To serve this portion size to my children (pic inc)

[Blondeandinept]

My son is on the 75 centile for height , 20 for weight. My daughter is 50 for height, 25 for weight.
As a family we are very very slim (in 5'7 and weigh just under 8 stone). We're very fit, gym, sport etc

My mil saw this and was appalled. Said it was way way too much. My children would be peckish an hour later if they didn't have this kind of lunch (it's the weekend, hence all the breaded items!).

My son is 6, my daughter 3.5

Looks fine to me. And it's really none of your mil's business and she has no right to comment. If your kids are fit and healthy that's all that matters and you sound like you're doing a grand job with them.

My DCs are 10 & 7 and would be unlikely to finish that but I wouldn't worry about that if yours would. I wouldn't add more carbs though, not necessary.

They aren't over weight for height. So I don't know why you're worrying. I wish younger 2 had big appetites. My middle son is on 0.4 centile height and weight.

Hi Op, the portions are absolutely fine to me. You know your kids best!!! X

It looks like far too much protein and not enough carbs. They probably only need the fishfingers and then pasta, rice, bread or potato. Veg seems about right. As a rule carb portion should fit on the hand of the person eating it.

I give about that much to my 10 year old daughter, she only ever eats half of it. She's still the tallest girl in her class.

I think it looks fine and my son would have eaten even more than that and he was/is very slim but eats like a horse I think you should just carry on with what your doing

Are they adult sized plates? That makes the portion look smaller. It looks quite a light meal to me, certainly not too much for light children.

We use a medium plate rather than a full size plate for the DCs. I find my 3 and 5 yos have variable appetites. Some days they'll eat us out of house and home, and other days will compensate by being more nibbly. If I'm not sure if they've eaten enough I ask, "Is your tummy happy".

At 1, they could clear a children's portion when out. They still can, but do it less often. The 5 yo will be less active at school and growing slower so his needs probably haven't changed much over time.

I trust my DCs to regulate what they eat. They are slim with clear ribs and vertebrae and grow out of the length of clothes before waistbands. (The 5 yo still wears age 2-3 shorts comfortably, but they are getting rather 70s footballer in length!)

Most children will eat to their needs of they're not pressured or have their appetite distorted by an excess of sweet snacks and drinks.

Looks great to me

Tbh, my first thought was also 'where r the complex carbs?' Coloured, preservative loaded bread crumbs aren't exactly full of nurtrients, esp in contrast to the other healthy stuff u're giving them. Portion size looks about right though.

I wish my dd2 ate this diet. Her diet is crap no matter how much I coax, beg, invent!

They seem to be getting very little in the way of carbs. Children do burn up a lot of carbs and require more than adults, or at least that is what health poffesionals always told me.

You are their Mum and you know your children better than anyone. Do not take on board MIL comments personally - its really none of her business.

Boohoo, that yoghurt is almost a month out of date!

It looks like an awful lot of breaded mozzarella sticks to me... I would increase the green veg and do one or two fewer sticks to get better in balance

Had a good look at wrap ingredients in the supermarket today as a result of this thread & was disappointed in the ingredients & cross I'd never thought to look before so thanks to the poster who pointed that out.

I bought these ones instead, Crosta & Mollica brand, quite expensive but a much shorter ingredients list ( Wheat Flour, Water, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (7%), Wheat Starch, Salt, Natural Rosemary Flavouring), will give them a try & also try the recipe one day when I've got more time.

The yogurt though!! I bet it tasted fizzy 😷😷

Why are people banging on and on about carbs here?

The OP has asked about portion size, not content.

Anyway, this is lunch - so simply one meal out of 3.

I'd be very surprised if all the carb obsessed of MN fed a completely balanced meal to their kids, at every single meal time.

Boohoo, that yoghurt is almost a month out of date!

She didn't say it was today's lunch...I hope not anyway!

Chewbecca

Piadina are quite easy to make, and healthier too

Why are people banging on and on about carbs here?

But carbs and protein are relevant...my dc could eat a plate of fruit and salad sticks twice that size but they'd be starving in under an hour...it's not just the portion that counts, but whether what's in the portion is enough to keep them going.

I would put more veg and less breaded chicken. BTW bread crumbs are (unhealthy) carbs to those asking where carbs are. Looks fine though, especially if followed by healthy dessert.

My daughter regularly sees a gastro specialist and dietician ...( due to genetic disabilities) I know they would say if height and weight fine, and growing normally than all is well !
MILs should not interfere. Mums really do know best xxx

Green your kids (and everyone else's) are just as irrelevant here as all the carb talk.

The OP has said the lunch is fine for her DC and that's what her MIL is talking about.

DS (6) would still be hungry after this, I'm amazed your MIL thinks its too much.