Portion Sizes and Nutrition

[singlewiththree]

Does anyone know of any good resources to help with planning nutritious food that is well balanced and the right portion size?

I have done a sample menu but as my mindees all just come for one day at the moment they seem to get the same each week, the parents don't seem to mind but it just made me wonder if I am giving them enough and if its nutritious enough, I'm going off my GCSE home economics from Eons ago.

[TheBTeam]

Hi, just googled this, cos i was interested to and found this website which i am now looking through
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/nutri...food_prtns.htm

[miffy]

Hi, just googled this, cos i was interested to and found this website which i am now looking through
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/nutri...food_prtns.htm

That looks a good website, thanks

Miffy xx

[tulip0803]

As a rough guide a portion size is what can fit on palm of hand of the person going to eat it. We did it with a 18m old at the family centre this week and her portion size of grapes was 3. Same for dinner one palm sized portion of each item i.e. chicken, potatoes, carrots & peas are each one palm size portion.

This is what the HV & child development expert from family centres are both saying here.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicati.../01/18153659/9

[sarah707]

When I was writing my healthy eating e-book I researched this in depth.

There isn't a lot of information for this age group and not many studies have been done.

The most common advice was to give them pared down versions of whatever you are eating and as Tulip says to go with the hand size portions... but of course some children might be more hungry and need extra. Then the trick is to give them a little and offer more.

Hth

[Heaven Scent]

I go with the hand sized thing but with a twist - I go by fist size so it give you how high the pile is iyswim cause a palm size circle could reach the sky. also organix have loads of info on their website - I have some posters which I got sent to me.

[Blaze]

Sorry I haven't time to find it, but the nhs five a day bit on the nhs website has some good info & resources for the kids...as does the change4life website.