stealing food

[fineAG]

I have a 7 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. They are generally well behaved, good in school etc. The problem we are having is they constantly steal food- goodies, I mean, not like making a sandwich in the middle of the night. They eat well and often and we have regularly scheduled meals and snacks throughout the day. I am passionate about nutrition and we eat very healthily (is that a word, sorry), but they do get cookies, gum, and other marginal food- I'm not a food Nazi, as long as they eat their meals I'm fine with the occasional not so great snacks... we have removed as much as possible to minimize temptation, but there are still snacks in the pantry meant to go in their lunches, or for example candy we bought to give out for Halloween this week- at their ages, there is just no place they cannot access short of locking cupboards which I am against on principal- we are family!! Am I kidding myself that they should be able to break out of this habit? It's very upsetting to me and I definitely overreact when I find the evidence, I am just so continually shocked that they keep stealing even knowing that it sends mommy over the edge, let alone that I really believe they do understand that it's wrong. They don't steal anything else from anyone else. I feel sure that this is pretty common behaviour in this age range but don't know how to react properly or guide them toward abandoning it. Any help would be ever so appreciated!!!!

[Mimi___G]

Well,what you can do is probably hide the food around the house in certain areas like maybe on top of the fridge or the laundry room and then tell your child there are no snacks in the house to steal or eat.

[SunKissedForever]

Same with my daughter who is now 9. She has been stealing stuff since she could walk into the kitchen and grab. Mostly sweet stuff. She was a tiny girl ,not under weight, but tiny for her age.  Until about a year and half or so ago, she went through a growth spurt and still is. She gained almost 5 inched in less than a year and gained about 20 lbs with it. I check her lunch account at school and sometimes I catch her buying 2 entrees, she will eat breakfast at home and then go to school and eat breakfast there. She is hiding "treats" healthy and non at home so she can have access to it when she wants. Just about every day there is some new kind of empty food wrapper stuffed in her room somewhere. We have 3 good hearty meals a day (breakfast at home, lunch at school and then a sit down dinner at home)sometimes she will pick at the dinner. Later I will find her scrounging for junk or something else to eat. Both of my kids get after school snacks to tide them over till dinner. My 14 year old son has snuck a treat here and there but nothing like my daughter.  I've read a bunch of post on here but haven't came across a reasonable reason. I really think she has a deficiency in something.  

[Mehmeh123]

That's a huge growth spurt!!! She may just need those calories to stay full growing so fast.

[JJWEBER]

Amen I worry about my son over eating at his age and everytime he gets jelious or angry he steals at least it seems to be a pattern now. I love my son and get upset easily and I'm pregnant, he stop once he knew I was and started again. I think it's due to his emotions and I give treats and loves and great meals but he wants more when we don't have alot of money. I want to understand  really, one of my boys stopped stealing with him because he wanted to please me and make me happy and he's see the difference but my other son does not see it. He steals based on his emotions.  I'm worried he does this for attention and I give him plenty but with our newborn coming all three of kids know it will be different. I hope he can learn to harness these emotions.

[CozICan]

im so glad you found the post again and replied, im currently going thru all this with my 6y.o daughter. i was reading thru all the comments, finding more and more people going thru the same thing, but not finding any results of how to concur the problem, it was literally today i spoke with my daughters teacher to see if it was normal, or if they had any ideas, the teacher said she would contact a nurse and psychologist to discuss. i know my daughter isnt depraved foods, nor is she granted free rain. we own a bakery, she has never been allowed to help herself, but she has always been given a taste on occasion, just 3 days ago, she had eaten breaky, morning tea and another snack all before lunch, there was no way she could still be hungry, and she stole a piece of cake from work. so im very concerned!
i hope all of the people on here have found they arent alone, or have found any comfort in what anyone else has said. thanks everyone

[FarrahCole]

I am 14 years old (girl) and my 3 sisters  ages 13,13,15 all girls are stealing food. They have no conscious, they don't feel guilty when they get caught. It has gotten so bad, that my mom has locks on all of the cabinets that store food. Even the freezer has a lock on it. And I am the only one out of the kids to use the key. My mom is at her wits end. She is so depressed lately. The thing is I stole to from her when I was younger but stopped a few years ago. Sometimes the temptation comes but I stay strong. My sisters don't care. They say "whatever" and just act like nothing happened. How do I get them to stop? My mom has tried everything. She stopped buying snacks for a while, but then realized it is not fair to me, so she bought some. They just steal that too, and they Lie about it. When they get in trouble it is like I get in trouble. Help me please what do I need to do?

[Wuggy]

I would be worried your grandchild may have an eating disorder and is actively trying to lose or keep off weight.  Please seek medical advice.