Do you count Calories for your kids?

I don't count calories for them but I am very conscious about what I feed them because my husband and I are both over weight. If they are hungry they can eat as much as they want. However, I have definitely altered the food choices available in the house since I started becoming healthier. We don't keep juices or sodas in the house. My kids both know, if they are thirsty, they get milk or water. I also keep fresh fruits and vegetables washed and available in bowls at their level for when they open the fridge to "snack". 90% of the time they reach for an apple or carrots! We talk about too much sugar and my 4 year old knows that too much sugar can make your tummy hurt even though it tastes yummy. He will limit his amount of sugar items because he doesn't want a tummy ache.

As a child I was allowed to have a bag of chips and a soda for dinner if that's what I chose. I would not allow that for my children.

If you think they would enjoy measurable evidence, why don't you make an interactive chart where they can keep track of how many servings of fruits, veggies, etc. they've eaten each day? You could base it off the food pyramid (or plate...or whatever they have these days), sort of like this:



I imagine you could print out some pictures of fruits, veggies, etc. and add magnets to the back and hang it on the fridge. Or maybe felt and velcro. That way, when you're preparing lunch/dinner they can go add their servings to the chart. Maybe make up the chart so there are only "spots" for the necessary number of servings -- so they'll see they need more fruits than sweets, etc. It'll teach them about healthy choices and putting the chart together each day could be like a little game for them.

well at 6 years old i dont think they are under any pressure besides passing the first grade.

You are terribly mistaken. I was aware of my weight at 5 years old when I started kindergarten.

well MY 6 year old is not worried about her weight

My 7 year old knows she is skinny...because we call her skinny Minnie. My 4 year old has been called "juicy" by complete strangers since she was a baby. They have different body compositions and I've just recently had to stop calling either of them skinny Minnie or juicy and tell them they are both different but perfect and to love being you. When I started eating healthy my oldest, who was 6 at the time, made a comment that made me go hummmm. She said "you want to be skinny like me, don't you mom". My answer was "no, I don't want to be skinny like a 6 year old. I would terribly odd to be your size honey. You are perfect at your age but I don't want to be that little. I want to be healthy".

Until a child is preparing his or her own meals independently, I don't think having them count calories is a good idea. I think teaching a kid good attitudes around food (balance, variety, moderation) far outweighs even the possibility of a math lesson with calories.

The only people that should be considering calories (if at all) for children are those preparing the meals. And even then, a well-balanced diet + activity seems like a better focus.

I think we put tremendous pressure on ourselves as parents. Too often that spills over into pressure on our kids.

I don't count my kids calories. I think teaching children about healthy foods is a good thing, but I wouldn't teach them about calories. You can teach them about healthy foods by what you buy them to eat. Reading to them about foods and cooking with them are fun ways to get your kids to learn about being healthy. Counting calories just seems like pushing body images on them. I know thats not what your trying to do, but to a young kid it can seem that way.

@dwyler21 We don't count our daughter's calories but we do keep up with what they are eating. (at least now that my wife and I are keeping up with what we eat)

Actually we have our 11 year-old logging her meals on mfp on an older ipod touch because she has type 1. We teach her to use it for the carb count though. (she also uses calorieking, and labels to find carb counts)

Our 8 year-old we have taught more along the lines of some education on macros as well. She tends to crash, attitude wise, if she gets too much sugar so we have taught her to grab some protein when she has a snack, simply because it helps her in terms of her mood.

Also as my wife and I have started going daily to exercise our 11 year old has embraced it and asked for a nike chip for her shoe. It has been a positive effect for our kids without making it a big deal in terms of calories, but instead simply talking about being healthy and how it helps our bodies feel better too.

No counting calories for kids. Sure fire way to lead to an eating disorder and body image issues. Just teach healthy eating habits and focus on activity.

Let me tell you from experience, it's not a good thing. My mother put me on a diet at 9 years old (I was chubby for one year out of my whole childhood), among other things. I grew up with a very unhealthy relationship with food and calories. Teaching children about healthy foods and when to eat and stop eating is the best thing you can do.

