Nursery food portion sizes

[Gigi00]

Hi,

In the last month i feel like my DS (19 months) is coming home very hungry from nursery.

He eats 3 meals there & the last meal is between 4-4:30pm and is typically a lighter meal. I pick him up at 5pm and we are home by 5:15.

I had previously on some days where the meal is very light e.g soup or wraps, given a second meal at home. When available sometimes he is given a double portion, but there is not always availability for a second i'm told.

Recently he is screaming badly for food when he comes home and i cant make the food quick enough!

I just wanted to get some advice on if should discuss his portion sizes with the nursery

Is he having a snack in between meals?

I would always have assumed that I'd be giving dinner after nursery - the afternoon meal is more like a snack than a proper meal in my experience

@DrummingMousWife he does have snacks between meals but sometimes refuses them as he doesn't like certain snacks provided. It doesn't seem to make a difference, he is now hungry when home regardless

They give them afternoon tea, so you need to give him dinner when you get home. My daughters would have 3 meals at nursery plus two snacks inbetween and then an evening meal at home.

Portions at ours for meals are big I've seen them plated up. Seconds are always available for anyone still hungry. I'm not sure about snack though. It's usually crackers and cheese or some sandwiches/bagels with fruit and it is served at 3-3.30pm. Just something to keep the kids going until they get home. I've always made mine dinner when they got home and they were usually quite hungry (although both don't have huge appetites). If he's got a big appetite he might just be really hungry.

Its also ok to be hungry prior to a meal

My concern is how he hungry he appears, considering he had beans on toast an hour before. They did say the portion was small.

If you're child is there till the evening does your nursery give a larger portion? My nursery is open till 6:30pm. Im just curious as to if theyd consider this as grounds for extra food.

It's a snack. Wait until he starts school, he'll be ravenous when he comes out.

No, I don’t think they feed them again if they stay later. I collect mine at 4:30 and my friend collects from the same room at 6:30, and they have eaten the same.

But you do have to feed after nursery, it’s not enough for tea.

If it’s open til 6.30 I’d have expected an evening meal to be given. Mine needed to be in bed at 7 at that age, no way would I have had time to cook and for them to eat a meal before bedtime if they’re still in nursery at 6.30. IMO if they’ve had a hot 2 course cooked lunch, something like beans on toast would be fine for an evening meal, if portion size is adequate (and it wasn’t served at 3.30…!) I’d definitely be speaking to them OP.

School is different as they finish at 3!

When my DC were in nursery, the last meal at 4pm was a light tea - it's not to replace dinner. We still fed them when they got home, albeit also a bit lighter than a usual dinner.

We went through phases where I brought a snack for dd to have in the car on the way home. She didn’t eat much at nursery despite their efforts. Then I would make her a large meal as soon as we got home.

I work in a nursery. Snack and lunch portions are okay but tea tends to be pretty small, children would need more food when they get home.

Nursery tea is more of a snack than a main meal - I'd expect to give the evening meal at home.

Maybe speak to the nursery to see if there's any scope for a bigger portion, but otherwise just plan some quick meals that take a couple of minutes to throw together when home - toast and houmous with some sweetcorn, a scrambled egg on toast, a bit of plain pasta with some grated cheese and peas.

Is he eating all the food given to him or is he leaving some at nursery? Could it be that what they provide is adequate but he’s just not eating it all?

They need something to eat at home - the tea mid-afternoon is usually something light like crackers or half a bagel and some beans.

We'd pick up at 6.15, whoever hadn't done nursery pick up had dinner on, and we'd be eating by 6.45. Small portion of whatever we were having for child. Bath at 7.15, in bed for 8pm.

I've have kids in 3 separate nurseries and a childminder setting and they're all like this. Although the childminder doesn't offer breakfast. They get a cooked meal for lunch and sometimes a pudding and a really light tea that's more of a snack. Can you pre make some pasta or sandwiches / chopped fruit etc so he can eat as soon as he gets in?

He's probably gearing up for a growth spurt if he's feeling hungrier than normal. Just mention it to them, ours always give extra when they're still hungry after finishing.

But also, frozen peas are brilliant as a snack when you get in, straight from the freezer - he'll probably love them, they take ages to eat so you can get on with cooking and who cares about snacks when they're veg.

My girl is the same age and I've always picked her up with a snack then given another when we get home.

Usually come armed with a tub of roast chicken or berries to keep her going then something more substantial once home.

I collected mine at 6:15pm, they fed them light afternoon tea at 3:30pm and a snack after that. Then I gave them dinner at home.

Why are you complaining about having to feed your child once you get home? I'm sure you wouldn't have your tea at work before you go home.

I always had a bun in my bag at pick up from nursery. No matter the time they were hungry.

@HelpMeHaveAVoice PLEASE did i say im complaining!! I posted as to ask others opinion on if he's getting enough tea as hes so very hungry on coming home. its called being aware and checking if this normal. Please stop jumping to conclusions that i'm complaining about feeding my son. What an unnecessary comment from you!!!! Wow

I'd assume you'd be needing to supply an evening meal regardless. And as you say, he doesn't like some of the snacks so that would explain his hunger.
I remember kids always being starving after school, I guess partly as some of the food isn't to their taste. Also they've been stimulated and burning off loads of energy.
Can you send him in with snacks you know he'll eat?