Need some mom advise

I have noticed lately that my 8 year old daughter has started to want to eat out of boredom.( At least I hope this is what is happening and I'm not just panicking because of my own issues) I talked to her about it and tried to explain to her that it was unhealthy to eat when you are not hungry, but I'm not sure I got through. I sooooo don't want her to go through life the way I have, but she is only eight and I don't want to give her a complex about eating.  I was wondering if anyone has gone through this with there kids and if so how did you handle it?  

We went through a similar issue with our 8-year-old grandson (he and his mom live with us). This is what we did. First of all, we made sure he wasn't bored. We put him in soccer, then swimming (one sport per season). He learned to ask, if he wanted a snack. Kids should not have free access to the kitchen, until they are much older. If snacks and meals are planned and fairly regularly timed, kids know that food is coming, so they can relax about it.
While we do not require that he clean his plate at every meal, if he doesn't eat the majority of a meal, he will not need a snack before the next meal. We want him to know that good food is more important than snack food, even healthful snack food. We have discovered that our grandson is not getting in enough water, especially as active as he is now, so what may seem to be his wanting to graze eat is really just a "wanting" of something--water. We push water first, then milk, juice, and the occasional Sprite (his favorite).
Part of the snack issue is seeing his mom eat out of boredom, so we're working on that, too, with her. Kids pick up our habits, and they pick up the emotional aspect of eating. Just remember that you're the keeper of the kitchen, not your daughter. Set those boundaries, and then it's much easier to deal with the emotional aspect of her eating, if there is one. It's like weeding out the false reasons. She'll be fine, and you can do this. :)
Blessings,
Mary

Thanks for the advise. She is very active has dance class4 times a week and plays basketball. It is mainly the weekends that we have trouble. She does have to ask before getting something in the kitchen. She is also a VERY picky eater which does not make it any easier ( she has a real texture problem) She would rather starve than eat fruit, except for bananas. I think this is more my feelings of guilt than anything else. I am just so afraid I am or have already given her food issues.  We do have a very set schedule at our house with meals, bath time, bed time etc. except for snack time. So I think I will incorporate that into the schedule and give her a list of snack items that are allowed and explain when snack time is and if she does not want what is on the list then she can wait till the next meal. Hey thanks so much for letting me talk this out. I feel pretty good about this idea!

It was fun to watch you work this out in "type." :)  I'm sure your plan will work out well. I like that the snack list will give your daughter the choice. Great plan!
Blessings,
Mary

Mary that was EXCELLENT advice!! We did a simular thing with our grandson and it has worked wonders with his being hyper and a picky eater.

Thanks, Kim. Glad things have worked out well with your grandson, too. :)
Blessings,
Mary

I worry about this as well, I have a 8 year old and a 10 year old, so what I am trying to do is get them involved in learning to eat helthy for me and I get them involved in my exercise program, like yesterday instead of going walking around the 2 acres next to my cousins I will be buying thsi summer. I made it an adventure and got them involved, We take the dog and go walk the river trails. I have found I don't get my meals in I will skip things i I don't set me a schedule for it and they have to follow my schedule, which does allow for healthy snakcs as well as meals. But definately try to find them an activity to help keep them from being bored.


I think it is normal now that we are getting healthier for us to worry about our kids eating habits as we now that the habits they learned from us in the begining were not the best possible ones or we wouldn't have been where we were to start with and I know I am scared what if I condemane dthem to the life I lived. But we can teach them to eat helthy with us.