Feel like a bad mom

tinana_RN

I did that as a child........... I was depressed and lonely. And also the middle child.

asia_hanebach

How old is he? A lot of boys have a very sudden and fast growth spurt and weight gain. Sometimes the weight gain comes first. He might have a growth spurt coming, and so his body might need the energy from all the extra food. If he is around that age, I'd just try to encourage him to play more sports and to replace his extra snacks with healthier food.

Diary_Queen

If it was me, I would definately ban candy/crisp and any other junk food snack from the house. And I'd get loads of fruit and healthy cereal bars etc in the house.

^^^^ THIS!! You don't have to keep junk food in the house just because children like it.... it's empty calories. I know that kids like that stuff and mine will have an odd pudding cup or bag of baked chips on occasion, but I only buy enough for one serving, right then. I do not keep that junk in my house or I would be eating it left and right and so would they. Kids can grow up without that stuff and be perfectly happy and satisfied. Perhaps this child has a problem processing protein and feels hungry all the time. My son used food as a coping mechanism for his ADHA and Bi-polar disorder. He started gaining weight rapidly and was trying to find some sort of mental comfort in food. After he was diagnosed and started treatment for his mental conditions, he wasn't hungry like that anymore - even without his meds... he just said he didn't need all that food anymore and wanted bananas and milk and brussel sprouts instead of candy and junk.

Jennas2012

I would also suggest the trip to the doctor. I have 2 daughters that are 13 and 14. My younger one is thin as a rail but she rarely sits around she is either in the front yard practicing her tumbling (which she just got her first layout! Im so proud she did it without training) or she is running around doing something the child cant sit still to save her life. my older one now is not so much lazy but more into tv, music and pc games. she has put on a few lbs over this winter and i know with bathing suit season coming the fight is on between me and her on what is appropriate and what "fits" her. I just told her last night that while in no way is she over weight and in no way does she need to lose weight, if she wants to start yoga in order to get the leaner muscles that i would support that. She really could lose a few lbs but i would never say that to her cause i dont want her to develop any eating disorders or give her a complex. I told her that if she did yoga just 3 times a week her muscles would get stronger and she would get the leaner look she wants. She has a very athletic body and she does not like it.

Anyways thats just how i dealt with the issue. I hope this helps. Good Luck

Still_Fluffy

I was the fat kid that snuck food. I did it becuase when I ate I felt better/it made me happy. My parents always said go out and exercise but never did things with me. Is there thing you can do together? Find something he will enjoy and encourage him to do it. Celerbrate all the small victories about him and let him know your proud of him. If you keep yelling or talking to about the food issue he may get depresses and will eat more.

Good Luck!

cerealqueen

Don't ban unhealthy foods!! This happened to me as a child and I still ate junk food but in secret... and soon food became associated with guilt. I felt like I couldn't tell my parents about my secret eating so I would eat all the same food as my family and then junk food in between meals. I would hide the wrappers and throw them out in secret. I used to buy food on my way home from school and eat it before I got home so my parents would never know. If I hadn't felt so restricted as a child I feel that I would not have had such an unhealthy relationship with food whilst growing up.
I would suggest letting your son eat unhealthy food but in moderation and try to encourage more active hobbies - sport etc. It's better this way so you can keep an honest and open relationship about food as well as other things.

JoolieW68

I was a skinny kid but snuck food because my dad thought I was fat and he didn't want me to have anything sweet (even though he had cookies and ice cream every day). So I caution making a big deal out of your son doing it. Sort of like when kids break the rules, forbidding it will make it worse.

Oh, I have 2 kids, 19, and 14.

What about helping him make something to snack on that is healthier and filling, like a protein smoothie? Search the boards here for cheesecake cake batter smoothie. My daughter LOVES them and t her it's better than getting a shake from McDonald's. She feels like she's getting something 'naughty' when it's really healthy and filling.

NoAdditives

Do not buy junk food. You are the adult, you (along with your husband) make the decisions about what foods you eat. If he is sneaking junk foods, don't have them in the house. You also need to get him more exercise. Find a sport he may be interested in, or just have him play outside. Make healthy changes for your whole family and your whole family will be healthy.