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Original poster

Is this an appropriate portion for DS12?

284 replies

JacksonPercy · 13/12/2023 19:07

DS12 is trying to get a bit fitter as he competes in a sport and wants to get better. He’s tall for his age (around 5 ft 5ish) and isn’t a skinny build, he’s not heavy but he’s got a little bit of podge around his middle/torso (you wouldn’t really notice with clothes on). He’s got a good diet overall, likes fruit and vegetables and loves trying new foods but he does have a big appetite so I’m trying to make sure his portion size is right.

I’ve attached a photo of tonight’s dinner - it’s most certainly not “insta worthy” but I swear it’s tasty 🤣! It’s a medium size plate, half with lettuce and cucumber, around 20ish pasta shells, 3 beef meatballs and a slice of garlic bread with some cheese on top. The sauce is just passata mixed with herbs and he’ll have a cup of semi skimmed milk. Does this seem reasonable? If he‘s hungry after he’ll have a granola yoghurt tub thing/fruit/oat biscuits.

He’s got extra training sessions/running plans in place for extra physical activity and I just want to add that this is all led by him, I would never restrict his diet or anything like that or force exercise - he genuinely just wants to do better at his sport. I eat like a horse and don’t put on weight and I’ve never competed in sport so I haven’t had to think about this kind of thing.

Is this an appropriate portion for DS12?
OP posts:
titchy · 13/12/2023 19:10

Doesn't look like enough tbh. He needs way more protein to fill him up, and not to then snack on high sugar snacks.

TimetohittheroadJack · 13/12/2023 19:10

I’m a 46 year old women who sits on her arse all day, and i think that is a very small protion. I’m fat though, so maybe it’s my portion control that’s off.

my 16 year old would eat 3x that smount if pasta and meatball.

TigerOnTour · 13/12/2023 19:11

He should be eating about 2000 calories a day. He should probably be eating more than you unless you're a 6ft 6 body builder.

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titchy · 13/12/2023 19:11

And that's not a medium dinner plate. Unless your cucumbers are enormous!

Stilldigging · 13/12/2023 19:12

That looks tiny to me. More like a snack than an actual meal.

CuriousGeorge80 · 13/12/2023 19:13

That looks like a side plate and a tiny meal!

thedamnseason · 13/12/2023 19:13

That looks like a small plate and mostly filled with food that provides very little. That's not even a nice side salad it's half a plate of bland. He needs more of the pasta and protein.

Branleuse · 13/12/2023 19:14

He's probably looking a bit chonky because he's about to hit puberty and have a growth spurt. I don't think he needs to diet

Tistheseason23 · 13/12/2023 19:14

He needs more pasta.

dementedpixie · 13/12/2023 19:15

I'd put the salad in a separate bowl.and put more pasta and more meatballs on the plate

isthewashingdryyet · 13/12/2023 19:15

Well, my pasta packet says a portion is 100g before cooking. And I use Good Food recipes that tell you how much recipe serves, and there are not enough meatballs there for a growing sporty boy

Santaiswashinghissleigh · 13/12/2023 19:15

My 9 yo ds would easily eat that. He is sporty and and very fit...

fluffiphlox · 13/12/2023 19:15

Please don’t do this to him. It’s nowhere near enough.

Wafflefudge · 13/12/2023 19:16

Very small portion.

StarlightLime · 13/12/2023 19:16

No 😵‍💫

Thesearmsofmine · 13/12/2023 19:16

I have boys aged 11 and 12 and both need more than that. I would add more pasta, meatballs and maybe second slice of garlic bread.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 13/12/2023 19:16

At 12 he will be laying down a bit of extra weight to allow for puberty and a big growth spurt.

Pre teens and teens need loads of calories, teen boys need more than adult men.

I would say that's way too much salad and not enough protein or carbs.

MadamVastra · 13/12/2023 19:17

Ok first that plate is overfilled - how will he use a knife and fork without spilling it everywhere (maybe just me)

second it's not enough protein

third where's the other 4 slices of garlic Bread

Hedonism · 13/12/2023 19:17

No that's a tiny meal, unless it's just his starter.

SpringIntoChaos · 13/12/2023 19:17

My 5 year old granddaughter would eat more than that OP. You son will be hungry again in 5 minutes 😨

Boomboom22 · 13/12/2023 19:17

Far too little. Where's the sauce? Why a 2 Yr olds portion of pasta?

brooksghost · 13/12/2023 19:17

More protein...lots more protein!
I do a lot of sport to a high level and that would be a post training snack!

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/12/2023 19:18

My kid would have eaten that when he was three!

MrsKwazi · 13/12/2023 19:18

That is tiny.

My 12 heat old son eats the same or more than my husband. He is 165cm and 8.5 shoe, he hasn’t had his growth spurt yet this year. He will eat 8-10 meatballs (the fresh ones that you get pre made in a tray)

My 12 year old and 14 year old will finish a pack of fresh pasta between them.

They look like rakes and do sport at school 4/5 days.

DaughterNo2 · 13/12/2023 19:19

MadamVastra · 13/12/2023 19:17

Ok first that plate is overfilled - how will he use a knife and fork without spilling it everywhere (maybe just me)

second it's not enough protein

third where's the other 4 slices of garlic Bread

Plate overfilled as a side plate!