To think this is an appropriate after school snack for a 4 year old

[Twolittlebears]

My DD is 4 and has just started school. She has to take a snack for afterschool club which lasts until 5.30pm. I've been sending snacks like:

• a piece of fruit and 1/2 pitta and hummus;
• fruit and 2 x rice cakes with peanut butter;
• cut veggies and hummus and 2 x oat cakes types things.

AIBU to think this is about right or too much for a 4 year old.

For background: we have been working to make sure DD eats appropriate portions. She was previously 99th centile for weight and after careful management is now 75th.

My 5yr old has 2 slices of toast and an apple ar afyer school club. Then full dinner at 5.40ish pm and shes tiny!

I think it's fine. When my DD was that age she'd have been starving going from 12pm until 6.30pm (which I'm assuming is the time her tea would be ready) on just a piece of fruit.

My daughter is 4, just started school and is on the smaller size (I haven't weighed her in a while but the age 3-4 skirts on the tightest setting were too small) and she has been really hungry after school after eating most of her school dinners. She'd eat one of those snacks and then have tea afterwards.

Sounds fine to me. I have 5 & 7 year old ravenous twigs who would easily devour their way through that. Their lunch is at 12. Due to activities/ DH's work, dinner is about 7-8 pm so they need a substantial snack/ light meal to keep them going shortly after school.

In the absence of allergy issues (our school puts out regular reminders that they are nut free) there's a good sustaining mix of nutrients there and no empty calories.

Our primary schools wouldn't be allowed to take in peanut butter or hummus due to allergies so I'm surprised you can.

Aside from potentially harming another child with allergies the snacks sound ok, choosing only the fruit, carrots oat or rice cakes all sound fine.

Lots of schools allow nuts, are you saying that your child's school serves no meals at lunch time with nuts? Mine does, but has alternative options to children with allergies.

@Russell19 i think it depends on severity of allergy. Some people are at risk of anaphylaxis if they touch something that has had nuts on it so huge risk.

I used to work somewhere where a colleague was severely allergic to oranges and we couldn't bring them on site due to risk of anaphylaxis. She used to know if someone had eaten oranges and touched something she later touched as she'd come out in a rash straight away.

I agree with what you are saying but how is it any different to being out in the park next to someone eating a snickers? Children can't always avoid these things. What we can do is make sure precautions are in place. Op's child eating a snack with nuts is not a crime. Some people have made out she's putting children at risk which I think is a bit mean x

Not a lot at all, assume she isn't eating her main meal until at least 6. Seems fine to me. My dd would have eaten twice that and still eaten her main meal.

DD used to take a tuna sandwich, DS2 used to take mini sausage rolls and strawberries. At 4 they have lunch at 11.45, so she'll be famished.

Thanks for all your input. Such an interesting variation in views!

To deal with the questions...

That's three days of snack. Each day is fruit or veggie plus one other thing. (And I'll take the point of no peanut butter. School which is v small school said it's ok but maybe best to avoid).

My DD is almost certainly eating a full school dinner (she doesn't usually leave food) and comes home for our family supper at 6.30pm (which she always finishes. I say no to seconds daily). The snack is to keep her going between her 11.30am school dinner and supper.

The afterschool club requires all parents to send in a snack and DC sit down together for it at 3.45pm before activities commence.

My DD is on the 50th centile for height and our health visitor thinks as long as we keep her weight steady for a few more months growth will take care of the rest. (Point taken at @micromanaged... but for us it was a concern discussed with HV etc)

We are pretty active as a family including DD - and we eat healthy food. BUT we are rubbish with portion control. Hence this thread.

And at @celebelly

@Russell19 I was just explaining why some schools ban nuts. My daughter's school does- no nuts on the menu at all and banned from packed lunches. I don't know if they're being over cautious or if someone's allergic but it's no hardship either way.

Our school is fine with nuts.

There was a child with peanut allergy. Once she left, it was then fine to send nuts.
Not all schools are nut free.

I think those sound sensible. It’s a long time from lunch to a 6:30 dinner for a little one!

Wouldn't the hummus go off after being in her bag all day? It's supposed to be refrigerated isn't it? I'd give mine a wagon wheel or a few kit Kats!!!

My 11 and 13 don't have that much.
Large glass of water and chopped fruit is all I give them. Supper around 6.30pm usually something like stir fry, grilled chicken and salad or veggies. We tend not to have carbs in the evening except complex carbs

@tabbymums they inspect all snacks in the office each morning and put anything that needs to be there in the fridge

I work in this area and given your update I think the snacks sound absolutely fine. It's a big gap between 11:45 and 6:30 and she'll need the energy. Good work on getting her from 98th to 75th centile OP, you're doing great!

Thanks @NationalShiteDay it felt difficult doing it without making food or weight a 'thing' but I know it's worth it.

And thanks again all for weighing in on my snack portioning!

The snacks sound fine to me.

I'm sure your school would have told you if a child has a nut allergy. Ours regually puts it on the newsletter not to bring in nuts as there a couple of children with allergies to them.

Sounds fine to me.
You could halve it if weight is an issue?

@helpingvsdoinghomework sounds a riot of fun in your house

Fruit + half a pitta + hummus is a full lunch for my 5yo.

Just the fruit or some veg sticks and hummus is a snack. Especially after school when she'd have had a hot lunch and will be having a hot dinner.

Depends on the child. One of those would be a packed lunch to DS2. He's 7. Not surprisingly he's a beanpole but he just doesn't eat a lot.

They sound fine to me.

My Year 3 DS eats loads, I think it can depend on activity levels too, e.g my DS is active, if allowed he’d put his football boots on and play from 7am to 8pm only stopping for food.

He eats far more than me, a snack for him is usually a cereal bar, apple and a yogurt.

He’s on the 99th percentile for height and weight. He wears age 10 to 11 clothes and the waist has to be taken in massively. If I posted on here what he has in his packed lunch I think you’d all keel over in horror!

You’re doing great OP I can’t imagine it’s easy to bring a child’s weight down.