Aa
my son is stealing food!
I have two kids one 5 and the other 9, my big problem is my 9 year old. He is stealing all kinds of food, from treats to junk food.
Now a big of a back story, I do not buy any junk foods at all, and if I do it's only for that particular time. Since my mother asked me to live with me, there has been more junk food in the house. Then I normally have in the house.
Both my kids are not overweight, neither under weight. They have three meals a day and at least 2 snacks a day as well.
He my oldest is stealing and hiding food, to top it off he would lie about when confronted. I have explained to him how all this junk food is making him sick, as well made alternative ways to have snacks for bedtimes, I am in poverty and can only get what I can. Plus I am on several food helps from other services.
Recently he gas been caught stealing and not admitting it. I have hidden food, put it away, I have left food as free range. And he still constantly take it.
At this moment I'm at a loss in what to do could you help please.
Now a big of a back story, I do not buy any junk foods at all, and if I do it's only for that particular time. Since my mother asked me to live with me, there has been more junk food in the house. Then I normally have in the house.
Both my kids are not overweight, neither under weight. They have three meals a day and at least 2 snacks a day as well.
He my oldest is stealing and hiding food, to top it off he would lie about when confronted. I have explained to him how all this junk food is making him sick, as well made alternative ways to have snacks for bedtimes, I am in poverty and can only get what I can. Plus I am on several food helps from other services.
Recently he gas been caught stealing and not admitting it. I have hidden food, put it away, I have left food as free range. And he still constantly take it.
At this moment I'm at a loss in what to do could you help please.
your son sounds like he may be an emotional eater. you know when you have ice cream and it is a pleasurable feeling? well sometimes people with lots of stressors or anxiety or fear will eat even when they are not hungry because the food brings them pleasure and masks the pain briefly. just like an addict who will still his grandmas watch for the relief of the drug...food can have the same effect.
1 Comments
so is he stealing food or just eating foods that you dont approve of?
This is quite common with lots of children and nothing to do with deprivation.
I have known children from non-deprived families do exactly the same. And in a family where the mother portioned out the food deliberately. In the end this particular child that was 9 at the time became anorexic and had to spend time in hospital to recover.
I do agree though that hiding the food is always a temptation to go and sneak and get it when getting a "craving", especially if the child (or adult) knows that you have these treats in the house. The best solution would be not to have any of the "treats" in the house. This goes for adults who have a problem with regard to trying to lose weight too. I have to hide chocolates from my husband.
At the age of 9, your son is also likely to be going through growth spurts. When children get growth spurts it is very common for them to feel more hungry and they will eat more. Then all of a sudden, they will then not eat so much. This is very common.
What I suggest you do is make your meals that are filling, using beans and pulses. These are very cheap and will bulk up any stews or soups adding fibre. Fibre takes longer to digest so if it is purely hunger that your son feels, this will help by the food being digested more slowly.
Still allow him the chocolates and other sugary treats, but only if he eats his meals. You can also make puddings - if your mum lives with you, get her to make them and tell her to restrict the sweets and other treats she buys. The sons could help with the cooking and baking. Children of all ages love to cook. Home made pancakes are very easy and simple to make and can be eaten as a savoury or as a sweat. My young grandchildren loved breaking the eggs and making the batter. Some chose to eat them with Nuttela chocolate spread (you can buy cheaper brands that taste just as good), some had the pancakes with honey. This then satisfies their taste for sweet things, but at the same time contains eggs and milk which is important for healthy growth and for strong teeth and bones.
My grandchildren would go sneaking and looking for chocolates and sweets, but they have now got to the stage that if you offer them any, they don't want it. Their mum has also moaned to me that she has to hide any sweat treats. Most of the children do ask, but the 10 year old does try and find and sneak out these treats. He is a very selective eater and will not eat a lot of foods.
I know exactly how you feel about not having enough money for food. My mum used to buy me butter, coffee and other treats because I too could not afford to buy much when we first got married. The other grandmother used to buy the chocolates and cakes and my kids only had that when we went to visit once every 2 weeks.
Sometimes, we all crave for something and that may be what the body is lacking, or it may be out of boredom. It may be just simply be that he is hungry and with him knowing that you have a secret hiding place where you keep the sweet things, it is much easier and more convenient to find and eat rather than making a slice of bread with jam.
Do be aware that some children can make an excuse of feeling hungry when they are stalling and don't want to sleep. Offer a milky drink before bedtime if this is the case. Ask your mum to get some of the chocolate flavoured milk shake powder and your son can then make his own milk shake. This is much cheaper than buying ready made milk shakes.
Shop for unbranded makes of packet foods, and also shop around and look out for when the stores have reduced foods. Going shopping at a later time you may find lots of reduced items because of the short use by date. Your bakery store too may have items that are drastically reduced by the end of the working day.
Your son is not unique in taking things and then not admitting to it. He does not want to upset you and he does not want to get scolded and punished for hit. Just say to him that if he wants anything, rather than sneaking and finding your hiding places, he should ask.
Best of luck.
Let me know how you get on.
I have known children from non-deprived families do exactly the same. And in a family where the mother portioned out the food deliberately. In the end this particular child that was 9 at the time became anorexic and had to spend time in hospital to recover.
I do agree though that hiding the food is always a temptation to go and sneak and get it when getting a "craving", especially if the child (or adult) knows that you have these treats in the house. The best solution would be not to have any of the "treats" in the house. This goes for adults who have a problem with regard to trying to lose weight too. I have to hide chocolates from my husband.
At the age of 9, your son is also likely to be going through growth spurts. When children get growth spurts it is very common for them to feel more hungry and they will eat more. Then all of a sudden, they will then not eat so much. This is very common.
