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

[Theladypatience]

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.

[Queenoftheashes]

I want a lentil bite please

[Pinkflipflop85]

@twoponytails my 18 month old is the same. Even sweet foods that she pinches from her older brother don't get finished. Half a mini milk and she's done!

[Navigationcentral]

Also: my jaw is on floor re lentil bite. I have a 15 month old and a 5 year old. Once spouse and I have both finished our working days - let’s just say - making lentil bites appear as impressive as someone saying they can balance on a pin!

[Koolandorthegang]

My 12 month old would eat nearly the same amount as that. She’s about 24 pounds and very tall, not overweight. I’m happy she’s not a fussy eater who won’t eat anything, that would scare me.

As long as he’s following his curve and your gp or health visitor isn’t concerned I’d say he’s fine?

[3WildOnes]

Mine is a similar age and a tiny bit heavier. She looks quite petite though, despite officially being overweight.
An average day for us would be;
Wake- breast feed
Breakfast- 1/4 of a bagel, small bowl of plain yogurt with 1/2 a banana and a handful of berries.
11am - breastfeed or oat milk if I am working
Lunch- 1/4 of an avocado on a slice of toast, tomatoes & cheese cubes
3.30/ breastfeed or oat milk
Dinner- bowl of food normally meat, starchy card and two veg type meal.
Followed by pudding.

[turnthebiglightoff]

My 2 year old boy is around a third of my height and I am 5'2 I think maybe a 3 year old, not a 2 year old!

[hibbledibble]

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.

This is completely untrue, I suggest you look at research regarding the health benefits of a whole food plant based diet, and the health risks involved in eating meat. The dairy and meat industry are sadly responsible for myths that you and many others believe.

[89redballoons]

Mine is also 17 months, and today he had:

Porridge with blueberries - made with whole milk 75g oats for me and him, he probably ate about 1/2 of what I had or maybe a bit more

Half a rice cake and half a banana as morning snack

Egg fried rice with vegetables for lunch - again about 1/2 my portion size

Cup of milk before nap

Half a piece of granary toast with plain peanut butter for afternoon snack

3 homemade fish fingers, bit of mashed potato, massive portion of peas for tea, followed by half an apple grated into heaped tablespoon of Greek yoghurt

Cup of milk before bed

I've got no idea how much he weighs but he is on the smaller side. He was on about the 35th centile for weight at his 12 month check and is still easily fitting into 12-18 month size clothes.

[Theladypatience]

Honestly the lentil bites are so easy to make. I often cheat with the microwave pouches mix up all the ingredients dunk in breadcrumbs and whack in the oven.

When people say they give their kids one rice cake or half a rice cake do you mean adult sized rice cakes or baby ones? If I have DS half of one of those he would be unimpressed 😂

It’s tricky with his curve because he was off the charts small when he was born and then he made up for it - he’s definitely jumped up the percentiles but we were recently in hospital and while the doctor commented that he’s a big boy, she didn’t air any concerns about his weight. And when the nurse weighed him and he was 12kg (with nappy and his comforter he was holding) she said “12kg oh good” so I guess she wasn’t concerned either.

He’s stocky, he’s like a little rugby player 😂

But he really enjoys his food and loves trying new things.
Some foods posters have mentioned here sound delicious, I’m going to go back through and tag you all for the recipes

[SaltAndVinegarSandwiches]

He should be offered three healthy meals and regular healthy snacks and he should be allowed to determine when he's full or when he needs more. Sounds like you're doing it all just right and you've been blessed with a child who isn't fussy. Ignore your mum.

[89redballoons]

Half the rice cake was half an adult one! The Kallo unsalted ones.

[999Alex]

My 17 month old eats similar, maybe less at lunch but more at breakfast. I wouldn't say she eats loads more like she eats a fair amount. Although she can eat a massive amount of pasta sometimes I'm like no way has she really finished all that 😮

She's quite tiny she's around 50th centile for weight and between 9th and 25th for height.

[Sometimeswinning]

I love reading the menu plans on mumsnet! It's just a whole different world to the pouches and toddler snacks all mine had.

However, the lentil bites. That I think sounds brilliant. I will be doing these.

