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AIBU?

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Feeding my children too much

169 replies

QuirkyKoala · 21/01/2025 08:44

I am hope this can settle a debate.

I have 2 boys (5 and 2) and we are in disagreement about how much they should be eating in the morning. A family member has been giving 5 year old 2 Weetabix and a slice of toast and 2 year old 2 Weetabix. I feel this is too much as I could barely manage what the 5 year old is eating.

YANBU - that's too much food
YABU - let them eat what they want

OP posts:
Gcsunnyside23 · 21/01/2025 16:11

My two (boy and girl) would have tanked those breakfasts, son still would and daughter wont eat breakfast now. If they are healthy and happy to eat it then let them, better than some unhealthy alternatives

Talkabtit101 · 21/01/2025 15:20

My 5.5 DD woukd take down 2 weetabix and toast in a heartbeat, and still ask for a breakfast bar before school.

Honestly sounds like you OP need to eat more for breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day.

(5.5 year old is an extreme fussy eater too and on perfect centile )

Hoochyvida · 21/01/2025 15:10

Wow. My 4 year old has a cup of milk and a banana at about 6.30, then a big bowl of porridge and raspberries at about 7.30/8am. Or, 4 slices of toast, honey and jam (he would have more if I let him!).

Pre school also give them a hearty snack at 10am but on the days he's at home, he'll go through to lunch without a snack.

Obviously depends on the child but no, I don't think it's a huge amount. My son has huge amounts of energy and is slim but well built and tall. I imagine a smaller child would need less food.

purplecorkheart · 21/01/2025 15:07

Are they being forced to finish it or are they allowed to leave what they don't want?

midgetastic · 21/01/2025 14:58

Probably the same protein in weetabix with milk as an egg on toast

sophi1995 · 21/01/2025 14:34

My 13 month old eats one wheetabix with fruit and 2 big tablespoons of natural yoghurt mixed in so no I don't think your children are eating too much.

bridgetreilly · 21/01/2025 14:31

Perfectly good breakfast to see them through to lunch.

whaddayawannado · 21/01/2025 14:19

As long as they are having the weetabix & milk with no added sugar or berries / honey, that's fine. Otherwise it would be way too much sugar content.

Something with protein would be better though, like egg on toast.

LittleBigHead · 21/01/2025 13:54

faithbuffy · 21/01/2025 10:27

@LittleBigHead it's not "full of salt and sugar" in the slightest
0.1g of salt, 1.6g sugar
It's only UPF because of the barley malt extract but there's no weird ingredients in it

That's good to read. 20 years ago, I was told not to rely on Weetabix because of the salt content.

But it's pretty high in high GI carbohydrates and probably not good just on its own - there should be a decent protein source as well: plain yoghurt or eggs, for example.

stayathomer · 21/01/2025 13:51

Nanny0gg

A frontage drain is nothing on its own, no, But after a weetabix and toast I think it would round it up and fill them. 2 weetabix is very stodgy for such a young child.

Icanttakethisanymore · 21/01/2025 13:50

My children can have as much 'real food' as they like. Their appetite also varies massively so I don;t think you can be too prescriptive. Sometimes my 3yo eats almost as much as me and sometimes he barely eats.

Nanny0gg · 21/01/2025 13:50

Harrysmummy246 · 21/01/2025 13:16

Ummmm, yes, anything containing protein and fat isn't filling at all. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, of course it isn't 😩

Sorry. If I'm hungry a yoghurt doesn't fill me up

Babbitbaddit · 21/01/2025 13:49

It’s not anything particularly unhealthy, let them eat weetabix until they’re full. My 2 year old’s record is 3 in one sitting (then a banana an hour later)

2025willbemytime · 21/01/2025 13:39

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 21/01/2025 10:19

Is this a 'teeny-tiny-Oh-I-just-couldn't-eat-all-that!' thread in disguise?

Hardly in disguise..