What I suggest you do is make your meals that are filling, using beans and pulses. These are very cheap and will bulk up any stews or soups adding fibre. Fibre takes longer to digest so if it is purely hunger that your son feels, this will help by the food being digested more slowly.
Still allow him the chocolates and other sugary treats, but only if he eats his meals. You can also make puddings - if your mum lives with you, get her to make them and tell her to restrict the sweets and other treats she buys. The sons could help with the cooking and baking. Children of all ages love to cook. Home made pancakes are very easy and simple to make and can be eaten as a savoury or as a sweat. My young grandchildren loved breaking the eggs and making the batter. Some chose to eat them with Nuttela chocolate spread (you can buy cheaper brands that taste just as good), some had the pancakes with honey. This then satisfies their taste for sweet things, but at the same time contains eggs and milk which is important for healthy growth and for strong teeth and bones.
My grandchildren would go sneaking and looking for chocolates and sweets, but they have now got to the stage that if you offer them any, they don't want it. Their mum has also moaned to me that she has to hide any sweat treats. Most of the children do ask, but the 10 year old does try and find and sneak out these treats. He is a very selective eater and will not eat a lot of foods.
I know exactly how you feel about not having enough money for food. My mum used to buy me butter, coffee and other treats because I too could not afford to buy much when we first got married. The other grandmother used to buy the chocolates and cakes and my kids only had that when we went to visit once every 2 weeks.
Sometimes, we all crave for something and that may be what the body is lacking, or it may be out of boredom. It may be just simply be that he is hungry and with him knowing that you have a secret hiding place where you keep the sweet things, it is much easier and more convenient to find and eat rather than making a slice of bread with jam.
Do be aware that some children can make an excuse of feeling hungry when they are stalling and don't want to sleep. Offer a milky drink before bedtime if this is the case. Ask your mum to get some of the chocolate flavoured milk shake powder and your son can then make his own milk shake. This is much cheaper than buying ready made milk shakes.
Shop for unbranded makes of packet foods, and also shop around and look out for when the stores have reduced foods. Going shopping at a later time you may find lots of reduced items because of the short use by date. Your bakery store too may have items that are drastically reduced by the end of the working day.
Your son is not unique in taking things and then not admitting to it. He does not want to upset you and he does not want to get scolded and punished for hit. Just say to him that if he wants anything, rather than sneaking and finding your hiding places, he should ask.
Best of luck.
Let me know how you get on.
Yes in the future there will be in 4 years at least. I'm going through university getting my PhD degree so when I finally have my schooling done the job is next on the list. But until then we have to manage with the low amount we have.
If you really don't have any money at all, it may be that he's feeling that stress and stealing the food because of that.
Children who steal and hide food are fearful, generally speaking.
If you google the web for "children stealing food" you'll find this discussion on a lot of pages for foster parents, and adopters of older kids. It's a security thing, and from what I can read, it won't stop until the kids themselves feel safe.
You'll also find that this happens heavily in homes where they are denied the "junk" foods they crave, and often extends to stealing food from other kid's lunches at school.
In the near future, is your life situation going to change where you will have enough money to live without the constant stress of not having any money?
Best wishes.
Children who steal and hide food are fearful, generally speaking.
If you google the web for "children stealing food" you'll find this discussion on a lot of pages for foster parents, and adopters of older kids. It's a security thing, and from what I can read, it won't stop until the kids themselves feel safe.
You'll also find that this happens heavily in homes where they are denied the "junk" foods they crave, and often extends to stealing food from other kid's lunches at school.
In the near future, is your life situation going to change where you will have enough money to live without the constant stress of not having any money?
Best wishes.
I do not feel that its right to lock up foods , there must be another way to deal with it other then locking this up and hiding it. Plus I'm too poor to even buy a locking system.
Stealing and hoarding food is common among children who are unsure of where their next meal will come from, or who are in unstable homes. That is, kids in orphanages, kids in foster care, kids who are shuttled around between friends and families.
But it doesn't sound like this is the case with your son - it sounds like he has plenty of stability.
It sounds like he is craving foods he never has a chance to eat - foods high in salt and sugar maybe - and he can't resist the cravings.
Honestly, I think we don't understand all of the facts of nutrition, and next generation foods high in fats, salts and sugars will be offered as treats to children who crave it. And I believe we will discover that nutritional needs in people is individual - some people need more fruits and vegetables, some more carbs, some more proteins, etc., rather than treating everyone as if their needs are identical.
In my experience, children who have their diets highly controlled become distracted by cravings, and children who are allowed to choose what to eat usually gravitate toward a balanced healthy diet. Not always, of course.
So a solution? I think offering him a few treats he wants per day, and lock up the rest in a locking box.
But it doesn't sound like this is the case with your son - it sounds like he has plenty of stability.
It sounds like he is craving foods he never has a chance to eat - foods high in salt and sugar maybe - and he can't resist the cravings.
Honestly, I think we don't understand all of the facts of nutrition, and next generation foods high in fats, salts and sugars will be offered as treats to children who crave it. And I believe we will discover that nutritional needs in people is individual - some people need more fruits and vegetables, some more carbs, some more proteins, etc., rather than treating everyone as if their needs are identical.
In my experience, children who have their diets highly controlled become distracted by cravings, and children who are allowed to choose what to eat usually gravitate toward a balanced healthy diet. Not always, of course.
So a solution? I think offering him a few treats he wants per day, and lock up the rest in a locking box.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Child Behavior Community
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
We answer your top questions about the flu vaccine.
Learn which over-the-counter medicines are safe for you and your baby
Yummy eats that will keep your child healthy and happy
Healing home remedies for common ailments
