Don't Stress over Skipped Meals

It's true that for adults skipping meals regularly is a bad way to maintain a healthy weight. Certainly it's a very bad weight-loss strategy. What happens to most people is that they feel so hungry by the time the next mealtime rolls around that they end up overeating at that sitting. Or, unable to make it to the next full meal, they snack on high-fat, caloric snacks such as cookies or chips. Either way, in an effort to eat less they end up eating too much, or too much of the wrong kinds of foods.

When kids skip meals, however, it's a different story. Indeed, you need not be too concerned when your elementary school-age child skips a meal. Instead, keep in mind that this is not a time of rapid growth and that the relative energy needs of kids remain low until they enter puberty. Younger kids might fill up on snacks during the afternoon or be full after just a few bites of a meal. They might seem to prefer not eating but going outside to play instead. Check with your pediatrician if you are concerned, but as long as your child is growing along her growth curve, there is really nothing to worry about. Encourage your children to run around outside. A high activity level increases their metabolism and helps them maintain their lean body mass. If you really want them to be hungry at meals, cut back on snacks in between meals.

The bottom line is this: a skipped meal here and there won't damage your kids' metabolism and might just be a reflection of their decreased energy needs.

More on: Healthy Meals for Families

Excerpted from:

From Raising Healthy Eaters: 100 Tips for Parents by Henry Legere, M.D. Copyright © 2004. Used by arrangement with The Perseus Books Group.

To order this book visit perseusbooksgroup.com.