Our family has a vacation coming up. We are going to a resort/cabin with 2 other families. This should be a really fun time, but I am agonizing over how to handle the food situation.

My 5 year old son (SWCAH) has always been very healthy, but he definitely has some weight concerns. He gained 10 pounds between his last 3 month check-ups and now weighs as much as the typical 9 year old. He also tends to be oversuppressed (17OHP <10 for years now - this is a whole other issue - but one I am sure is connected) 

Our eating habits and activity levels as a family are very good, it is just the rest of the world that gets tricky. (Like his preschool teacher who had cookies or cake for snack every day - I finally pulled him from the program out of frustration.)

One of the families we are going to the cabin with will probably bring the American standard - boatloads of chips, pops, cookies etc. I am wondering if you have any suggestions for how I can handle 7 days surrounded by junkfood?

This situation comes up a lot, in shorter versions, potlucks and picnics are the worst.  Our pattern is that Jack spends much of his time begging for treats rather than enjoying the beach, the other kids, playing or other activities. I get frustrated with his begging and we end up not having a good time. I don’t want to keep repeating this scenario in every group situation. When the junk isn’t around, he loves being social, making friends and running around and playing.

I am really struggling with this. I don’t want him to feel like he is the only kid in the world who can’t have treats and I don’t want to create food issues that last a lifetime - yet we have to recognize and deal with the fact that he will not self-monitor what he eats. (I have tried this, and when left on his own, he will eat things like Doritos until sick.)

He has started to lay the guilt on me - "Why can my cousins have 2 treats at Dairy Queen and I can only have one?" I have been holding my line, but he is pushing more and I think he is starting to sneak food when I am not around. This is the exact opposite of what I am aiming for.  I would like him to understand nutrition and how his body works. I am working to get him to balance an occasional treat, which is fine and fun, with a balanced and healthy diet. He knows tons about nutrition - proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, processed foods etc. - yet his brain doesn’t seem to be able to control his body.

Short of shutting down our social calendar, I am at wit’s end. Any advice? Any good books on establishing healthy eating habits in a child with an uncontrollable appetite and a strong tendency to store food as fat?

Sorry for the long post - I think it is therapy for me to write :)

Thanks in advance, Chris