Friends comment around DS eating

[AlexisP90]

Annoyed at a friend's comment and just need a sense check on this...

DS is 2.5. Has always LOVED his food. Nursery have always commented what a good eater he is and he usually has seconds. No issues re being over weight.

Anyway, a friend asked me today what he had eaten (looking for ideas for her DD of a similar age) It looked like the below.

Breakfast (at home)
Small Crossiant
A babybel
Watermelon
Yoghurt
Strawberry
Few grapes

Snack (nursery)
Cheese sticks

Lunch (nursery)
Roast dinner
Popcorn (desert)

Snack (nursery)
Apple
Cheese
Crackers

Tea (nursery)
Pasta and meatballs with hidden veg sauce

Home
He then came home and had some rice and broccoli and a Yoghurt.

They have tea quite early at nursery so he usually has a little bit of whatever we are having around 6ish.

What's wrong with that?!? Friend said to me that's a lot and I should "watch it doesn't become a problem" and the "second dinner" at home shouldn't be happening. ..

He asks for some and eats it. I just don't understand her comment or how to respond. It's upset me a bit.

He shouldn’t be eating popcorn it’s a choking hazard til about 4. All else seems good, balance of fruit and veg, real food, my kids can also really put it away, one is same age…theyre also really active though so it balances out. If there’s no weight problem then fine. How to respond? Ignore.

I think there's too much for breakfast but rest is fine

Thank you. I think nursery call it "popcorn" but it's soft? Bit like sweet rice cakes broken up I think.

It's not too much for breakfast.

This is where you need to start believing you know best about your child and don't let twats make you question yourself.

He has a really good balance there. Do people really think you should say no, you can't have rice and veg with mummy and daddy? It's a social and bonding time.

All looks good to me, just ignore her

Cheese at 3 meals? Ime dc who have too much choice on a plate get fussier than those who eat more 'meals'...

My dc always had another mini dinner at home after nursery.

.

the best thing you can do is ignore people who want to comment on your child’s diet. Unless it is the child’s doctor, they don’t get an opinion.

ive had to learn to shut down people who want to comment on my child’s diet. She has arfid, but we didn’t always have such an easy way of explaining things.

“Shut up you nosy +%]]#[. “ isn’t recommended, but it is tempting.

Just ignore. He's only 2.5 so it's a good idea to get into the habit of ignoring pointless comments on your parenting now.

Mum of 3 here. It's SO variable what's normal and healthy for toddlers to eat that's ok. My 2 eats very much like your son. His sister seemed to survive on thin air sometimes! As long as most of what you're offering is healthy and varied, no need to restrict anything. Trust him, he's learning to listen to his body 😊

It's absolutely fine. I only wish my kids would eat like that. Feed them as much as they'll eat, with the proviso that it isn't junk food and they're not overweight. But plenty of protein and veg? Go for it.

Thank you all. It's nice to hear these things. She definitely made me feel a bit like a bad mum.

You're all totally right. He knows his body and I need to start ignoring these comments from people.

Friend said to me that's a lot and I should "watch it doesn't become a problem"
You should reply - you should watch you giving your unsolicited opinion doesn't become a problem. You asked me what he ate - I didn't ask you to comment on it.

Good diet. Keep it up. Ignore friend, nasty comment actually.

All sounds fine to me, small kids eat often and if you are only offering some of your dinner not insisting he eats some after eating at nursery then no problem.

I would have a word with nursery about the popcorn though. It is a choking hazard and toddlers shouldn't have it.

I'd add as long as he's stopping when he decides he's full and isn't being coaxed into finishing a plate or anything like that, but I don't imagine that's what you're doing!

Mine always had a second dinner at home as sometimes it’s tiny portions at nursery. All 3 of mine ate masses at breakfast too at that age, it was often porridge with fruit, a yoghurt and a glass of full fat milk or boiled eggs with soldiers then fruit and milk. They all had hollow legs growing up and are still the same as adults. Pay your friend no attention.

Mine was a big eater (still is) she’s tall for her age and not overweight. I really think at 2 as long as he’s not eating junk food that they should be allowed to eat to their appetite. One way to make a child overweight is to restrict food and make a big deal out of it. It’s asking for disordered eating.

Sounds fine to me. Mine ate like that at that age. They are both great eaters now (age 11 and 13). Ignore them.

DS ate like that at that age, he still does but in larger quantities now he's six, he has the same size bowl of porridge as me in the mornings and will have a banana and some berries with it. He's very active and on the 25th centile for weight despite being 75th+ for height, I'd worry if he ate less, he'd be too skinny.

He's also really good for knowing when he's full, and not being swayed by biscuits etc if he is, at a party in the summer (BBQ) he ate his own body weight in chicken and veg skewers , pitta, hummus and salad, then asked to take his cake home when the others were eating theirs as he was full. He's got a much better relationship with food than I have! I've always let him eat at much as he wants because he's not really given junk food.

I think it depends on the portion size. If they are toddler sized amounts I think it's fine.

Thank you all. I've just ignored it.

No he's never forced to coaxed into finishing/eating. He's very good at knowing when he's had enough and will say finished now not hungry when he's done. He sees me dishing up our dinner and says oohh some for me? It's never a huge portion, but he definitely wants it.

His weight has always been fine. Never any concerns.

And yeah, good point. I can imagine nursery portions aren't massive.

Going to carry on as we are :)