Are my dd's portions sizes small or about right?

[suiledonne]

I have 2 dds, aged 4 and 22 months. Neither is particularly interested in food. They do eat a varied(ish) diet but the amounts seem tiny.

The only children of a similar age I know of are my sister's children and they are very big for their ages (mine are on the small side) and they eat a lot more than mine.

For example this evening I gave them mashed potato, broccoli and trout.

They both ate less than one very small potato mashed, 3 little broccoli florets and about 2 teaspoons of flaked fish. Neither could be persuaded to eat another bite. This is about average intake for their main meal.

I suppose if this is all they need there is nothing I can do about it anyway but I am just wondering if it sounds about right.

On the odd occasion we have sausage, chips or nuggets type of meal they eat less of that so it is not a preference for less healthy food.

We don't do a regular pudding so they aren't leaving food in anticipation of something sweet.

What size portion do your children eat?

Thanks

That soounds tiny to me, but my 4 year old has always eaten a lot, and can sometimes clear up what I would consider to be an adult portion of pasta.

I give him 2 potatoes, two medium broccoli florets, a whole carrot and would give him about 100g of fish.

That doesn't sound much - what do they eat like at other meals?

DS is 25 months and for dinner he will eat half a medium sized jacket potato, about 2 of his fists sized portion of meat, one carrot, half a courgette. Sometimes he eats more than this if he's hungry and he will normally have a yoghurt and some fruit as well, and then a huge cup of milk before bed.

He isn't great at breakfast though, he prefers to pick and will often have only half a slice of toast and half a banana. Lunch is also variable, normally lots of salad (tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, celery) and a single slice of bread made into a sandwich, but very often he'll only have salad and bread and butter.

He will eat a vast portion of pasta, enough to fill one of my Denby cereal bowls and they are quite big.

I think myself it is very little but they are both just below the 50th centile so not tiny and DH and I are shorter than average so wouldn't expect them to be big anyway.

They aren't big snackers either so I have no idea where they get their energy.

It is the complete lack of enthusiasm that drives me mad. They only thing that gets them excited is an ice lolly -the icy, frozen juice ones.

My 3 year old will happily live off of and Apple a day, he will sometimes eat a slice of Bread all day, he just inst interested in food, he is skinny but is generally healthy, he drinks plenty and has loads of energy, some people only eat as a necessity rather than people who eat because they enjoy food.

As long as your children are healthy i wouldn't worry about it, with Ds i refuse to start a battle i figure he will eat more when he is ready.

My ds has just gone to bed and has only had some fruit for dinner. Wouldn't touch his main course so thats the only other option he has.

He isn't a great eater and is very uninterested in food unless it is a biscuit.

He is 4 btw and at school is the only one having a packed lunch.

My dd is 2yr and 5 months, always liked a variety of food but never eaten vast amounts. She became much pickier around 18m and food intake is fine overall but varies wildly according to her mood. She always has a decent breakfast of half a pint of milk and 1 weetabix or some cheerios with a bit more milk. On a bad day will have a few teaspoonfuls of lunch, a small fromage frais and mayne a slice of toast for tea, with more milk before bed. On a good day will have 2 helpings of lunch at home or nursery plus hot pudding, and sandwiches and fruit for tea. I used to worry myself ragged, but she puts on weight fine and is healthy and happy. Like you, our food is on the whole fresh, home cooked and healthy. I firmly believe that a small amount of this is better than a larger amount of pre-packaged or fast food. Don't worry, they sound fine

Their portions sound about the same as my DS1 will eat (he is 3.6 and just not that big on eating).

DS2 otoh (16m) eats about four times as much as DS1 at every meal.

If they are happy and healthy I would not worry about it. They'll eat what they need to.

I have two dds of the same age and would say they have similar portions for a typical dinner. They will snack on fruit during the day.
My two year old does seem to have a bigger appetite but will tend to 'follow' my 4 yr old so if dd1 says shes had enough so has dd2. They are small and skinny but very healthy and will always say if they are hungry... I'm fairly relaxed about it with them but do get fed up with people commenting on how little they eat otoh I am at some other childrens portion sizes... so its swings and roundabouts.

Thanks for all the replies. It helps to hear there are other children like this.

I try not to let it worry me but I love my food and I wish I could find one or two meals that they genuinely seem to enjoy, rather than just pick at.

If anyone has suggestions for tasty meals their children love let me know. I would be happy to try them.

Thanks.

My DD doesn't eat much but she does enjoy her food. She eats what we eat, but her favourites are lasagne, beans (we get the reduced sugar and salt ones), and risotto. Also she loves tiny pasta she can pick up with her fingers, that'll get her eating loads. But as others have said, I think they eat what they need, if you try and force them you can end up with more problems.