Should you limit the portions of food a toddler eats?

[Caz10]

Not sure if this should be in here or in food or in weaning...sorry!

Anyway DD is 2.5yrs and has a hearty appetite. She was ex-bf till about 7mths, then we did BLW, so all very much at her own pace, and I still bf her most days if she asks. Everything has been very much at her pace etc as I really do believe this was the way to go, a natural progression from bf on demand etc.

I'm sure I have read that bf on demand and BLW help children to develop their own sense of portion control etc. I've really never "fed" her, eg very little spoon feeding, we've had a very relaxed attitude to food right from the start, and I think a combination of this approach, plus some sheer luck is how we have ended up with a great little eater, who enjoys her meals. We eat as a family, she is confident and capable with cutlery. She used to eat anything that was put in front of her; since turning 2 I would say she's slightly fussier, less keen on fruit and veg etc, but I think that comes with the toddler territory and I hope it will improve. So it's a bit less exotic and a bit more fish fingers/pasta, but I can live with that, and she seems to eat a great variety compared to friends' LOs.

I have a horror of dieting, eating disorders etc, want her to have a healthy approach to food, I'm an "everything in moderation" kind of a gal! So it's all very low key, here's the meal, if you eat it great, if you don't you don't and I'll prob offer a bowl of cereal at bedtime to tide you over. Don't force food on her, won't chase her round the room etc. Occasionally resort to picnics in front of the TV or in the garden if I feel she really hasn't eaten much.

ANYWAY...when she does eat, she eats HUGE amounts!! I mean adult sized portions of pretty much whatever we're having. She likes her sweet stuff and obviously I limit this, but if she ever does get a cake or whatever, she'd happily eat an adult slice. Meals can be 3 or 4 "courses", e.g pasta with bread, then a yoghurt, then fruit, then cheese and crackers. Other people have been quite astounded at the amount she puts away- eg scrambled eggs on toast would be 2-3 eggs scrambled, 2 slices of toast - exactly the same as me! Obviously some days she will look at it and walk off, but that is just being a toddler I guess.

Is this OK? I really do NOT want to go down the line of telling her she's eating too much, but I do worry that it is too much! She is quite lanky and very active. Obviously when she is a bit more able to understand we can talk about what foods give you energy, help you grow etc, but for now it's down to me to control the type of food she eats - but what about the amount?! I read that they should have fist sized portions - DD is working with the fists of a large adult man if so!

Yes, I know I am very lucky to have a toddler that eats!!

I don't really control my 3.1yo's portions, but I do try distracting her or offering her something different if I think she is just eating for the sake of it-ie she would happily eat the entire fruit bowl in one sitting, but if, when she asks for more fruit, I show her a game or something, she forgets. I think if she was really hungry she would keep asking.

I would say maybe try reducing the portion sizes gradually and she if she snacks more as a result. To me, that would say that she actually does need the food and isn't just eating it because it is there, iyswim.

i wouldn't control amount, but would control what was available. reduce crap food, but if she's eating healthy, good food and she's a good weight and is active, where's the problem?

Thank you!
She snacks too but it is all healthy stuff, and if she is getting a biscuit or whatever it is generally Organix kiddy stuff, their "crisps" not real crisps etc. But I try to stick to fruit, dried fruit, cheese etc for snacks. (Apart from when she goes to my MILs and comes back saying she likes jaffa cakes but that is another thread...!)
She would eat mountains of crap if it was available to her, I know she would, so I am careful with what is on offer. It is not perfect but I think it's ok.
I think she would actually be technically a bit underweight if anything - at her 2yr check she was way up the centile chart for height, but middling for weight.

I wouldn't limit the amount she eats if the food is healthy and is going to do her good. I would limit what she eats on the cake/biscuit/empty calories side of things.
Replace the unhealthy stuff with healthy options.
My 2yr old DS eats huge amounts too but I'm proud of what he can pack away. He's active, lean, sleeps well and is full of energy so he uses it all up with his everyday activities.

I think you're lucky to have such a non fussy eater.
Just offer healthy snacks, so no cakes, chocolate etc (except once in a while, of course).
If she's the correct weight for her height then I wouldn't worry.
My DD is barely 15 m and can eat the whole chicken leg, some mash, fruit and yoghurt. Some days she'll eat less.She's not podgy at all and I just figure she needs it as she just started to walk.

Thanks again. Maybe I am just surrounded by friends whose LOs don't eat well - DD seems a bit ridiculous in comparison sometimes when she is packing away these enormous meals. She is a bit of a carb freak, but I am guilty of that too.
winnybella that sounds like DD at that age!

Caz10 - same here. Every time someone comes over for a meal or we go to visit other people, they comment on how well and how much our DCs eat and compared to their peers it seems they do eat a huge amount but I think you should be glad as winnybella says that you have a child who will eat well and pack away enough food to meet the demands of a growing child!

If as you say she's lanky and active then she's obviously getting what she needs. I'd say be thankful!

If she's tall and slim, it'd be a bit dangerous to restrict her food intake, surely? No, I think you just need to trust her.

Thanks again. I think tortoiseonthehalfshell has hit the point - I just need to trust her! And I suppose that was the question I was really asking - can a toddler be trusted not to overeat? I don't mean stuffing her face with sweeties, but normal meals are they still at the stage where they will just take what they need and nothing more?

My ds was nick-named 'kenwood - the food processor' because of the amount that he eats. It's all day long. We did blw too and I think we really just have to trust them. They are getting to know their bodies and tummies.