How and Why We Said Goodbye to Snack Time

When my kids were little, I gave them snacks. Little kids have little bellies and simply cannot make it from meal to meal without refueling. But that was then, this is now. We have since said goodbye to snack time. As our kids grow and change, we need to change with them. Sometimes I am just a little slow to respond. What prompted this particular change was that I had started to notice some things. Maybe you have noticed these things too:

• My kids only accepted certain foods as candidates for snacks. To me, a snack was defined as "a small amount of food." Turns out they were using a different dictionary. Their definition of snack was "something crunchy, salty, sweet or special that comes in a box or a bag".

• They asked for snacks when they were bored. Food was becoming something to pass that time. Not the kind of habit I wanted my children to develop.

• They ate less for lunch and dinner when they had snacks. Dinner ended with plates still half-full. Lunch had become an after-thought.

As I objectively observed snack time in my house, I realized that it no longer served the purpose of its original intent. Now, granted, our snack shelf was not filled with junk food but reasonable snacks like pretzels, soy crisps, graham crackers, granola bars and the like. But it became acutely apparent to me that the snack habit needed to go.

Here's how we made the switch:

• I sat the kids down and told them what I had observed. We talked about the purpose of a snack and how that purpose didn't seem to fit their needs any more.

• I listened. My kids really like snack foods (who doesn't?) and didn't want to say goodbye to them altogether. As stated above, our snacks were relatively healthy anyway '" that wasn't the issue. It was just the timing, frequency and quantity that were off. We decided to tack on a snack food (their definition) to the new and improved lunch. Everyone was happy.

• We adjusted meal times. A later breakfast, a mid-day lunch and an early supper spread the meals out better, avoiding hunger pains but providing a hungry enough belly that most meals now end with an empty plate.

The switch went relatively well, with only moderate amounts of protest. The benefits, however, have been major:

• My kids now know what hunger feels like. Listening to your body when it comes to eating is a great way to develop a healthy relationship with food. Eating out of boredom or for emotional reasons can only bring trouble.

• Their meal plates are now empty (worth mentioning twice!). When dinner comes, they are actually hungry. No more, "You didn't even touch your ______."

• They try new foods. A hungry belly can make even broccoli look more appealing. They are willing to try new things - even Swiss chard from the garden. Now that is something to get excited about.

I have not become so rigid that my kids can't have a snack once in a while. If they are particularly active, they need a snack. But there is a new sheriff in town. They now entertain the idea of a slice of watermelon as a snack option or a carrot stick as I make dinner. They are happy. Mom is happy. All is right with the world. Well, at least in Snack-Land.