Portion Sizes

[Kirky12]

After watching Jo Frost ( rubbish show but addictive !)I've been obsessed with portion sizes. My ds is only 19 months - he's got a huge desire for any food. I don';t give him bad food - sugary/fatty etc but he loves rice cakes etc. He has a big tummy ( but not fat elsewhere) and he can eat small bowl of pasta and whole sandwich plus fruit, toast, cereal etc ....bit worried he's getting fat already!

What's she saying about portion sizes then?

That we're not feeding kids the wrong foods- just too much. So is a whole sandwich too much?? Kids bowl of pasta - Too much?? Just not sure...

But it's all....gah!

When we were growing up we ate shitloads of food, but weren't fat because of the exercise we were doing.

If your child is not too fat, and you are not feeding it junk, and it runs around, then everything is pretty much bound to be fine. IMO.

My children are total gannets but they're not fat - they're just normal lively children who are growing fast and exercising lots.

"we" meaning the majority of kids who are now adults posting on here ie 70s kids

and we had loads of sweets and crisps and fizzy drinks and all sorts.

it's the exercise that's key here

Mine eat LOADS, they really do

I have tended to go with their appetites, tbh. They are 3 and 6

I think I'm pretty confident that I can tell the difference between genuine hunger and 'boredom' hunger (and I see both, a lot )

To give you an idea of what they eat:

1-2 bowls of cereal and possibly a slice of toast for breakfast

Something on toast (beans, eggs, sardines etc) or a sarnie for lunch. Fruit or yogurt after

Dinner - the usual fare... pasta, shepherd's pie, fish with mash and veg blah blah. Maybe more fruit after

They will have snacks inbetween too. Crackers, or cereal bars, or more fruit. Maybe a couple of biscuits. RArely crisps, sweets a couple of times a week

Only have milk or water

Portions are a fair size,they nearly always eat it all

I don't but ready-made stuff though and try and avoid crap cereals. HAve brown bread not white

They are like whippets. DD1 in paricular

I think as long as you're generally avoiding ready-made, convenience foodstuff you're probably alright. And not overdoing sweets and crisps etc

AGree re the exercise thing too

We are all much more sedentary these days, is bound to have made a difference

jo frost said upto the age of 2 a child controls its own portion by hunger, after 2 they eat cos they like the tast and eat more if they are given more just because its given to them.

I think jo frost maybe talks rubbish.

How can she possibly say what portion size is suitable when she has no idea how big the child is, whether it is going through a growing phase, how much exercise it is doing, what its general diet is like?

This sort of advice which encourages people to go against their instincts is so damaging. Yes some people have crap instincts and /or feed their children rubbish, but all it does for others is make them lose their confidence, and undermine their natural skills. So they turn to prepared stuff so as to get it "right". Jo frost branded ready meals, anyone?

Yes, you only have to compare adult appetites... none of us eat exactly the same as each other, do we?

Same with kids

I know mine are fit and healthy and eat the 'right' things the majority of the time

I know DC the same age who eat far less but are in no way more, or less healthy than mine

We know our own children the best. Like I said, I believe I can tell the difference between genuine and bored hunger. I will feed accordingly, not as directed by some childcare 'guru'

DS1 is nearly 4 and believe me, the boy is well and truly in control of how hungry he is - some days he is hungry, other days he isnt. His little brother - aged 1 - is not such a fussy eater but he is a big eater (though exercises portion control when it comes to his milk intake ) - am sure he'll go through the fussy stage and stop eating so much at some point.

I agree with ISNT. How can Jo Frost comment. I eat more than any other adult I know. I am totally normal weight. DS1 eats loads. and he does have crisps and chocolate biscuits. i deny him nothing. skinny as a rake. DS2, aged 17 mths is .........nigh on fat. how has that happened I ask myself. am now watching what he eats.
trying to say that 325 grams(or whatever it was she quoted) is suitable for every child, beggars belief.