WHAT DO I SAY WHEN

All I see is my daughter eat and eat from the time she comes home from school until the time she goes to bed at night?

After school hours and evenings are tough munching times for most people with weight problems. Few people binge eat in the morning or midday. Your daughter is not alone.
So, I’ll give you two choices. One is the ‘out loud’ approach and the other is the ’silent’ approach. In the out loud approach you talk [...]

by Kathie Jacobson

After school hours and evenings are tough munching times for most people with weight problems. Few people binge eat in the morning or midday. Your daughter is not alone.

So, I'll give you two choices. One is the 'out loud' approach and the other is the 'silent' approach. In the out loud approach you talk with your daughter about what you observe and let her know that you think this is negatively impacting her weight and you want to help her figure out something different. By the time you’ve read that sentence you know whether this approach will work with your daughter or not. If it does then the two of you can make a plan to better control her snacking habits.

If the silent approach is what you need, say nothing, but begin strategizing:
1. Think of activities that you can do with your daughter in the evening that removes her from the temptation of munching. It can be games at home, jaunts to the library (she does homework, you read or help or browse), shopping trips, bowling, going for a walk, etc. Use your imagination.

2. Hang out in the kitchen in the evening so that she’ll have to be seen when she comes to get food. This is often a deterrent.

3. Deliver her snacks. (What? Really.) Deliver decent portioned snacks. A peeled Clementine, a banana spread with a little peanut butter, an apple, cut up and lightly sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, or celery sticks or carrots with a small amount of light cream cheese or low fat dip are ‘healthy’ choices. But so are a medium scoop of low fat ice cream or frozen yogurt with blueberries or a couple of gingersnaps on top, or a small bag of pop corn (put it in a bowl, it will look like more), or a small bowl of baked tortilla chips with as much salsa as she wants. Or a small glass of milk and two or three graham crackers. If she is truly eating all night, giving her two of these snacks in the evening will be a huge improvement.

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Photo by: Daveynin

  Published November 19, 2009