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Beware: Boredom Triggers Eating Among Children

Texas Children's Specialist Recommends Good Summer Snacks

With school out and hot weather in, it's not unusual for youngsters to gather around the refrigerator or the television rather than engage in active play. Such habits may be relaxing but can wreck a healthy lifestyle, say specialists at Texas Children's Hospital.

"For some kids, boredom triggers eating," says Jennifer Thomas, senior clinical dietitian in the department of gastroenterology and nutrition at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. "A child can pick up 5 to 10 pounds over the course of a summer, so it's important to recognize the difference between boredom and hunger."

Because children may be adjusting to the lack of routine, adding some structure to their daily schedules can help. "For instance, instead of letting kids eat while they watch television, permit eating only in the kitchen with the television turned off," says Thomas. "This strategy can help determine if they are really hungry or just bored."

If hunger initiates a snack attack, nutritious snacks should be available and easy to reach, says Thomas. She recommends two or more servings of fruit and three or more servings of vegetables as a reasonable daily goal. "Summer is an ideal time to enjoy produce at its peak while it's inexpensive and fresh," Thomas says. "Fresh or frozen fruit [is] better than fruit juice. Fresh or frozen vegetables are preferable because canned vegetables usually contain salt."

For a more filling snack, Thomas suggests blended fruit drinks made with low-fat milk or yogurt and berries. "Yogurt, which is high in calcium, can also be layered with fresh fruit, much like a sundae," she says. "Also, consider adding favorite fruits or vegetables to a bread recipe or dried fruits such as apricots, golden raisins and cranberries to an oatmeal cookie recipe."

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