Food and drink portion sizes in supermarkets and restaurants have increased in recent years, and there’s evidence that we’re also eating bigger servings at home too – this may be contributing to the rise in being overweight and even obesity among young children.
But how much food do young children actually need? There’s very little guidance available, so parents and carers often have to rely on their own judgement.
Some parents say that their child simply stops eating when they’ve had enough, while others find their little one will carry on eating and eating until they’re told to stop.
All children are different and your child may need different amounts of food depending on how they’re feeling or what they’ve been doing on a particular day – for example, a child who’s been running around will need more food than one who isn’t feeling very well.