing to make and give > him a choice board to tell me what he'd like to eat. > > > He has a snack each afternoon at 3:00. We pretty > much choose this. It might > be crackers and cheese/ham, or apple, snap peas, > carrots, celery, or chips, > or freshly baked cookies. It depends on the day. > > Dinner is at 5pm *sharp*. He often sits at the > table for a few minutes and > then leaves only to return 15 minutes later or after > his bath. He seems to > do this because teh food is too hot in his > opinion--even though I cool it > down. Whatever. > > Night time snack is around 7:30 to 8:00. This is > often something warm and > varies depending on my husband's whims. Andy usually > eats whatever Rex > wants for night time snack (I can't eat one, so it's > Rex's job). > > There are times when you do just have to say no and > go through the battle > thing. My hope is that perhaps it can be taught by > giving them the benefit > of a schedule. Kids need the security of knowing > when the next amount of > food is--rather than wondering when they will wear > down the gatekeeper. > (and teh gatekeeper needs a break). Maybe you can > start by setting the > timer for 20 minutes, increasing by 10 minutes as > they seem to get the idea. > > Or....use a visual schedule with symbols and put all > the activities in that > are between breakfast and snack. > breakfast-->shopping-->library-->snack-->go pick up > suzy to play--> come > home to play-->lunch-->visit grandma--> you get the > idea. > > I think the hardest thing for me when the kids are > off on break is finding > things they will enjoy doing during those in between > times. I am often more > exhausted than ever by the end of " vacation. " > > " No " has never been very effective here. I've > learned through Andy to focus > on what *can* happen and try to get that concept > across rather than what is > restricted. The object is to try to remove that > feeling of > deprivation--which makes them want it more. > > And...physiologically, people need to eat every 3-5 > hours. So if a meal is > more than 5 hours away, your child really does need > something to eat. If he > didn't like what you made for breakfast, you can > expect they will need a > snack physiologically in about 2-3 hours. It's just > the way the body is > made. For instance, if breakfast is at 7 and lunch > at 1pm, that's too long > without a snack. So plan for it, plan what the > options are, and build it > in. I'd say even 7-12 is too long to go without > offering a snack. > > The hardest part is realizing that if I dont' want > Andy to eat, *I* can't > eat either. What's up with that?!? So I try to eat > my meals at the same > time or wait until snack time to eat. I often am > eating my cereal at the > mid-morning snack time or for lunch. Coffee goes a > long way somedays--or > I'm just too busy. > > Last, don't let my words fool you into thinking Andy > doesn't get into food > and eat when I think he shouldn't. He does. Our > fridge is locked (mostly > because he likes to get pop after pop after pop...) > I know I " m fortunate > taht he has grown up with a keen sense of his own > body--my other son > doesn't have that! He only eats when he's hungry. He > won't eat just because > you offer it. It's an amazing and healthy habit. I > think a lot of it comes > from finding ways to to structure it so he knows > food is available if he > needs it. Relearning to trust that will happen is > hard for everyone--and > perhaps harder for our kids because of communication > issues. Visual > strategies and choice boards do help, but it takes > time, patience, and > tenacity to teach it. > > FWIW, > j > > Happy New Year everyone! I'm reading along, but > short on time since it's > vacation and I must be a playmate each day. Be well. > Make reasonable > resolutions.... > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 Hi Joan, Thanks for the food tips. I am constantly fighting over the fridge with Zeb. He actually broke the lock about 5 min. after my husband put it on. We never bothered to try something else. The timer sounds like a great idea. I never have denied him anything to eat just couldn't do it but he is over weight. The eating has become more of habit than actually being hungry. I have tried smaller amounts and healthier choices but the constant need to eat prevails. Charlyne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2002 Report Share Posted January 1, 2002 In a message dated 12/30/01 7:03:07 PM US Eastern Standard Time, jmedlen@... writes: << Visual strategies and choice boards do help, but it takes time, patience, and tenacity to teach it. >> Joan, thanks for the good tips for getting eating under control. We have a very difficult time with this with Gene. He craves pop among other things. I have tried