I don't count my daughter's calories per ce. But I keep a close eye on what she eats. Mostly because she's underweight and has been diagnosed as Failure to Thrive. She has been since she was born and she's 9 now. She needs a high fat, high calorie diet so she can get caught up a bit more with her peers. So we have to find the right balance of making sure she gets what she needs without teaching her bad habits that will lead to problems later with obesity. It's a fine line sometimes. We try to discuss it openly, nutrition and making good choices. I've actually looked for a site where I could plug in her foods easily so we can get a better account of what she takes in, but there's not many sites that don't have a weight loss element. She definitely doesn't need that. So I keep an eye on what she takes in, but I don't pressure her too much by keeping precise track of it. The minute I start pushing she digs her heels in and it becomes a struggle.

My kids? no they aren't overweight, I was just thinking as a teaching experience. Same as you might teach a 6 year old about spending and saving and giving money they receive as allowance for chores .

If your kids don't have weight issues, why restrict them and make them count calories???

Do you want them to have eatting disorders?

Practices what you preach.

Eat well, live active and your kids will follow.

Counting calories to meaning to lose weight? no. But I'm not sure that's what the initial poster meant.

My 6 year old knows that calories are a measure of energy. That calories come from food and are used up with activity. Like a battery. You need calories and nutrients to thrive. He often asks how much protein is in something he's eating or what vitamin a specific food item has. He even knows the basics of what those things do for our bodies. He recognizes that less nutrient-dense treats are reserved for when you have eaten an adequate amount of 'real food'. Once, we counted his calories and carbs and fats and protein and he thought reaching the goals was fun. He's thin, so it makes me happy that analyzing food gets him excited to EAT it!

I have really watched what my kids ate.

And yes I have counted calories.. but for a medical reason.

Here's a couple situations I have going on with my kids as to WHY I have to monitor their food so closely.

1. My 7 year old daughter is naturally a little more chubby then any of my other children. She has always been a little bigger than average despite being born under 6 lbs. She was very sick when she was a newborn and we almost lost her. She was on Breastmilk until she was 16 months old. Her father and I separated when she was 2, and he would feed her junk on his days he had her. I was just beginning my weight loss journey and was already very aware of food choices. Now every year when they go for school breaks she comes back 1-2 pants sizes larger than when she left. Shes 7 and wears a 10/12 in girls that I have to hem because they are about 4 inches too long for her. She now outweighs my very tall 8 year old. When she comes back from her dads I have to really push the water on her and watch the excess snacks she tries to steal and gorge on in her room! From what they tell me they eat ALOT of processed foods and ALOT of eating out, I'd say 75% of the time they eat out there. I am very concerned about her, and have been taking her shopping with me, and she also has been 'working out' to some shows on tv. I hate that she feels the need to hide snacks and such I just hate it, I don't wish obesity on anyone, especially my kids! Her life is centered around food, and I am trying to really get a hold on things before she gets into middle school. She is always wanting to know what's for dinner, and when can she get a snack. ugh

Now the reason I have had to actually count calories is when my son who is now 3 was diagnosed with Failure to thrive. He was strictly breastfed and at 2/3 months old he stopped gaining any weight. they tested my milk, they monitored him for a couple weeks at childrens hospital, and eventually we were sent home with a long term feeding tube. He was weighed by a home health nurse every week. This went on for about 6 months. He had gained fairly well, up until I noticed about a month ago he is lighter than my 18 month old and his ribs are sticking out. I am now making sure he is eating enough calories and fat by having the sitter write down what he eats and giving him an instant breakfast or pediasure to his meal plans everyday.

Oh and to add to the mix, my 5 year old little girl is borderline diabetic. So that's always fun too!

Calories, no. Nutrition, yes. My (step)daughter knows better than to ask me for a treat before she's nourished herself.

for the average healthy kid, helping them to understand with their feedback, which foods give them the most energy,
the best fuel, works pretty well.

when they have poptarts for breakfast, by the time recess comes they are starving, and maybe don't have as much
energy to play.

but when they have a healthy breakfast say, fruit and eggs or some other healthy food, they have more energy for playing.
or soccer practice, whatever they like doing they want to do it, and not feel tired and hungry all the time.

this doesn't mean we aren't allowed chips or soda or cake, it just means fruits, veggies, etc give us more energy,
so we want to eat those often.