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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is a lot for a toddler to eat in a day?

76 replies

Theladypatience · 06/05/2021 17:22

Average day for an 17 month old:

One weetabix with milk and half a banana plus 3-4 Cheerios (while he waits!)

Cup of whole milk later in morning

Snack of two homemade pancakes and some fruit or three baby rice cakes with hummus

Rice and fish or a sandwich with some puffs or fruit and hummus rice cakes

Afternoon snack babybel with 1 homemade porridge finger or flapjack with veg grated into it or a homemade lentil bite made with veg and a bit of cream cheese

Dinner of spag Bol with veg mixed in or lamb and couscous or tuna pasta or Turkey risotto with veg and some kind of yogurt or baby custard pudding

Bedtime milk

He’s big at 12kg at 17 months but very active and rarely sits down.

OP posts:

Fitforforty · 06/05/2021 17:24

No I don’t think so. By the time he is 2 he will be half his adult height. Toddlers still have a lot of growing to do.

hibbledibble · 06/05/2021 17:25

Based on personal toddler experience that sounds fairly average, with the proviso that I haven't seen your portion sizes.

BabyofMine · 06/05/2021 17:25

“a homemade lentil bite made with veg and a bit of cream cheese”

I literally can’t picture what this is.

But no I think it’s fine.

Unless you mean 3-4 bowls of Cheerios rather than pieces of. Even then I couldn’t imagine counting out the number of Cheerios...

Pumperthepumper · 06/05/2021 17:26

Is this your 17 month old?

hibbledibble · 06/05/2021 17:27

The only comment I would make is that is a lot of meat and dairy, which isn't good for health reasons, or environmentally. I would substitute for plant based protein eg lentils, beans, tofu

Calmyertits · 06/05/2021 17:27

Dd is 17months too, she has milk 1st thing, weetabix and a half, handful of Blueberries and usually my toast too.

Strawberries, Blueberries, cheese, fruit wafer and a jaffa cake for lunch

Veggie puff Snacks

Whatever we gave for dinner, she has a plateful of too and a mini milk once or twice a week after.

Milk before bed.

SloopyDoodle · 06/05/2021 17:28

Sounds normal to me but can't really tell about portion sizes. I let my 19 month old tell me when she's full. If she wants more than what I've given her, I also offer extra fruit.

orangejuicer · 06/05/2021 17:28

@hibbledibble

The only comment I would make is that is a lot of meat and dairy, which isn't good for health reasons, or environmentally. I would substitute for plant based protein eg lentils, beans, tofu

Good for you. That wasn't the OP's question.

ForgedInFire · 06/05/2021 17:29

Seems about the same amount my 11 month old eats and he isn't running around yet. I'm pretty sure my older DC were eating more at that age

Dishwashersaurous · 06/05/2021 17:29

Assuming toddler size portions then completely normal

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 06/05/2021 17:30

Nk that's fine. I look after toddlers for a living, and I've got 3 of my own kids and I've definitely seen children eat more than that.

NuffSaidSam · 06/05/2021 17:32

It's fine. At this age it's more about what they're eating than how much. Don't force him to clear his plate or anything, but if he's hungry, feed him. As long as it's healthy, it's fine for him to eat as much as he needs.

twoponytails · 06/05/2021 17:32

Wow my 2yo would probably eat all that in 4 days. He is teething though and doesn't have a great appetite anyway and only bf most of the time I guess that compensates for that.

riotlady · 06/05/2021 17:35

Sounds fine, especially as he is in a stage where he’s probably still growing a lot.

With DD I find one day she’ll be having half a chicken and an entire punnet of blueberries and the next she’ll be fuelled solely by Cheerios and spite, it varies!

Pumperthepumper · 06/05/2021 17:35

@twoponytails

Wow my 2yo would probably eat all that in 4 days. He is teething though and doesn't have a great appetite anyway and only bf most of the time I guess that compensates for that.

Have you spoken to your health visitor?

IhaveMyMoments · 06/05/2021 17:36

Sounds fine. My eldest 2 would eat double that. My 3 Yr old eats more than me a day. But isn't over weight, hollow legs. Very tall age 6 clothes.

My 16m old eats nowt... Literally 1/4of that. (but under dietician for it as he eats so miniscule)

Original poster

Theladypatience · 06/05/2021 17:36

I am an idiot that should say isn’t a lot for a toddler to eat, as I’m not an extraordinary amount

Yes it’s my DS. My mum has said I’m over feeding him but he feeds himself and tonight for example, left some of his meal because he was full. I think I could do with more protein and less carbs but I didn’t think it was an insane amount. He’s chunky with a toddler pot belly but he looks in proportion, doesn’t have loads of fat rolls or anything (not that I think there’s much wrong with that at this age!).

The lentil bite is lentils with grated veg, egg and a bit of cream cheese lightly coated in breadcrumbs and oven baked :)

OP posts:

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 06/05/2021 17:37

I didnt give big snacks (and on the rare occasion I did, I just gave normal food like adults eat (carrot sticks, fruit,a rich tea etc), I never went in for specific "baby" recipes and can't quite imagine what a lentil bite is .

Other than that it sounds pretty standard. Even my very petite DD who's a similar age eats about the same but I would imagine it comes down to portion size doesnt it.

Original poster

Theladypatience · 06/05/2021 17:40

Lentil bites aren’t a weird baby thing, I’ve always made and eaten them
Pretty normal in my family!

I try to avoid the Ella’s kitchen type snacks but have to confess I use them when we are out and about as they are handy

I think because of lockdown he’s got very used to his food routine so kicks off a bit at snack time if he doesn’t get one and Mum has started making noises about getting him checked for PW syndrome which I think is completely uncalled for

OP posts:

Pumperthepumper · 06/05/2021 17:42

It sounds absolutely fine, he’s eating a varied diet with plenty of fruit and veg. Spot on, I’d say.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 06/05/2021 17:43

The only comment I would make is that is a lot of meat and dairy, which isn't good for health reasons, or environmentally. I would substitute for plant based protein eg lentils, beans, tofu

Meat and dairy are in fact great for health reasons for kids. Meat is a good source of haem iron which is much more bio available than non haem iron found in green vegetables, and also is a very important source of B vitamins not found in any plant based food unless its artificially fortified. Dairy is a great source of vitamin D, calcium and protein for growing children. It can be difficult to get enough nutrients into growing children from a plant based diet as they have small stomachs and you often need to eat a bigger volume to get as many calories when compared to a broader diet.

Rainallnight · 06/05/2021 17:44

It’s not a lot of fruit. But it definitely doesn’t sound like too much

Legoninjago1 · 06/05/2021 17:45

I actually think it sounds really good OP. Crack on.

LowlandLucky · 06/05/2021 18:02

My second child would have eaten that plus more, he was chubby until just after his 3rd birthday. He is now a 30 something adult with a 28 inch waist that still eats like a horse.

Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 06/05/2021 18:06

@Calmyertits just cheese, fruit, a fruit wafer and Jaffa cake for lunch? No sandwich or soup or anything?

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