SomethingElseAgain · 21/01/2025 13:37

QuirkyKoala · 21/01/2025 08:44

I am hope this can settle a debate.

I have 2 boys (5 and 2) and we are in disagreement about how much they should be eating in the morning. A family member has been giving 5 year old 2 Weetabix and a slice of toast and 2 year old 2 Weetabix. I feel this is too much as I could barely manage what the 5 year old is eating.

YANBU - that's too much food
YABU - let them eat what they want

My 5 year olds goes through phases of this level of breakfast, usually just before a growth spurt. I wouldn't generally eat that either but then I'm not growing (or shouldn't be!) and I'm nowhere near as active in the day (though I should be!)

If they're happy, eating at a reasonable pace and not complaining of feeling overly full, it's probably just what their bodies need. By all means introduce variety but please don't start arbitrarily policing the amount they eat.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/01/2025 13:32

I still remember the time when ds1 was small, and I was giving him 1.5 weetabix for his breakfast each day. One morning, he ate it all, and asked for "More!", so I gave him another one, which he ate, and then asked for "More" again. I decided to go with it, and see how much he actually wanted - and in the end, he stopped after 5.5 weetabix!

It was a one-off - though I did start offering him 2 weetabix for his breakfast, in case he was going through a growth spurt and needed a bit more fuel in the mornings.

He was perfectly fine afterwards - although he didn't eat any lunch that day, and his nappies were a sight to behold!

@QuirkyKoala - if your children are eating what they are being offered, and are active and a healthy weight, then I wouldn't say it's a massive problem - though the posters who have suggested a bit more variety are probably right.

2025willbemytime · 21/01/2025 13:30

Do you know anything about children?
Are you pretending to do fake under eating?
Do you want to give these children food I and eating issues?
Are you quite well?

Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 21/01/2025 13:30

tell them to give them a banana with their weetabix instead of another carb

Slowontheup · 21/01/2025 13:26

my 4.5 year old has 1 slice of toast with PB and then also a bowl of cornflakes (I would prefer he eat weetabix but genie is out of bottle on that one). But no it doesn't seem too much.

Beryls · 21/01/2025 13:25

I agree with you re the 5 year old, 2 weetabix and toast is an adult sized breakfast.

JustMyView13 · 21/01/2025 13:21

The easiest way to tell would be to calculate the calories your child needs based on their age, height, weight and activity levels. And then divide it up between the meals. If they’re eating less than the recommended amount then they’ll need more. If they’re eating more than, then it’s probably enough.
Cereal then toast isn’t particularly nutritious, and it’s full of carbs. I’d probably go for porridge and fruit. You can adjust the quantity based on the above and their hunger levels.

Harrysmummy246 · 21/01/2025 13:16

Nanny0gg · 21/01/2025 12:39

There is nothing filling in a yoghurt or fromage frais so that won't do if he's hungry

Ummmm, yes, anything containing protein and fat isn't filling at all. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, of course it isn't 😩

Harrysmummy246 · 21/01/2025 13:14

QuirkyKoala · 21/01/2025 08:44

I am hope this can settle a debate.

I have 2 boys (5 and 2) and we are in disagreement about how much they should be eating in the morning. A family member has been giving 5 year old 2 Weetabix and a slice of toast and 2 year old 2 Weetabix. I feel this is too much as I could barely manage what the 5 year old is eating.

YANBU - that's too much food
YABU - let them eat what they want

If they are eating it and growing at a healthy rate, they're fine. DS (7) can eat 3 bowls of porridge on some mornings if he's having a growth spurt- I think you're not considering how much energy is needed for all that growth and development.

Jingleballs2 · 21/01/2025 13:00

I mean, 2x weetabix is what I would have for breakfast 🤷‍♀️

mitogoshigg · 21/01/2025 12:54

2 weetabix, a small banana, Greek yogurt and blueberries would be better than extra wheat based product as they have extra nutrients