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

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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.

You didn't mention she was diabetic and you were carb counting. Surely you don't expect her non diabetic cousin to eat the same? So understandably you are watching her diet very closely , most parents don't do that, what was your point ?

My 5 yr old would eat half that, but she's in age 2-3 clothes

She's just mini

My 9 yr old at 5 would've probably had that a yoghurt Nd a small biscuit and been full

I don't find quiche very filling, I would be hungry after a small slice of quiche and a few bits of veggies, to be honest.

I have found my children's portions vary massively, depending on time of year and growth spurts. One of mine eats almost no breakfast (not hungry at that time of day) but a lot in the evening, the other the reverse.

I don't think there can be one 'perfect' portion size for all children, just as there isn't a 'perfect' portion size for an adult- a 7 stone female won't be needing the same portion size as a 14 stone man. That's why these portion size diets are extremely difficult to stick to- my husband can't sustain on a small handful of rice or a matchbox of meat, unless he eats later which is worse than simply having a nice decent portion of good food at a mealtime.

Portion sizes have crept up but I wouldn't find it abnormal if a hungry child who didn't have much for lunch ate twice that amount.

I'm really trying to not comment on this. But that's a totally normal amount of food for a 5 YO.

This is also a problem for school dinners- the 5 year olds with a small appetite are given the same portion as the active 10/11 year olds who are almost adult height! In their last school, my dd was starving after school dinners, when I investigated, she was having tiny portions and as it was cooked off site there was no opportunity for seconds (she didn't like or eat the puddings)- so it would be half a small potato and one small slice of meat for a roast dinner.

Only the stodgy puddings would be in big portions (cheap for the company)- go figure!

not for my boys. theyd need more than that for a dinner. that could maybe be lunch or snack but not their main meal of the day

DD2 would have been quite happy with that (although shred subtitle apple or grapes for the salad)

She wouldn't have eaten much more until she got to 11. At 13 she suddenly has stopped living on fresh air and shot up several inches.

My grocery bill is not impressed.

My 5 year old dgs would have wanted more quiche but otherwise that would have done although he might have asked for a bit of granola or muesli in with the yoghurt and berries.

That looks about the right sized portion from what I remember about my 2 DC when they were aged 5.

My 5 year old would be happy with that. It's enough for tea as long as the yogurt and fruit were included.

Why does this matter?

I've always just treated my 18 month old DS like an adult in that some days he'll eat more. Some days he'll eat less

Same with 5 month old DD. She's on breast milk. Some days she has more. Some days she has less

I was told by the doctor that unless a child has some kind of food aversion/sensory/medical issues then it's pretty unusual for a child to starve themselves to death. They're good at regulating their own food intake and you should assess what they eat over a week rather than daily.

Obviously children with medical needs requiring certain types of diets etc, may need some assistance/more supervision etc.

What I would say about the meal is that there isn't much protein there but, again, presumably this is just a snap shot if what your DD eats so it's hardly representative

I know my DD would be happy with that amount. If that is what your DD needs to sustain herself, then theres no point trying to feed her more.

Depends on the 5 year old!

If they are healthy, no weight issues or anything then it's obviously ok for them.

I think we all have different appetites / metabolisms/ activity levels.

Why - if she's not hungry and you're having regular weight checks at the diabetes clinic - would you be concerned and need a "rethink"?

What do you think the options are? Force feeding? [puzzled]

I'm quite surprised by the responses here. My 8 year-old would struggle to eat all that, but she is a wisp. Just goes to show they're all different.
Your her mum, so I'm sure no-one knows better than you how much she needs/will manage. It looks like a lovely meal, and healthy.

My youngest would eat that and be fine, but for my others that would be a snack for them! Kids are different, and have different appetites, so if she's happy with it that's fine.

Thanks everyone.

I feel a bit better about everything today, I can see that it is enough.

This was actually 16g of protein, and her daily recommended protein intake is 55 so it works out well over the course of the day.

I totally get that this wouldn't be enough for all children but I am a bit at people saying that this is a snack! It was over 400 calories, surely too much for a snack.

My DD is nearly 7 and grows like a little weed, I'm her mum, I know that would easily sustain her until her next meal.

Your her mum, you know what your DD needs, shes healthy and happy, so theres no need to change anything.

I wouldn't even call it a dinner, just a selection of snack type things on a plate.

Huh? So what is 'dinner' then?

YANBU although you're probably coming at this from a different angle to most parents due to your daughter's diabetes.

This thread has shown that many of us have lost perspective on portion size. As you carb count, another parent may give potatoes instead of the crisps but the general portion size seems fine for a 4 year old. I assume she has snacks too?

Every kid varies. My 10 month old eats more than my 3 and a half year old !!

Not read the whole thread but I'd imagine some people are seeing it as a snack because it's not a hot meal. I don't really get that perspective, but it does exist.

Looks roughly the size of portion I'd give my 5 year old. He has a healthy but not enormous appetite.

That looks an adequate portion size to me. That's what I would give my 5 year old although I'd give a bit more veg. I don't think it's a snack at all - that's a huge snack! A snack to me is fruit or some rice cakes - maybe a bit of toast!