How much food does your 4 year old eat?

[BertieBotts]

Inspired by the "teenagers" thread

DS is a bottomless pit! This morning he's eaten two pieces of fruit, an enormous bowl of cereal, a whole carrot and half a packet of minstrels. He often gets to the end of a meal and asks for more and I resort to toast because I just don't have anything to fill him. Fruit in particular I can't keep in the house - I bought five apples, five bananas and about 7 satsumas the other day, and these lasted around 3-4 days (I did eat some too, but not much). He will eat an entire cucumber in 2 or 3 sittings. I find it really hard to keep enough fresh fruit and vegetables in the house.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Cant seem to fill my 4yo. Shes always hungry. Always asking whens dinner and has taken to sneaking food at 5am. I dont know why because she has never been refused food.

Breakfast is a large bowl of cereal.

By 11am shes hungry again so she has a banana and a yoghurt before preschool. Then they have snack/lunch at preschool.

Around 4 shes hungry again so she has an apple or some toast. Maybe crisps if we have any in, which isnt often, or some homemade cake.

Dinner is a good portion and is usually pasta or rice based but shes not that keen on meat so usually leaves it. She gets seconds if shes still hungry (usually off my plate).

Shes tall for her age (110cm) and is a healthy weight, her ribs stick out fgs. I am not sure how much more I should be giving her.

[laptopwieldingharpy]

Same here.
DD regularly eats more that her 9 year old brother at mealtimes. He is a more of a power snacker.
She is quite methodical about finishing everything on her plate/ lunchbox too.
I have to ban her from the kitchen somedays and distract her!
Wish it was the other way around as she balloons while he is so lanky!

[BertieBotts]

DS is a healthy weight too, but I worry because of those adverts about "me sized meals" etc.

He won't eat pasta, rice or potatoes either which is helpful

[noisytoys]

DD hardly eats anything. 2 weetabix in the morning, a sandwich and petit filous for lunch and a tiny portion for dinner. And rarely snacks in between. I'm surprised she grows with how little she eats

[laptopwieldingharpy]

Dd is 22kg for 113cm. I remember her brother being just under 20kg and a delicate figure....i think she is a bit chubby but she's always been a stronger build and is quite athletic.....have to say i do watch the quality of what she ingests.

[FrameyMcFrame]

Maybe try adding more protein to breakfast? Fruit careal and that are all good but an egg or some cheese/meat could keep him going for longer.

[BertieBotts]

He sometimes has yoghurt for breakfast too, but I am not a morning person and couldn't deal with eggs etc. Occasionally he has a ham sandwich, but ham is another thing I struggle to keep in the house as he'd eat a whole packet if I let him.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

DD1 is 20kg for 110cm.

I am awful in the mornings so the thought of making eggs makes me shudder.

Might try giving her a more substantial snack at 11.

[BertieBotts]

I have no idea how much ds weighs - I kept an eye on it when he was coming up to 18kg just in case he outgrew his car seat, but other than that I haven't weighed him in ages.

[MegBusset]

My nearly-4yo has hollow legs too (think three bananas in a row as a snack). Some days he eats more than I do. He is sturdily built but not fat (can see his ribs). He seems to regulate his own intake well and will leave half a biscuit if he feels full. He loves fresh fruit and veg.

DS1 otoh has always had a smaller appetite. He loves carbs and would live on cheese sandwiches if allowed.

Peanut butter, cheese or baked beans on toast would be good low-effort, high-protein breakfast ideas.

[MegBusset]

Also porridge is much more filling (and healthier) than other breakfast cereals.

[NobbyClark]

My dd eats masses. Toast/weetabix (2) for breakfast having had a goodies bar as a snack when she wakes up. Snack at nursery, toast or fruit. Lunch with pudding, and she always has seconds. Then spaghetti hoops on toast or sausages or something when she gets home. Then she always has fruit at bedtime, and often a banana somewhere in her day!

I don't know what to get to fill her up either!

[Spookey80]

My dd is also never full at the moment,,,bless I were to serve up a bowl of broccoli!
Was just thinking about this this morning as went to my parents house and both my dcs kept saying they were hungry.
Tis was after a breakfast of 2 bowls of cereal, a piece of toast and an apple each. We were then at GPS house by 10.39, where they had 2 biscuits and I had to stop them having more. All I had eaten but this time was a bowl of cereal.
I do try not to worry as long as its not all crap, and only allow them more if they eat all their meals.

[Spookey80]

Sorry so many typos...and we weren't at exact with the timings of visiting GPS!

[BertieBotts]

No I didn't TSC - I'd be interested because I never quite know if I'm giving him too much or too little.

[Yorkstar]

My ds is also a bottomless pit. I am constantly surprised by how much he can eat. He will often demolish a meal plus pudding and then complain he is hungry. Thing is if I offer something else, he will always eat it. There is nothing on my ds. I saw the teenagers thread too and was at £150 pounds a week on food but we spend £80 a week on food now so really can easily believe it. Think I will need a pay rise [grin

[Yorkstar]

[Grin]

[Yorkstar]

I give up!

[lljkk]

DS just turned 5yo, he is maybe 104 cm, and I thought when we weighed him other day he was under 14 kg (doesn't look at all skinny though ).
doesn't eat much, I think. maybe half of what most of you are describing.

[Thumbwitch]

Does he like nuts? Give him nuts. High protein, reasonably high fat, low carb - should help fill him up.

[WellTravelledPrawn]

My DD has always been on the small side and has a small appetite (she weighs 15.6kg, so not teeny tiny now). Therefore, I've always been quite careful to make sure that what she does eat is good quality (if she has 2 biscuits at 3pm, she won't manage any tea at 5). I've also noticed that both of my children really 'frontload' their eating, wanting a big breakfast (2 poached eggs on a slice of toast, milk and a smoothie this morning) and barely anything for tea (although she's willing to make an exception for cheese, pasta and ice cream!). Consequently, we offer a good breakfast (sometimes cooked, but I work so this is not always possible) and I try not to get offended when she doesn't eat much tea.

[BertieBotts]

I thought you weren't supposed to give them nuts in case they choked?

Did anyone see the portion size thread? I'd be really interested to read it.

[Thumbwitch]

Sorry, you said he was 4 - he should be fine with nuts. The choking thing is usually a caution for children under 36mo.

[BertieBotts]

Ah! I thought it was under-5s. Thanks :)