age 3 and age 5 lunchtime meal

[Isabelle97]

Hello, can you please help me by answering these questions
What can you cook for lunch for a 3 year old?
What can you cook for lunch for a 5 year old?
What nutrients does a 3 year old need in their lunch meal?
What nutrients does a 5 year old need in their lunch meal?
How big are portion sizes for a 3 year old?
How big are portion sizes for a 5 year old?

It will help me alot if you could answer these or at least one thank you very much

is lunch a hot or cold meal?
Lunch here is a sandwich, some fruit, and maybe a yoghurt
Both a 3 and 5 year old could eat the same meal.
Portion size depends on how hungry they are and how much they eat in one sitting.

I find that frittata is often a good option. You can pretty much add anything you like to it and it would be suitable for a 3 or 5 yo. I have even added different fillings on either side, like you would with a pizza.

Other than that, pasta with various sauces (you can prepare and freeze small portions of the sauce)- bolognese, pesto, tomato & chorizo, cheese.

Small pre-prepared and frozen shepherds pie, cottage pie, lasagne.

Sandwiches work well too and recently they have enjoyed batons of veg (carrot, pepper, cucumber) served with oil/balsamic vinegar mixed for dipping.

My 2 are 20 months and 4 and their tastes can change from one day to the next. I try to serve veg with at least 1 meal and fruit as pudding or snack at least once too. Portion wise, it really depends on the day. I try to serve smallish portions and then give more if they want. I think if you put too much on their plate at once it can put them off or just end up on the floor (with the 20 month old!).

Also, forgot that baked potatoes work well with various fillings. Of course there are days when they get beans on toast or Thomas the Tank engine spag shapes!

Beans on toast
Scrambled egg on toast
Portion size would be a slice each
Nutrition - protein, fibre & carbohydrate, then fruit for afters to fill up on vitamins & minerals. Drink water.

Thank you you have been a great help.