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Kids can experience food noise, just like adults, but parents can help quiet the noise.

Setting up a structure around meals and eating lets children get in touch with their hunger.

When adults don't control how much children are eating, they're better able to listen to their hunger.

Does your child seem to think about food all the time? You may find that they often ask when the next snack is, worry about whether they will get enough of a favorite food, sneak or hide food, or seem really focused on foods they often don’t get. Sometimes this is called food noise. Food noise is when a child finds themselves thinking about food a lot, even when they aren’t physically hungry. Many of us adults experience this as well, so we can relate to how our children feel and understand that it can be hard to reduce these thoughts.

As parents, our first reaction may be to set more limits. We may find ourselves hiding certain foods, locking cabinets, controlling portions, telling our child when they have had enough, or encouraging them to choose a “healthier” option. These responses come from a good place because we want our children to develop healthy eating habits in the long term. But sometimes, this control causes the food noise to get even louder.

A few strategies to help quiet this noise involve creating an environment around structure, trust, and food neutrality.

Start by Adding Structure to Meals and Snacks

Kids do well when they know what to expect, and eating is no different. A regular meal and snack routine reassures children that another opportunity to eat is coming.

We recommend three meals........

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