Is this an adequate meal?

[Zarabell]

I'm talking in relation to portion size. I know it's technically not a healthy meal but I'm literally thinking size.

Family of 4, an 18 month old, 8 year old, dh and me.

Fish fingers, 3 for dh and 2 each for the rest of us.

Cheese and potato pie made with 5 medium to large potatoes.

1 tin of beans between us.

Of course the toddler had slightly less mash and beans than everyone else.

Fruit and yoghurt for pudding.

What do you think?

Seems ok to me - I'd expect the pie to provide enough bulk.

Well my DH would find it insubstantial....mainly because there's not a lot IN a fish finger. My 8 year old eats 4 easily and she's a skinny minnie.

DH would eat three as a snack...but he's biggish with a fast metabolism.

If it's enough for your lot then it's enough. Did anyone complain?

Hmm

Probably. Its not many beans and it's difficult to say without seeing the size of the cheeses and potato pie.

DH would eat six fish fingers a whole jacket potato and at least a third of the tin of beans. He's by no means large.

My DSs are 11 and 9 and would eat four fish fingers.

My husband would probably have 4 fish fingers and some bread too, id have 3 and my 2 and 4 year old 2 but they wouldnt eat the pie.

I don't think it sounds like a main meal, my husband does most of the cooking and he would think of that as more of a lunch or supper. He could easily eat 6 fish fingers himself (although we both think of fish fingers as being food for children and probably wouldn't eat them ourselves)
I might be full after eating it so that would be job done but I wouldn't feel like I'd had an actual main meal if that makes sense.

I might be in the minority though as people on Mumsnet report to have very small appetites.

If wouldn't be enough for my lot, DP would probably have 5 or 6 fish fingers, 9yo would eat 3 or 4, 18 month old 2, me 3 or 4. Would do 2 tins of beans for us all.

TO be absolutely ideal for my tastes it should probably have a slightly higher ratio of veg to starch and a bit more variety with something green in it but honestly that's nit picking I think it sounds fine. Surely if people are hungry later there can be healthy snacks on hand.

Each of your meals is a similar volume of food I'd divide between two fully grown people 😮 are you asking us this because everyone is still hungry after supper?

If you think about it three fish fingers is about the equivalent of a quarter of a piece of fish from the fish and chip shop.

DH would think I was having a laugh unless it was for a quick snacky lunch.

Doesnt sound very much to me. Whats the concerns?

None of us are overweight and would have way more then 2 fish fingers!

We always do double for adults with our DS C 5 and 8. With slightly more on the 8 year old's plate. How can 1 tin of beans stretch to 4 people unless it's a massive tin??

I presume cheese and potato pie is a proper pie? So you've had pie with mash and beans plus some random fish fingers? It'd be enough if there were veg on offer too.

Do you mean that you had the fish fingers with the pie, or is that 2 separate meals?

Thanks all.

Yes dh thought it wasn't enough and I think ds1 could have eaten more.

For context, dh is obese, as are his siblings, imo he eats enormous portions of food. But then I grew up eating portions like what I described.

Also, I know it's not a very nutritious meal but again for context our baby has been poorly and off his food and it was something I knew he'd eat and enjoy.

We do eat healthier meals on other days.

I think In our house everyone would want more beans and I would want another fish finger.

That isn't even lunch.

It doesn't sound very much to me either, one tin of beans between five is quite small. What's the issue though, why are you asking, if they are still hungry no it's not enough,,,,

Sounds on the small side for me.

Not enough fish fingers for anyone except the baby.. By cheese and potato pie do you mean cheesey mash?

I don't think its enough . Not for my family anyway
My 8 year old would have 3 or 4 fish fingers and a couple dessert spoons of beans and a couple dessert spoons of the pie .... The rest wouldnt go between us all
But of that's the portion size is what you're used to and you all feel satisfied then I don't see the problem and you'd probably think our meals were huge

Fish fingers and cheese pie? at the same time?

For my DP, who wouldn't eat it anyway as Greek so not much help I know! ha - if he did he would have 6 fish fingers, if a dinner sized plate pie then a quarter of the pie, half a tin of beans and 5 potatoes. He's muscular and has a good appetite.

Me - I'd have a slice of pie, 2 fishfingers, half a tin of beans and 3 potatoes.

I'm going to disagree slightly, I think it sounds adequate and if he's still hungry then it's because he's used to bigger portions rather than it not being enough to sustain him. Next time, add a veg to it to bulk it out without increasing calories. You're supposed to work on splitting your plate in 3 - 1/3 carbs, 1/3 protein and 1/3 veg. I know this is a one off though so I wouldn't worry too much about it tbh.

5 med/large potatoes, mashed: 3 for DH, 2 for OP, 1 each for littlies.

...there's your issue. More potatoes. I think that as it was a cheese pie that 3 fishfingers is fine. If the fishfingers were the only protein I'd give an adult more.

I'd want a lot more veg with that. If your DH is hungry after that meal I imagine he'll go head first into a load of junk food and snacks. He'd be better off eating a more substantial meal and vegetables.

Not enough IMO but then there are people on here who can make one fish and chips fro the chip shop stretch between four adults so who knows.

Cheese and potato pie as in layers of potato and cheese baked, no pastry? Delicious but like a brick in my stomach so we'd all be full regardless.