They want to skip dinner after cupcakes, Cheetos, and cotton candy at camp. Should you worry?

Why It Matters

Summer throws structure out the window. With parties, camps, ice cream trucks, and late nights, many parents panic when their kids graze all day and then skip dinner. But what looks like “bad eating” is often just a normal shift in appetite. Knowing how to respond—without pressure or panic—can help your kids stay tuned in to their bodies and develop a lifelong healthy relationship with food.

They Skipped Dinner… Again

It’s 6:30pm. You’re setting the table with a well-balanced meal. Meanwhile, your kid is still riding the sugar high from a cupcake, three gummy snacks, and a popsicle from camp. They sit down, take one look at the food, and say: “I’m not hungry.”

You feel your stomach drop.

Should I make them eat? Should I be worried?

Let’s talk about what’s really going on here.

Zoom Out: One Day Isn’t Everything

It’s tempting to view every skipped meal as a crisis. But eating isn’t something that balances out daily—it balances out over time. Kids’ appetites naturally ebb and flow, especially during summer when days are hotter, more active, and less predictable.

Instead of asking, Did they eat a good dinner today?
Try asking: Have they eaten a variety of foods across the week?

Appetite Swings Are Normal

Kids’ hunger cues are affected by a lot:

• Sugar highs and crashes
• Heat (suppressing appetite)
• Physical activity levels
• Growth spurts
• Sleep quality
• Emotions and overstimulation

Skipping dinner doesn’t automatically mean something’s wrong. It means their body may not be asking for more food right now.

What You Can Do Instead of Panicking

1. Offer dinner without pressure.
   Let them know it’s there. No guilt trip. No bribing.
2. Keep a predictable routine.
   Even if they skip a meal, keeping mealtimes steady helps maintain structure.
3. Normalize ups and downs.
   Say something like: “Looks like you’re not too hungry tonight. That’s okay.”
4. Avoid the bedtime snack trap.
   If they routinely skip dinner and ask for snacks 30 minutes later, you may need to revisit structure and timing.

Don’t Let One Off Day Define You (or Them)

Summer isn’t about perfection—it’s about flexibility.

And remember, you’re not failing because your kid skipped the quinoa bowl you made. You’re parenting in real life, not on Pinterest.

(Honestly, you deserve a trophy just for attempting a quinoa bowl in July!)

Let the Week Tell the Story

If your child eats mostly balanced meals throughout the week, gets enough sleep, stays hydrated, and has energy to play—that’s a win. A skipped dinner after a junk-food-filled day isn’t a disaster. It’s data. And data tells us when to intervene… and when to just breathe.

The Bottom Line

Kids can skip dinner. It’s not a failure—it’s part of being responsive to their bodies. So serve the meal. Make it pleasant. And trust them to come to the table when their body says it's time.