Not enough in packed lunch for 3yo

[Shelovesamystery]

Just wanted to check with others really. My DS has been trying to eat other children's lunch at preschool they've asked if I think we put enough in his lunch box for him. I think what he has is adequate for his age and size but I could be wrong so please tell me if you think I am and I will give him more.

Today he's got a (full size) wrap with cherry tomatoes, ham and cheese inside, a pot of fruit (roughly 5 grapes, 5 raspberries and 3 large strawberries) and a cheese string. This is the usual portion size but the food varies, sometimes pasta, sometimes a sandwich etc. He turned 3 in March, average size for his age and not under or overwheight. They have morning and afternoon snacks at preschool. He eats his breakfast (2 weetabix or a small bowl of cheerios and a banana most days) and doesn't ask for food when he gets out of preschool or on the way home.

So am I giving him enough? TIA

If he's trying to eat other children's lunches then he must be hungry so I'd add some extra things in - it doesn't seem like much to me to be honest! How old is he?

Sorry just saw you said he's 3

I would add something like flapjack or cereal bar to that.
Or some of those organix puff crisps

Is it maybe sweet treats he is trying to take?

I think he needs more carbs in there. My three year old requires some sort of crisps or crackers or rice cakes or similar

Pasta might be better than a wrap for filling him up

I’d add a yoghurt and small biscuit or flapjack.

He might just fancy other people's food! This sounds like enough to me. At preschool, mine had food supplied - preschool would give them much less than that. They always came out hungry though and I would bring a snack with me - it's a good sign that yours isn't! If he's finishing everything, then maybe add something else in as all kids are different.

You could add in a banana or some rice cakes.

But maybe he just likes grazing other people's lunches? I know I do.

No problem with the amount. I think perhaps it's the options. If he is sat with kids who have crisps, biscuits, yogurt, cake etc he is going to get food envy. Not sure what you can do really as your lunch sounds nice and healthy.

This is how I imagine him.

Is he trying to eat particular things or just more sandwiches etc? If its not treat stuff it might be that the stuff the other kids have looks really exciting so he wants to just have a taste or it might be genuine hunger. You could definitely bulk his lunch up with a flapjack and yogurt. Try and ask him if there is anything else he might like in his lunchbox it will give you a clue.

Not dissimilar to my 3 year old. If we need a packed lunch we do a cheese spread sandwich (only thing she’ll eat as a sandwich). Two slices of wholemeal bread & cream cheese. Then a banana or apple, 2x petit filous (the small ones) & an Organix Oat Bar. As a treat, she might get some pombears.

I’m not sure I’d instantly jump to the conclusion he’s hungry when trying to take food from others. What is he trying to take? Crisps/chocolate etc would imply he just fancies those as opposed to him being hungry!

I forgot to say that he usually eats all his lunch but not always. When they told me my first thought was that the other child must have had one of his favourite foods, he could eat endless amounts of what he really likes if I let him. But then they said his own lunch might not be enough so I'm not sure. Tbh I'm paranoid now that they don't think I give him enough and have used him eating another child's food as a way to tell me politely

My rule of thumb with packed lunches has always been to give them what they would eat at home plus an extra snack as they can't ask for more if they are still peckish like they can at home.

It could be more that he wants what they others have because it's different. I have a very hungry 2.5 year old and I always make sure he has a big bowl of porridge with nut butter and a banana or a poached egg on toast with fruit and yogurt before nursery or he asks them for seconds.... He's 50th centile, and very active so I'm not worried. When we had to send lunch in for a while I got a food Thermos and sent in a hot meal, pasta or curry rice and veg, I usually put lentils, chickpeas, butter beans etc in meals for DS as they seem to fill him for longer

It’s plenty.
My four year old takes a wrap, veg sticks, fruit and an oaty bar/soreen loaf. Says I give him too much sometime s

Summerhouse probably has it right, I know there is a lot of lunchbox envy with my little boy, and there is definitely trends where one mum gets a particular new snack and all the other kids get obsessed. It is not always unhealthy it’s just cute or snazzy packaging that appeals.

I think it's very, very easy to give too much in a pack up and most parents (including me) put too much in. I thought this the other day when in dawned on me I would never give so much for lunch at home so why pack it. There's some strange psychology at work. Your rule is spot on.

I don't know what food he was trying to steal, the message was passed on by someone who wasn't with him when he was doing it. I'll ask at pick up, might give me a clue to the reason.

Try and ask him if there is anything else he might like in his lunchbox it will give you a clue aha good idea, I will ask him, thank you. A few pps have mentioned he might be jealous of the other children's food and I suspect this could be it.

I think I'll put something extra in and see if he eats it all. Just thought, he could be having a growth spurt, he always eats more just before a growth spurt.

It sounds like enough but I’d add some extra things in for a week and see how much more is eaten. Or of he eats the “nicer” bits and starts leaving the rest.

I think put an extra sealed oat bar or something not temperature sensitive in and then you have placated the nursery and if he doesn’t eat it there is no waste. Also maybe check with the nursery if he is grabbing other food and upsetting other kids in which case have a chat to him about manners or if he is trying to trade and offer food or asking to have some. They haven’t been very clear.

I have a "show" apple. It just goes to school everyday and comes home every night. You can get many food miles out of a show apple.

Why are you counting the fruit? I think he needs an additional snack like a cereal bar/flapjack.

Whack a frube in. Job done.

@Megan2018

It sounds like enough but I’d add some extra things in for a week and see how much more is eaten. Or of he eats the “nicer” bits and starts leaving the rest.

See this is why I'm reluctant to put "treat" type things in because, knowing him, this is exactly what he will do

@SummerHouse

I have a "show" apple. It just goes to school everyday and comes home every night. You can get many food miles out of a show apple.

Ha, I love it!