Anyone have their kids use MFP? (not for weightloss)

Not only is it a bad idea (11 year old girls...bodily changes, self confidence, peer pressure to be a certain weight...etc), but MFP is for 18+. If you think she shouldn't eat a whole box of crackers, pour some in a bowl for her or ask her to pour herself a bowl to eat while she's reading.

I think it is good to show her how many calories her food is worth.

I would do her journal for one-two days with her together so that you can show her how much each thing is worth. I think it is good for her to have an idea how a cup of chopped tomatoes compares to a cup of peanut butter calorie-wise for example. And things like that.

I wouldn't recommend asking her to log on a regular basis though.

I have an 11 year old daughter as well (also a 9yr old one). I've taught them about calories and how to read nutrition labels. We've also talked about weight and how it's connected to good/poor health (using my own experience as an example, plus others in our family etc). But, at their age I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it any further at this point. It's more educational right now. They are both thin, and have no issues with weight/height.

Now with my 8 year old son, who as a baby was labeled failure to thrive because he was so small, I do talk to him more about his food intake. He's my kid who can go a whole day without eating because he's so busy with whatever he's doing that he forgets. I will get after him to eat and I do monitor his food intake more. But, I do that part, not him.

My best friend had a mother who would always comment on the food she ate and she now has secret binge issues, im certainly not sure trying to put associations on food at 11 is a positive step sorry, however teaching her about nutrition is great

Absolutely not. If she eating more than she should, it is up to you as parents to help her, by changing the family eating habits. If you see her consuming a ton of calories from treats for example, do not have these treats daily at home, buy only one individual serving for her per week, or teach her how much a serving is, give to her, and hide the rest.
As for exercise, weight loss goals aside, encourage her to try something. Not being good at sports is a very poor excuse for not exercising - the less you try, the worst you will be. Try to become more physically active as a family, and ask her to pick up one sport, for health reasons, not weight loss reasons.

You could do some active things with her on weekends and have scheduled meals/snacks to just help her get into some healthier habits. I wouldn't make it about her weight just about living a healthy and active lifestyle.

I saw a product called Fitbook Junior that may work as a teaching tool to help you. It's a journal for food, exercise, home and school goals. It helps parents and kids focus on healthy behaviors and less about the numbers.

No to logging food on MFP for an 11 year old or trying to get her to figure it out on her own.
You can talk about food choices and nutrition without judgement on her or foods she likes. You can designate some foods as sometimes foods. There are books and web sites for kids about nutrition.
Look at food labels and nutrition information of common foods together and what your body does with foods as a science project.
You control the food coming into your home not your 11 year old. Stop buying crackers in big containers or start portioning out foods into baggies or containers. Stop buying crackers at all if you prefer.
Get a kid's cookbook and help her learn how to prepare more nutritious foods. Cook more meals.
Set a good example with your habits.
Grow a garden together.
Get her started snacking on things like popcorn, fruits, vegetables, and hard boiled eggs. Give her more filling foods instead of low protein, low fiber, low nutrition foods.
http://www.kidshealth.org
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/kids/5-food-group-games
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=nutrition books for kids&tag=youperlapbang-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

When my stepdaughter was on spring break a few weeks ago her dad tracked her food on his own account all week to the best he could just to get a good idea of how she is eating each day. She is 8 years old and weighs 108 as of today. Her doctor has suggested we try to get her to lose a pound or two per month but so far no success. She maintains usually with a gradual gain each month of a pound.

I think this could be a great tool, and to use it to teach about nutrition. Yes, the parents are in control of what goes into the childs mouth etc, but at that age that child can walk into the kitchen and sneak food etc. Or maybe add activities you can do as a family, walks, playing catch, biking etc it will be good bonding time and will get her moving.

As a child who was never overweight but worried far too much about it, I agree this would be a bad thing.
We have a daughter who is similar to what you explain! She is 10 almost 11. She too loves food. We try our best to keep her active in things she is interested in. Sports may not be her thing but she love to swim so we go to the pool. Or trampoline park. Things that are fun and active are necessarily sports.
At 11 your daughter hasn't even reached her full growth. As she grows she will probably stretch out and her body will change. She will develop healthy lifestyle choices by watching you and the rest of the family.
The other issue is that she could take this the wrong way. You don't want to be saying watch what you eat and see this is full of calories don't eat that, she could take it the wrong way. She may think you think she is fat. And that isn't ok.
If a doctor is saying that things need to change then you start putting in place under the doctor's supervision if you just are worried about it then just let her be a kid for a while. If you are living a healthy lifestyle she'll follow you.

I agree with others that that is a bad idea. Also, if you want her to eat better the easiest way is to prepare her healthier food options. Don't buy chips, cookies, cheez-itz and all that. If it isn't in the house, she can't eat it.

Could you get her to be more active?

The walks are great, but it'd be nice if she had an activity she did by herself with people her own age. I get that she isn't sporty but at 11 there are a lot of options. Running, soccer, even stuff at the local rec center like climbing. My parents were probably a lot like you are your wife, overweight, always on diets, and activity was something they only did to lose weight. I wish they had emphasized more the "fun" and the "play" of physical activity.

I would focus more that you want her to take on a challenge, not that you are worried she will put on weight. Most growing kids will not get overweight as long as they have enough activity to compensate.

I really wish my parents had pushed for me to be more active when I was a kid. I run now, who would have thought it, and thought I was the most uncoordinated anti-fit person when I was her age. I bet she's capable of a lot more than she gives herself credit for.

Your daughter has a bad habit of mindless eating. I've had it. It's beat-able. She just has to be aware of it. Bad habits really bite when her adolescent appetites set in with her hormonal chaos.