Feeding my children too much

[QuirkyKoala]

I am hope this can settle a debate.

I have 2 boys (5 and 2) and we are in disagreement about how much they should be eating in the morning. A family member has been giving 5 year old 2 Weetabix and a slice of toast and 2 year old 2 Weetabix. I feel this is too much as I could barely manage what the 5 year old is eating.

YANBU - that's too much food
YABU - let them eat what they want

My 3 YO is a perfect weight, very ahead of all milestones and very healthy. She’s been eating 3 weetabix with milk since she was 2. Along with a healthy lunch and dinner, fruit snacks in hungry. I see no issue with this as long as there’s no added sugar?

Recently has been asking for eggs instead which we make for her now (a recent development), but I don’t think that 2 weetabix is too much for anyone if they’re hungry for breakfast!

The fact that she can't manage 2 Weetabix & a piece of toast so doesn't want her child eating it tells you she has issues with food.

That’s an entirely normal breakfast . As they age and reach puberty and teens they will eat a hell of a lot more and you will need to be prepared for that too. NHS website has target calories per age group

Sounds like a rubbish breakfast but not particularly large. Weetabix is not that filling.

My small 5yo would easily eat 3 weetabix, a yogurt, a banana and a slice or 2 of peanut butter toast.

My 2yo might have 1 weetabix, a slice of toast, yogurt and fruit.

I wouldn't be doing cereal and toast together though, we do eggs on toast or porridge most mornings with fruit.

You couldn’t manage 2 Weetabix and a slice of toast?? Blimey I couldn’t manage double that and I’m only small.

Yes, it's too much but the majority of people in this country are overweight or obese which will be reflected in the opinions on this. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though, maybe ask them to substitute something for the toast like fruit, eggs or Greek yoghurt with berries/fruit?

Are your kids overweight for their height. Unless they are I'd let them eat. No one got fat just on Weetabix. It's the junk, treats, desserts, etc.. that gets us!

Juice is terrible for teeth!

It would have been too much for my son at those ages but he has always been small for his age so I’m assuming that an average sized or larger child would have a bigger appetite than him.

Is this just attention seeking "look at me with my teeny tiny appetite which is more dainty than a 5 year old"?

Wow - I thought you were going to say you didn’t think it was enough!

It sounds like a perfect amount to me

I think that sounds like too much, isn’t that an adult portion? For a 2 year old?

wait till they get older... my 8 year old eats twice as much as i do.... they stop when they are full - play a lot of sport and have no medical concerns. Your kids sound fine... my child use to have 2nd breakfast when they were 2 😂

My DD could easily eat 2 weetsbix at the age of 2 and would then ask for more. DS only manages 1 at 8yo. Both an healthy weight. Everyone has different appetites at different times of the day.

There is nothing filling in a yoghurt or fromage frais so that won't do if he's hungry

Agree. My thoroughly average 60th centile 1yo had 2 Weetabix handful of blueberries and a banana for breakfast today, pretty standard quantity.

My thoroughly average 50th centile 4yo will eat 3 Weetabix with raisins and a yogurt.

I offer a small portion and they always end up asking for more. They love breakfast. They / we are also a very active family.

Children require more energy to grow. If they're eating it and it's healthy, I'd give it.

My 12 month old ate 1 weetabix, a small banana and some toast for breakfast today.

Are you saying you regularly deny your children food if they are still hungry because you think that it’s “too much” food for them to have? I’d get some help with your food issues before it affects your children.

if it's decent, healthy food I'd let them eat as much as they like. Sometimes they're going throguh a growth spurt and they really surprise you!
A few weeks ago my 19 month old had a week of 2 weetabix every day! this morning he had about 3 bites...

2 weetabix, a small banana, Greek yogurt and blueberries would be better than extra wheat based product as they have extra nutrients

I mean, 2x weetabix is what I would have for breakfast 🤷‍♀️

If they are eating it and growing at a healthy rate, they're fine. DS (7) can eat 3 bowls of porridge on some mornings if he's having a growth spurt- I think you're not considering how much energy is needed for all that growth and development.

Ummmm, yes, anything containing protein and fat isn't filling at all. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, of course it isn't 😩

The easiest way to tell would be to calculate the calories your child needs based on their age, height, weight and activity levels. And then divide it up between the meals. If they’re eating less than the recommended amount then they’ll need more. If they’re eating more than, then it’s probably enough.
Cereal then toast isn’t particularly nutritious, and it’s full of carbs. I’d probably go for porridge and fruit. You can adjust the quantity based on the above and their hunger levels.

I agree with you re the 5 year old, 2 weetabix and toast is an adult sized breakfast.