DEAR KACIE

DearKACIE

THE SNACK HOARDER

My daughter is 13 years old. She has a friend who comes over often and steals snacks from our kitchen. I give the girls plenty of snacks, but it seems as if she’s never full. She’ll eat anything she can find, from ice cream to popsicles, veggies, or chips. I let it slide the first few times, but this is now a constant thing. Should I tell her parents?

Got any Goldfish? Hey, it is your kitchen. Make sure she’s aware of your household’s rules. But it seems as though she’s sneaking snacks away when you’re not aware.

Gather as much information you can from your daughter. Ask her what she notices about food at her friend’s house. The parents could be restricting her meals and snacks. Or even restricting her sugar intake. Research says overly restricting or controlling a child’s food choices increases problematic eating behaviors such as sneaking, bingeing, and overeating.

Get to know the parents if you can. And when it’s appropriate, bring up the snack situation. You might remind your daughter—in her friend’s presence— that they are welcome to everything laid out on the counter, but the food in the pantry and refrigerator need to last until the next grocery store trip. This makes it clear the friend is always invited to the home. Good luck, mama!

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