Portion Sizes?

[scrappydappydoo]

I have a 2yr old and 4yr old. How do I know what's the right portions for them?
I had a friend round yesterday and I served tea for my two and her two who are about the same age. She was shocked at my portions - waay too small apparently. They each had a sausage, 2 'smilers', 3 'trees' of brocolli (sp?) and a chopped carrot each. Then a yoghurt for dessert. Is this ok do you think?
How do I know whats right? She made me feel like I was starving my kids or something..

Personally, I think that amount is fine. I always looked at it from the point of view.....if its reasonable healthy, let them have it. You can buy plastic plates that are sectioned off into three so that you can measure the portion size you give them. My grandson however will eat and eat and eat and wont stop unless you make him. The more you feed them, the more their stomach stretches and need/want more. If they feel they need/want more, they can fill up on fruit or yoghurt like you have. If they refuse....they obviously arent hungry.

i'm sure they'd let you know if they were hungry.

I'm not sure that their stomach actually stretches, more that they learn to ignore their natural impulse to stop eating when they are full. I still have issues with portion size from having been encouraged to clear my plate as a kid.

that your friend made you feel like that.

Children have different sized appetites.

Your friend's children clearly have hollow legs. Yours have smallish appetites.

Is either set of children over/underweight? Then there's no problem imo.

What did your friend actually say?

Thanks for the replies - neither children are skinny or overweight imo. Its difficult not to get paranoid about feeding kids these days.
Think I'm just being sensitive - she wasn't rude just commented that the meal was small and her dc would probably eat twice that as they needed it to grow.

I think it's very easy to slip into giving inappropriately large portion sizes.

Your description sounded about right to me. At 2 and 4 they probably still need snacks in between meals and big potions at meals might be too much.

I've come to this conclusion a little late. I have a 14 and 12 year old.
The 14 year old can eat for England and remain skinny. I got into the habit of giving the younger one equally large portions but have realised that he is not made the same and could become overweight. ( He's just slightly chubby but within healthy weight guidelines).
I cut his portions down without saying anything to him and he never even noticed.

Fine but mine the same age will on occasion eat double or half. I think thats the most important thing that children can respond to their hunger and some days they are hungrier than others. I always serve a small portion and offer more if its eaten up. If I have other children round I always over cater although IME children often eat less at other peoples houses as more distracted but I don't want to look mean.