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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if you think 6 fish fingers is too many for a 3 year old boy to have for dinner?

441 replies

BasinHaircut · 04/10/2016 19:40

along with half a 400g run of baked beans and chips.

Need to settle an arguement.

Cheers

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 04/10/2016 21:08

That's just competitive mumsnetting, isn't it? "oh, mine has half a fish finger, two peas and a chip. If he's still hungry, I let him smell a rose for pudding"

robinia · 04/10/2016 21:09

@Ditsy4
I cook fishfingers in the oven.

oldlaundbooth · 04/10/2016 21:10

I can't believe a three year old put away six FF.

SecretNutellaFix · 04/10/2016 21:12

There are some children who will eat everything in front of them, even if they aren't particularly hungry, because it's there.

That's way to big a portion.

CremeEggThief · 04/10/2016 21:14

Even 3 is too many for a 3 year old, OP. 3 of anything 'fingery' e.g. fish or vegetable fingers or sausages is the most an adult should eat and I (38) usually stick to 2.

Thefishewife · 04/10/2016 21:21

Is this a joke 6 I wouldn't even hVe 6

2 is the amount 3 for a adult fish finger sandwich

QuizteamBleakley · 04/10/2016 21:23

Can we all just agree on the correct MN abbreviation for fishfingers? FFS would liven up the texts I get from my younger sister.

"OMG Quiz, I was all like FISHFINGERS and he was all like "WHATEVS". I mean FISHFINGERS, what does he expect?"

PurplePidjin · 04/10/2016 21:23

My little dustbin (same age) will put away 4 with oven chips and 3-4 florets of broccoli, or the 3 provided by McDonald's with a carrot bag, milk and a few of my chips

Like you though I'd rather he had a yoghurt, fruit etc after to get a range of nutrients than just ploughing through vast amounts of the same thing all the time

Scribblegirl · 04/10/2016 21:24

I'm amazed he wasn't sick tbh!

GingerbreadLatteToGo · 04/10/2016 21:24

3 of anything 'fingery' e.g. fish or vegetable fingers or sausages is the most an adult should eat and I (38) usually stick to 2

Where the buggery do people get this made up shit from. Seriously?! 😂😂😂

IEatLemonCurdFromTheJar · 04/10/2016 21:26

Na six is way too much! Esp if it's not just the fish finger but accompanied by chips and beans.

Also don't understand why people are turning there noses up to the meal, it's a great mix of carbs and protein! Plus I doubt they're eating this everyday!

Ambroxide · 04/10/2016 21:28

This is an interesting read/look:

www.nutrition.org.uk/attachments/article/734/BNF%20Toddler%20Eatwell%20Leaflet_OL.pdf

At 3, OP's child is at the top end of toddlerhood but this leaflet recommends 1-2 fishfingers for a toddler. Six is clearly not right!

benbry · 04/10/2016 21:29

It's illegal to have 3 fish fingers in a sandwich, it has to be four or it doesn't work.

a7mints · 04/10/2016 21:29

Assuming he doesn't eat your MILs every day, I think it was a bit rude to complain!

BasinHaircut · 04/10/2016 21:30

Nope bert it's beans with fish fingers and chips in this house! MIL has him 1 day per week and I have to leave seriously easy stuff for her to make for him as she really can't cook at all.

I'd rather a yoghurt because 3 fish fingers is plenty enough fish for him but he still needs calcium and doesn't eat cheese the weirdo and doesn't drink much milk since I took away his bottle.

OP posts:
OutsSelf · 04/10/2016 21:32

My very slim DS could have done that at three (he's now 5). One time he ate 6 muffins which he'd help make as an educational sort of activity at my friends' house. He'd already had lunch. He wouldn't do it daily. But if he's hungry, he can really put it away.

We are quite relaxed and he's never been made to eat up what he's not hungry for. I think you'd have to try really hard to get a three year old to overeat. I bet your DC will naturally adjust, OP, so I wouldn't worry about occasionally stuffing his face.

Not sure why you are particularly concerned that he eats yoghurt instead of extra fish fingers. Unless it's plain yoghurt, it's likely way less nutritionally sound than fish fingers anyway (thickeners/ sugar). Even if it is plain - really what is the deal with eating it instead of fish fingers? Fish fingers are good protein and it's good not to always expect another course but instead fill up with what you are hungry for - especially if that thing is healthy.

The thing is with the ILs, it's best to let them get on with it. You'll probably appreciate the fact your DC gets a glimpse of other possibilities when they are a bit older. My Mil is so laid back she's horizontal - one time we came back and the bathroom had been painted, the kids had paint literally head to foot (they'd taken their clothes off to paint themselves), it was crazy. No way would they have got away with it if we were in but they had an absolute ball and it actually wasn't so hard to clear up.

You can lose your shit about stuff like this or you can be grateful that the kids get to appreciate a range of approaches and ways of doing stuff. It's way easier on you if you can just let her get on with it. Unless she is going to be doing regular childcare, what harm can it really do? One huge meal at granny's a week does not make for a fat kid.

RuskBaby · 04/10/2016 21:32

I can only eat 3 but nephew (5) would eat 6 no problem! He doesn't get them often so goes a bit crazy when he does.

Passthecake30 · 04/10/2016 21:35

My mil does similar... Would happily give the kids 3 large sausages, mash and beans. And then lots of chocolate. Luckily, she is learning her lesson as my dd has been sick twice by over indulging at hers Hmm...so now the kids are winding up to her and saying stuff like "no, you'll make us sick"!

She needs to learn to show affection on other ways than piles of food

madein1995 · 04/10/2016 21:37

Completely fine meal. I think giving 6 at a go would be ott - but no harm in giving 2, then another 2 if they ask etc. Chips and beans fine. I would have 3-4 fishfingers and half a can of beans but probably more chips

FeelingSmurfy · 04/10/2016 21:39

At 9/10 I would have 2 or 3 fish fingers, the thought of 6 with other stuff as an adult seems like all I would need all day! I have a big appetite too

CremeEggThief · 04/10/2016 21:42

Gingerbreadlatte, it's not made up. It's a food rule I have been brought up with and still stick to now. It's greedy and unnecessary to have more than 2 waffles, 2 slices of toast, 2 mini Yorkshire puddings or 3 sausages/ fish fingers etc. It's about good portion control and not eating until you're stuffed.

angelikacpickles · 04/10/2016 21:45

Gingerbreadlatte, it's not made up. It's a food rule I have been brought up with and still stick to now. It's greedy and unnecessary to have more than 2 waffles, 2 slices of toast, 2 mini Yorkshire puddings or 3 sausages/ fish fingers etc. It's about good portion control and not eating until you're stuffed.

Of course it's made up - it's entirely arbitrary!

hoddtastic · 04/10/2016 21:46

a portion of fish / meat / protein should be the size/thickness as the palm of the eaters hand, carb = similar amount, pile up the veg, that's the HENRY guidelines IIRC.

more than that stretches tummies which means they need more and more as they grow. Portions for kids are tiny.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 04/10/2016 21:49

My friend ate 43 at one sitting at school once.

RainyDaisy · 04/10/2016 21:49

3 of anything 'fingery' e.g. fish or vegetable fingers or sausages is the most an adult should eat and I (38) usually stick to 2

Where the buggery do people get this made up shit from. Seriously?! 😂😂😂^

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