[DownWhichOfLate]

@turnthebiglightoff - your two year old is only 53cm or so tall?!

[PennyinmyPocket]

My 2 year old boy is around a third of my height and I am 5'2 grin I think maybe a 3 year old, not a 2 year old

My 2 year old grandson measures just under 3 feet. That sounds about right for half his adult height. His Dad is 6ft.

He doesn’t eat half of what posters’ toddlers on this thread eats.

[3WildOnes]

Mine was half my height at about 16 months. She was 82cm according to her read book and I am quite short.

[MrsMonkeyBear]

Absolutely fine.

My youngest is 3 now and I swear she can eat more than me in a day and has done since she was about 18 months. She's always on the move and is now about 16kg. Yesterday's menu for her was...

Breakfast: porridge with honey, cinnamon and raisins.

Snack: Apple, yogurt or some biscuits

Lunch: Big bowl of soup, bread, Watermelon, more yogurt.

Snack: oat cakes with butter

Dinner: Mini roast dinner with chicken, veg, Yorkshire puds and potatoes

Supper: Couple of rich tea biscuits and milk

[pinguwings]

Make the most of it. They learn to self regulate, especially if they're self feeding.

My eldest used to eat like this. She's 3 and a half now and yesterday ate half a slice of toast, half a cucumber and a cornetto over the course of the day...

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

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.

True. I've only ever looked after one vegan child but they were massive compared to other children their age, and ate twice as much.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

Hibbledibble

There are no natural sources of B12 from plant foods.the only available sources are from fortified (artificially supplemented) foods. I've done extensive research on optimal diets for growth and weight gain as my daughter had a growth restriction in utero, and everything I have read suggests that vegan diets are not optimal for children and it is easier to get a full range of nutrition and adequate calories from an omnivorous diet.

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

Hibble really has made me laugh, saying "its completely untrue" that meat is a good source of iron & b vitamins and dairy is a good source of calcium.

You can't just argue against a factually correct statement because it doesnt suit your vegan agenda

[KarmaIsAnAngel]

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Hibbledibble

There are no natural sources of B12 from plant foods.the only available sources are from fortified (artificially supplemented) foods. I've done extensive research on optimal diets for growth and weight gain as my daughter had a growth restriction in utero, and everything I have read suggests that vegan diets are not optimal for children and it is easier to get a full range of nutrition and adequate calories from an omnivorous diet.

The NHS say it’s fine to bring children up on a vegan diet as long as they’re getting the right balance of nutrients needed. Just like on an omnivorous diet :)

www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/vegetarian-and-vegan-diets-q-and-a/

It’s absolutely fine to raise kids as vegan, vegetarian or omni, what matters is the quality of their diet and ensuring they have a well balanced diet. I think we all know omni kids who have terrible diets so I’m not sure you can really talk about what’s ‘optimal’. Whatever diet you raise your child on requires planning and thought.

I’m not sure why some vegans are determined to say animal products are unhealthy for kids or adults, in moderation (like everything) they aren’t, they’re perfectly fine foods. It’s the ethical implications that makes me avoid them, not the idea that they’re bad for you.

[SlidesAndLadders]

Well, you see it's all the meat and dairy industry lies that sadly we all believe. Clearly hibble knows better 🙄

[Katela18]

Sounds about right to me!

My 16 month old eats about the same amount (although I'm afraid she doesn't have lentil sticks )

Your mum is talking crap (sorry). My DD is at nursery and they have a qualified chef on site, and this is the same amount they make for the kids of that age. So I really don't think there is an issue.

[hibbledibble]

I have read the evidence, and the health risks involved with eating meat and dairy, especially a diet high in meat. People have their own agendas, including that they just like meat, or are prejudiced against a plant based diet. This doesn't mean that a plant based diet is not the healthiest option. The 'malnutrition' is a myth: there is not a single medically documented case of protein deficiency in a calorie sufficient diet. Eating excessive calorie dense food also contributes towards childhood obesity.

As for the B12 argument, the only reason meat and dairy has it is because the animals are given B12. It's no better to eat a dead animal that has been given B12, than to eat plant based fortified foods.