to think that this is an appropriate portion size for a 5 year old?

[EnchanciaAnthem]

This was DD's dinner. She is a very healthy weight. My cousin was here with her 4 year old girl, who I gave the same size portion - yet my cousin asked for extra everything for her DD as what I'd put out wasn't 'enough'.

They had ricecakes as an after school snack too.

DD(5) would be quite happy with that, DS at the same age would have eaten twice that, they are both healthy weights, just completely different appetites.

Depends on so many things - activity levels, what else they're eating during the day, individual metabolism and appetite. My DC1 would eat three times that, age 6, and is below the 25th centile for weight and 75th for height. He has hollow legs, I think. DC2 a bit more picky, would eat a similar portion to the one you've shown, sometimes more, sometimes absolutely nothing. She's still slim but not skinny like her brother. My 2 year old would aslo eat what you've shown.

I've actually noticed that a lot of children eat smaller portions than mine but I don't limit their portions (or pressure them to eat more) as they're not chubby, and have a healthy diet - I'd like them to learn to judge for themselves when they're hungry and when they're full. I might think again if they were piling on the pounds. as someone else said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

All very individual therefore it doesn't matter. Happy healthy kids are all at matter.

My only commentis ricecakesmfor a snack? And there's not a lot of fat in the meal at all. What yogurt is it?

wellwell I doubt it, quiche is highly calorific. A whole quiche can be about 1000 calories and the tortilla chips would bump it up slightly.

Mine would have found that adequate at 4 or 5, maybe with more salad though.

I'm a firm believer in giving children a relatively small portion and then when they've eaten it all, giving them some more. Loading a plate and then encouraging them to eat all of it is a recipe for disaster IMO. Children need to learn to self regulate.

If your dd is doing well, then it is right for your dd. But in general for a small child I would say that has a lot of bulky food that doesn't have many calories, such as the fruit and veg. A lot of children would need more than that, perhaps a little more protein and carbs. DS would.

That is pretty much the same sort of portion size my dd2 would have

I think it's the right portion size. I'm surprised by a lot of the responses though. What a child needs to eat and what they may want to eat are too different things

That looks good to me I have a 5yo DD.

But - please don't overthink this! Children eat different amounts. It doesn't need analysing.

Sorry if this has been mentioned i've just skim read for now. I'm sure I've read somewhere that a childs portion should be...Carbohydrates as big as their fist, so say a small jacket potato. Protein as big as their palm, and vegatables as much as they can hold. So from this I would say the portions are fine but perhaps a few new potatoes to increase Carbs. Although I am no dietition so could be talking complete bollocks.

Ds (2 years) has that with mash or jacket on the side too.
My friends year old wouldn't finish that but they are both healthy children, neither over or under weight.

Friends 5 year old! (woops!!)

That would be about the size of a main meal for my six year old maybe with more salad. She is very slim but always has Bern and seems pretty healthy to me....

Sidge - 1/6 of a tesco quiche Lorraine is 190 cals.

That would be a perfect size for my 5 year old.

This would be fine for my DD2 but DD1 at the same age who ate much more. Different kids have different appetites. As long as they have plenty of energy and not overweight, it doesn't matter too much. Looked like a lovely healthy dinner.

I think that looks just about right including the yogurt and fruit.

If it was a main evening meal id probably make the salad into a pasta salad or add some new potatoes because Ds has a packed lunch at school.

My ds is almost 7 and is a good eater with a good appetite.

Mine are big now- I honestly can't remember.
But why rice cakes? They are utterly rubbish, nothing more than a feeding ritual for dieters- oatcakes with jam or marmite would be better.

My suggestion is serve same to dd but put extra on table. Say she can eat plate first then pick any extra she likes and see what happens over several meals.

Mine eats like a horse at lunch but barely touches breakfast. Dinner can go either way.

Don't feel bad. Your child is fine. The other child is fine too.

I agree with the dont over think this. It looks like a lovely meal.

wellwell yeah I guess in that pic it looks about 1/6. I didn't look that closely the first time!

I wouldn't give just that to mine for dinner- I'd at least add something like coleslaw/potato salad on the side to add fat. Children need quite densely calorific food IMO- not just mostly a plate of plain salad and fruit (i don't more's the pity).

My 6 yr old fussy eater would be happy enough, but it wouldn't be enough for my 4 yr old.

That would be more than enough for my 6 and 4 year old, but both mine tend to graze more than eat big meals. They do have occasional days when I just can't fill them up and they eat and eat...maybe your cousins dd was doing that.

That would be the right size for my 5 year old though I'd probably give her a bit more veg.

My nearly-4 year old would find that a satisfying meal, I don't think it's tiny.