AIBU to say this is not enough food for my DS?

[GrannySquares]

My DS is 3 years old and is a very energetic but he really enjoys his food. He eats quite a lot because that's all he asks for so of course I do give him it and it is always healthy like cheese sticks, fruits etc. He goes to CM during the week and he absolutely loves it there but I feel like she only gives him very little food. A typical menu is for breakfast he has cornflakes, a snack will be an apple, and lunch is a sandwich. After, a snack will be a biscuit and a pear and dinner is whatever they have there. When he comes home, he is starving and he asks for food so I give him more dinner which he demolishes and he will also have pudding for after. Surely he shouldn't be coming home starving? I am paying a separate fee for him to have meals so why is he coming home, ravenous? Is he just greedy? He love going there and she's such a lovely lady so I'm going to feel bad if I ask her to feed him more

Unless portion sizes are tiny it sounds fine. 3 meals and 2 snacks

What does he eat on a typical day then?

I remember being at a childminders and being so hungry it was horrible. I would say pack him a lunch and just say that what your doing from now on I'm sure she won't mind at all.

My ds is also 3yo and he typically eats:
B: cereal and a small smoothie
School lunch: chicken corn salad (varies)
Lunch at home: avocado toast and yoghurt
Snack: fruit
Supper

I do think your ds is eating too little.

That doesn’t sound much, cornflakes in particular are not very filling even if you eat a lot of them. My daughter has yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, then at nursery will have a savoury snack like crackers and cheese mid morning, a healthy lunch made on site like chickpea curry or pasta made with courgette noodles or a wrap with grated carrot, spinach, ham etc, then fruit for afternoon tea.

Cornflakes are not filling.
Can you say to her that you would prefer porridge or eggs?

It sounds like a reasonable amount in my opinion. Maybe something to go with his sandwich at lunch would be an idea, I suppose it depends on the portion sizes though.

I'd just send him with a lunch bag. Feed him some breakfast before you leave, then with the breakfast he has there plus his packed lunch and childminder snacks and dinner he will be OK, won't he?

It sounds too little to me. Is there anything with the sandwich and cornflakes? Any milk?

Is he the correct weight for his height and age? To be honest I think you've only got a problem if he's underweight.

That doesn’t sound like much at all. Breakfast at home. Then breakfast there at the very least. He should then have a sandwich with some crudities, a yoghurt or similar, afternoon snack and dinner.

My dd came home hungry after nursery. Little ones eat little and often. But this really isn’t much at all.

How much are you paying a day for food? I also think a packed lunch would be a good thing and then the Cm feeds your ds snacks and in the afternoon.

What would you usually give him if at home, OP?

That’s enough, you don’t have to be full 24/7

a bowl of cereal
apple pear
sandwich
biscuit
And dinner (any idea what op?)
What does he drink?

Written down like that for an active 3-year-old isn't that great. Ok, there's fruit but heavy carbs and little protein.

I don't think that's enough protein.

I’ve got a 2 year old and he’ll eat a bowl of cereal, a sandwich, 2 pieces of fruit and a biscuit in one sitting. And he’s very small for his age btw. That’s not enough, there’s nothing particularly filling there apart from the sandwich, and that’s not enough on its own when he’s only had cornflakes and an apple for breakfast and snack

Sounds plenty to me but it depends what he has for supper. If it’s fish fingers or mince, mashed potatoes and veg, fine. If it’s another sandwich - not so fine.

Do you think she’s pocketing the difference between what you’re paying for food and what you’re giving him?

I mean she’s giving him.

How much extra do you pay for the meals?

What's in the sandwich?
It's the total lack of variety as well.

DS is almost 3
Yesterday he ate
Banana and glass of smoothie at home
Cornflakes and glass of milk at nursery.
Curry and naan for lunch at nursery there will have been pudding but not sure what
Ham wrap and fruit for tea at nursery
Spaghetti bolognese and a small piece of garlic bread at home.

He is 65 centimetres for weight.

I don't think it sounds bad apart from the cornflakes for breakfast. That's a crap breakfast. Can you maybe give him some eggs before he goes?

Centile not centimetres

My three year old would be very hungry with that.

What’s wrong with cornflakes for breakfast?