Why My Child Does Not Feel Hungry?

It is common for children to show disinterest is food and make a fuss when it comes to eating. However, if they frequently skip their meals then it is a matter of concern. Read on to find out why kids do not feel hungry.

“I am not hungry” is probably one of the most common sentences kids utter and it is also one of the most dreaded sentences for parents. For most parents giving their child the best nutrition and solving their unique hunger patterns is a challenge. Decoding the reasons as to why your child is actually not hungry can be tough. Here are a few pointers on child psychology; health and behaviour that will help you understand the behaviour patterns of your kids better.

Not Preferring Current Meals Served

For many children saying “I am not hungry” translates into “I do not want to eat that food”. It could be dislike of the kind of food being served to him or her that is provoking your children to exclaim that they are not hungry. Most kids are very mood oriented and they automatically avoid eating if the idea of the food does not interest them.Talk to your kids about whether they like the current kind of meals being served to them. Do not hesitate in making certain changes provided they are not negatively affecting the nutritional value of the meals. For example instead of giving steamed broccoli, cut the vegetables into little pieces and mix it into the stuffing of a chicken sandwich.

Being Engaged in Other Activity

Many kids also use the sentence “I am not hungry” in place of “I do not want to eat now”. This might be because they are playing, watching T.V, talking with friends or are simply in the mood for nap. As a parent it is up to you to draw boundaries about your children’s meal times.You can allow your kids 15 minutes of lead time when you understand that the activity they are engaged in right now interests them more than meals. When more time passes gently but firmly say that they need to eat “now” and also stress the consequences that could happen when meals are not eaten on time. As a family make sure that meals are always taken together and on a fixed schedule and this is how children will learn how to eat on time.

Stress

If you notice that your child not only has a problem with eating but is also unable to sleep well at night and is worried all the time then the reason might be stress. Examine the cause of this stress; it may be caused due to family problems, issues at school, over expectation by parents and teachers etc. Once the problem is detected you can begin solving them in a rational manner. Talk to your child about the issue and reassure him or her of your unconditional love and support. In case you can resolve the stress on your own get help from a professional child psychiatrist.

Anorexia

Anorexia Nervosa is now recognized to be a major illness that can even result in hospitalization. Often the very first symptoms of this progressive condition is fatigue, loss of appetite, weighing oneself obsessively and a pre occupation with wanting to look thin. Children who are suffering from Anorexia will go for hours without food and will go to extreme levels in order to avoid any kind of fat content in food. Often this comes coupled with bulimia that is the habit of over eating and then vomiting.The best way to tackle this issue is to take your child to an eating disorder specialist who can cure the problem by a combination of counselling and medication. This is a serious issue that needs immediate medical intervention and professional help.Your child could be saying “I am not hungry for a variety of reasons”. The above mentioned points will help you identify the correct reason and resolve the issue.

Why do some kids always skip their meals? What to do if children start skipping meals? How to encourage children to eat on time? Discuss here.