putting his eating on a schedule before but I am so weak with this, I can't seem to stay consistent with this. But you have given me inspiration to try again. Gene isn't getting any smaller...that's for sure. Lauri, mom to Gene 13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2002 Report Share Posted January 2, 2002 > We have a very difficult time with this with Gene. He craves pop among other things. You might not like this trial . I know the rest of the family did not but what I did when I was trying to see if sugar was a culprit to being a possible cause to his behavior . I stopped purchasing pop or whatever sweet food items, so this kinda of slowed his craving for it. My family still craves for always having pop around . This is now , will now go for his flavored water then the pop . >> I have tried putting his eating on a schedule before but I am so weak with this, I can't seem to stay consistent with this. But you have given me inspiration to try again. Gene isn't getting any smaller...that's for sure. You hang in there Lauri , you're not weak , its just part of our lives getting frustrated and tired, trying to find ways around our challengers . Luck on trying it again . Irma, 13,DS/ASD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2002 Report Share Posted January 4, 2002 Thanks Joan, this is very helpful, I think the structure and routine will work as this issue is not a problem at school. I will try this at home, I work during the day and we don't get home till 4pm, so I will try and organise something between that time and bed time and alsol weekends. I have to try something he is getting to be overweight. I have locks on the pantry and fridge and everything that opens. We received a kitten as a Xmas present this year, very interesting times (kitty litter and food), although I keep my eye on him he did manage to pick him up by tail and " flap " him, but mostly ignores him thankfully. Speak to you soon guys Sophie mum to Leigh 10 (DS/ASD/Pica) and 5 food food food. > At 06:38 PM 12/30/01 -0500, you wrote: > ><<I've just jumped on the computer, my mum is here and keeping an eye on > >Leigh...school hols for the next 4 weeks, he is obsessed with food, food and > >more food, always dragging me to the pantry, even straight after he's > >finished his meals and when I say " NO " he falls to the floor and cries. He > >is sometimes distracted with music, but that doesn't last for too long.>> > > > >This is how it is with Ted. He even wants all my food also. He cries if he > >can't have it. I have a new fridge now, but previously had drilled and put > >a hasp on the last one. He knows when I leave my post...the kitchen and > >will come in looking for anything. > > > Andy's been pretty good, but when he's hungry, he'll head for the kitchen. > Sometimes we find the fridge open and all the cupboards (our fridge lock > lost it's " stick " and will come off if he pulls hard enough). > > But....we have found that life is much better if there is a schedule to the > food that Andy can count on or a system to ask for things that are OK to > have at any time. > > For instance, he has a snack board on the fridge and can ask for foods that > I've decided are OK and have on hand at any time. So rather than saying > " no, " I ask him to make a choice. This year we learned that sometimes he is > asking for food because it gets us to the kitchen and then he asks for some > advil. He's amazingly appropriate about this, though I'm sure there are > days he asks for it when he doesn't know*what* is wrong. > > But we have a schedule around eating. Breakfast is within 30 minutes of > morning medications. He chooses from a menu of 6 things (or less) that I am > willing to make. If I'm not willing to make it, it's not on the list. > > He is allowed to have water or soda (diet) after breakfast. If he wants > more he can ask for something from teh choice board on the fridge (usually > includes a variety like: broccoli, celery, apple, apple sauce, or toast) > > Lunch is at 11-1130. Again, I figure out what I'm willing to make and give > him a choice board to tell me what he'd like to eat. > > He has a snack each afternoon at 3:00. We pretty much choose this. It might > be crackers and cheese/ham, or apple, snap peas, carrots, celery, or chips, > or freshly baked cookies. It depends on the day. > > Dinner is at 5pm *sharp*. He often sits at the table for a few minutes and > then leaves only to return 15 minutes later or after his bath. He seems to > do this because teh food is too hot in his opinion--even though I cool it > down. Whatever. > > Night time snack is around 7:30 to 8:00. This is often something warm and > varies depending on my husband's whims. Andy usually eats whatever Rex > wants for night time snack (I can't eat one, so it's