is this too much food

[Bigmrsdragon]

SIL came around today and conversation turned to the change reported this week that 7 a day is the recommended amount of fruit and veg a day.
She said that her DCs get at least 10 portions a day so it doesn't bother her. I said that all my DCs could do it except DS3 (5) who is very fussy, she asked what I feed him and when I told her she ranted for ages saying I over feed him and if I stopped giving him so much he would eat more fruit.
I don't know if I am or not because I don't know what everyone else feeds their 5 year olds. I think my others used to eat the same amount but it was awhile ago so I may be confused.

Okay so in a typical school day he has

Breakfast- a piece of toast (with nothing on) and a glass of milk
School snack - half an apple
Lunch- a piece of bread folded in half with ham, a babybel, a box of raisins and a glass of water
Dinner- in the winter it is something warm like spaghetti Bolognese or chilli and rice and pudding can be a mouse or yogurt or a homemade cake or crumble. It fits on a child plate/bowl with room to spare.

We have takeaway once every two weeks. They can also have fruit for a snack after school but DS3 doesn't like fruit very much so he doesn't tend to have any.

So is that too much, or not SIL was very upset with me because she thinks I will damage him.

[Burmahere]

Sounds absolutely fine although I might draw the line at feeding him a mouse !

[rabbitlady]

sounds fine. if the mouse is well-cooked, shouldn't be too much of a problem, should it? they're only small...

[MrsKCastle]

Um, seriously? That seems like very little for a 5 year old, if anything I'd be worried about underfeeding him! Does he have a snack after school?

[puntasticusername]

Sounds perfectly reasonable - plus, don't get too hung up on fruit, it's very sugary. Try and get a good balance between fruit and veg - easily done with your good homecooked dinners, that you can hide lots of veggies in!

[ShakkaKhan]

My DS is 2 years old but I would say that looks fine for a 5yo, definitely not too much. If anything I'd say it wasn't very much, it's a similar amount to what my DS would eat.

But all children have different appetites, like adults, so as long as he is getting a good diet with lots of nutrients etc it's fine. Do you put lots of veg etc in the bolognese, for eg? If thats a typical day it's quite low in veggies perhaps.

[itsmeitscathy]

How do you catch the mice? I'm interested, seems like a good money saver during the recession.

[MrsHoolie]

Sounds completely normal to me!

[itsmeitscathy]

Ps- that sounds like a reasonable menu

[Bigmrsdragon]

Oh hell but DS loves his mouse ..... curses self for not re-reading my own post

[Tessdurbevilliespoon]

Apart from feeding him rodents I'd say that's fine re quantity and everything has nutritional value. However, I personally don't give my daughter raisins or any other dried fruits because they are high in sugar and stick to the teeth, however there are many worse things to give him. I also think that you could mention to SIL that fruit is very high in sugar, so over feeding it is not as beneficial as she seems to think preach I would also tell her to mind her own.

[Tessdurbevilliespoon]

I would try to add some more dairy if your child can tolerate it? (instead of the raisins) Maybe a babybel, yoghurt or similar? As it seems a bit low on calcium and could maybe do with the fat too?

[Bigmrsdragon]

Yes there is a lot of veg in the dinner usually tomatoes,mushrooms,carrot,pepper and anything else in the fridge and sweetcorn or peas mixed in with the spaghetti or rice.

[WhoNickedMyName]

I think it's actually not very much, and what he does eat until teatime isn't that great really.

[Burmahere]

Don't forget that it's complex sugar in fruit though - people are obsessed with not feeding fruit at the moment. I genuinely think his diet sounds absolutely fine and am a bit at posters saying he is not getting enough food. If he is healthy and has a good appetite then I would say you are doing everything right.

[Bigmrsdragon]

The school insist on some fruit in the DCs lunch box which is why he has raisins because he doesn't want two apples in a day and he won't eat any other fruit.

[Tessdurbevilliespoon]

Big, would you care to offer some advice as well as criticism?

[Tessdurbevilliespoon]

Sorry, wicked not Big [dodgy aging eyes]

[CombineBananaFister]

I just don't think I'd worry too much if I were you, each child is different and as long as they are getting a fairly healthy balanced diet and it's enough for them, then it's ok.
Ds would eat way more than that and i skinny as a rake but he wke at 6am and DOES.NOT.STOP. until 7pm aargh!! but each child is different so I wouldn't compare - therein lies the road to madness
By even thinking about it you're ding right by your Ds.

[Scootandfruit]

Absolutely what MrsKCastle says.

No way is that too much food. Your sil is wrong.

[CombineBananaFister]

Jesus - sorry fucking appalling post grammer wise. just finished work and in wind down time

[Scootandfruit]

Dinners sound good and healthy but doesn't he get quote hungry after school?

[addictedtosugar]

Well, looking at that:
half an apple 1
box of raisins 1
spag bol - you've said there is loads of veg in there - 2?
If the pud is fruit containing (crumble etc) thats another one.
So your at 5 on a good day.

Add some grilled tomatoes or mushrooms (or baked beans) to the breakfast, and your at 6 portions everyday.

Nothing wrong with loads of veg and minimal fruit.

My nearly 5 year old would eat more than yours, but then looking at what different kids eat, mine eats quite a lot.