How can I use timing so snacks do not ruin dinner patience? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is a common scenario for children to ask for snacks shortly before dinnertime. If they eat too much, they naturally refuse the main meal. This can be particularly frustrating when you want them to enjoy the nutritious dinner you have prepared. Instead of banning snacks altogether, a wiser approach is to use timing to your advantage. This helps children to feel satisfied during the day without spoiling their appetite for dinner, teaching them a valuable lesson in balance. 

Keeping Snack Times Predictable 

Establish a predictable snack routine with set times earlier in the day. This predictability greatly reduces the likelihood of them asking for snacks right before a meal. 

• Offer a mid-morning snack. 

• Offer a mid-afternoon snack. 

• Explain the rule clearly and calmly: ‘The kitchen is closed for snacks for the last two hours before dinner.’ 

Offering Lighter, Nutritious Snacks 

Instead of offering heavy snacks like biscuits or crisps that can quickly fill them up, provide lighter options that will not interfere with their appetite later. This approach ensures they remain fuelled and energised without becoming too full for dinner. 

• Offer fruit slices, a small yoghurt, or some vegetable sticks with dip. 

• Keep portions small and do not offer multiple refills. 

Using Snack Time to Practise Patience 

If your child asks for a snack right before dinner, use it as a gentle opportunity to teach them about waiting. This simple boundary helps to build the habit of waiting and strengthens their self-control. 

• You can say, ‘Dinner will be ready very soon. Let us wait patiently together.’ 

• Offer a glass of water to tide them over, but hold firm on the ‘no food’ rule. 

Making Dinnertime an Appealing Prospect 

Try to serve dinner at a consistent time each day and make sure to include at least one food item on the table that you know your child generally enjoys. When dinnertime is a reliable and positive experience, a child’s motivation to wait for it naturally increases. 

• Child: ‘I am hungry! Can I have a snack?’ 

• Parent: ‘Dinner is only thirty minutes away. We are not having snacks now, but you are welcome to have a glass of water. I promise the food will be ready soon.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Teaching a child to wait patiently for their dinner is not just a lesson in healthy eating habits; it is also a practical exercise in patience and gratitude. Islam encourages us to practise moderation in our eating and to show respect for the blessings of food that Allah provides. 

Moderation in Food 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’raaf (7), Verses 31: 

‘O children of Adam, take (appropriate) measures to beautify yourself (before you appear) at any place of worship (for Prayer); and eat and drink and do not be extravagant (wasteful), as indeed, He (Allah Almighty) does not like extravagance.‘ 

This verse reminds us that moderation is a key component of gratitude. Eating without restraint or consideration for mealtimes can diminish the blessings of our food. 

The Prophet ﷺ on Mealtime Balance 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3349, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The son of Adam fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his back straight. If he must fill it, then one third for food, one third for drink, and one third for air.’ 

This famous hadith teaches us that a balanced and mindful approach to eating brings both physical health and spiritual discipline. 

By guiding your child with a calm and consistent snack routine, you are teaching them that waiting is a form of self-control and that proper meals are blessings to be anticipated with patience. Over time, they learn that moderation is not about restriction, but about living a balanced and faithful life.