Rex's job). > > There are times when you do just have to say no and go through the battle > thing. My hope is that perhaps it can be taught by giving them the benefit > of a schedule. Kids need the security of knowing when the next amount of > food is--rather than wondering when they will wear down the gatekeeper. > (and teh gatekeeper needs a break). Maybe you can start by setting the > timer for 20 minutes, increasing by 10 minutes as they seem to get the idea. > > Or....use a visual schedule with symbols and put all the activities in that > are between breakfast and snack. > breakfast-->shopping-->library-->snack-->go pick up suzy to play--> come > home to play-->lunch-->visit grandma--> you get the idea. > > I think the hardest thing for me when the kids are off on break is finding > things they will enjoy doing during those in between times. I am often more > exhausted than ever by the end of " vacation. " > > " No " has never been very effective here. I've learned through Andy to focus > on what *can* happen and try to get that concept across rather than what is > restricted. The object is to try to remove that feeling of > deprivation--which makes them want it more. > > And...physiologically, people need to eat every 3-5 hours. So if a meal is > more than 5 hours away, your child really does need something to eat. If he > didn't like what you made for breakfast, you can expect they will need a > snack physiologically in about 2-3 hours. It's just the way the body is > made. For instance, if breakfast is at 7 and lunch at 1pm, that's too long > without a snack. So plan for it, plan what the options are, and build it > in. I'd say even 7-12 is too long to go without offering a snack. > > The hardest part is realizing that if I dont' want Andy to eat, *I* can't > eat either. What's up with that?!? So I try to eat my meals at the same > time or wait until snack time to eat. I often am eating my cereal at the > mid-morning snack time or for lunch. Coffee goes a long way somedays--or > I'm just too busy. > > Last, don't let my words fool you into thinking Andy doesn't get into food > and eat when I think he shouldn't. He does. Our fridge is locked (mostly > because he likes to get pop after pop after pop...) I know I " m fortunate > taht he has grown up with a keen sense of his own body--my other son > doesn't have that! He only eats when he's hungry. He won't eat just because > you offer it. It's an amazing and healthy habit. I think a lot of it comes > from finding ways to to structure it so he knows food is available if he > needs it. Relearning to trust that will happen is hard for everyone--and > perhaps harder for our kids because of communication issues. Visual > strategies and choice boards do help, but it takes time, patience, and > tenacity to teach it. > > FWIW, > j > > Happy New Year everyone! I'm reading along, but short on time since it's > vacation and I must be a playmate each day. Be well. Make reasonable > resolutions.... > > > -------------------------------------------------- > Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the archives for our list. > -------------------------------------------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2002 Report Share Posted January 5, 2002 i just dont buy popfor the household, and me and DH only have one per day, mine is diet, so not sugar, its usually at lunch at work. and i give nathan a huge glass with a lid (insulated) full of ice water every day too, but this doesnt really hlep the constant insistants that he is hungry and needs food or a drink. i just have the fridge and cupboards locks so he just yells and complains for awhile, but he eventually calms and will go play and complain,lol. shawna ===== shawna __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2002 Report Share Posted January 6, 2002 In a message dated 1/5/02 9:06:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, mashawnag@... writes: > > > > > > i just dont buy popfor the household, and me and DH > only have one per day, mine is diet, so not sugar, its > I don't buy soda for at home either (only my Diet Coke or Pepsi which no one else likes). Only when we have company. And we have a water cooler and go through TONS of spring water a month. WAY better for them. I am lucky in that Maddie does not like soda. Actually spits it out!!! LOL BUT she does like chocolate milk. However, I give her 1% with Ovaltine (which has no caffeine). Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2002 Report Share Posted January 6, 2002 Wow that's good that you don't buy pop. Well my parents get diet coke, and sprite. They used to get pepsi for my brother when he was here. ===== __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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