1 tablespoon of ice cream - portion sizes for children [Archive]

claireh

09-03-2010, 08:43pm

I have just switched on Jo Frost's extreme parenting and they have just had a little section on portion sizes for children.

One question was 'how many tablespoons of ice cream should be a portion for children'. The answer was 1. Life a lot of the parents I would have thought 2 or 3.

It got me thinking about how much I should be feeding M portion size wise as she grows.

How do you guage how much to feed your children?

katkinn

09-03-2010, 08:46pm

I have to day I feed mine till they stop eating.

But then mine don't eat that much and they do self regulate and do stop eating. (bar M with blueberries :loco: Or sweets for that matter - biscuits and cake he'd stop eating but sweets? :happyno:)

I think I would be more concerned if they were children who just ate and ate and ate but I have the opposite problem of actually getting them to eat :doh:

eta - ooh now I do seem to remember something to do with the size of their fist. That could be the size of their tummies or the size of their portion - that's not v helpful, is it :oops:

claireh

09-03-2010, 08:51pm

Having met your lovely munchkins their self regulation clearly works as they all look very healthy.

One of the intesting points on the programme was that when the children (aged 8) were given a much larger portion than the recommended portion size they all pretty much polished it off. This over eating of portion size can apparently lead to a weight gain of 20 llbs over a year which I though was :zombie:

Clearly this would not happen to all children especially in relation to activity levels etc.

Mrs B

09-03-2010, 08:54pm

Sol will happily eat a lot more ice-cream than that, but only in summer. In winter he'll refuse it outright.

I'm of the Kat school of thought, they let me know when they've had enough and I've already got too many grey hairs from worrying about the whole food thing so I don't sweat amounts.

Damsella

09-03-2010, 08:56pm

DD only has ice cream about twice a month :angel: and I let her have a couple of bowls full.

I guess it's different if the children are having ice cream a few times a week.

Mrs B

09-03-2010, 08:57pm

One of the intesting points on the programme was that when the children (aged 8) were given a much larger portion than the recommended portion size they all pretty much polished it off. This over eating of portion size can apparently lead to a weight gain of 20 llbs over a year which I though was :zombie:

Clearly this would not happen to all children especially in relation to activity levels etc.

I think some of that can be atributed to how they were brought up too; we always had to finish every morsel on our plates, and to this day I hate leaving any food because of it. But if kids are brought up to just eat what they want, they may be more able to stop when they're full. Hope that makes sense.

Minky

09-03-2010, 09:20pm

fist size (child's fist, not yours!) is a portion of protein or veggies I think...

I do icecream with a scoop and would do one scoop, but would imagine that's more than a tablespoon :puzzled:.

VERY interesting one tonight I thought!

Rosa

09-03-2010, 09:28pm

That doesn't sound much ice cream. I don't generally have ice cream in but when L has it he does have much more than one tablespoon.

In general though I give him small portions as I find he eats more then. I think he finds bigger portions a bit overwhelming and he gives up more quickly. He eats really well in terms of variety but not in terms of quantity so I'm really happy for him to eat as much as he likes as it all balances out. A ton of ice cream one day, a ton of carrots the next etc.

And I agree with Mrs B, I hate being stuck with the mentality that I have to finish everything on my plate, I don't think it's helpful.

goldilocks

09-03-2010, 09:29pm

I feed mine til they tell me they're not hungry anymore. If they have ice cream they have about 3 scoops.

They eat a balanced diet,if they are hungry between meals then its fruit most of the time, run around like loonies all the time so I don't see it as a problem. They don't have an ounce of fat between them, lucky devils!

Bettie May

09-03-2010, 09:31pm

Mine have two scoops once a week along with all the crap they can throw at it... syrup, wafers, sprinkles...

skylark

09-03-2010, 09:34pm

I think that the fist size is portion of veg and carbs, palm size is the potion of protein. Both of mine self regulate and Gemma has been known to eat a few spoons of icecream and then say she has had enough, a concept that is complety alien to me.

scatterbrain

09-03-2010, 09:37pm

As much as they want (within reason). I didn't watch the program, but afaik a balanced diet (inclusing fats as well as other stuff) and excercise is better than just cutting right down on something like ice cream. Both of my girls eat as much as they need & both are healthy weights & very tall.

Snacks are usually fruit and desserts are yogurt or ice cream.

I didn't watch the program.

S

book_lover

09-03-2010, 09:45pm

I haven't seen this, but last night they had a ramekin (fairly tightly packed) with ice cream. It's SO rare, not even once a month (mean mummy, it just doesn't occurr to me to buy it). Portion wise in general though, I think they take what they need - isn't it about the KIND of food you're feeding them really? I mean, macaroni cheese or meals with chips every day of the week etc.....

I think the main thing surely is to be confident in the food you're cooking. But them I'm not the expert like this lady on telly..... I watch Laura's shape carefully (without her realising of course) and should she start to bulge out more than seems "right", I'd cut back on her portion sizes - certainly snacks can't be a problem for her as she only really has fruit or oatcakes (and the occasional bag of sweets).

Katiekipper

09-03-2010, 10:02pm

How old is a child? You can't compare my growth spurting, nearly 5ft 11 year old with a little 6 year old can you?
My older two now both eat more than me and metabolise it
better!

Daisy66

09-03-2010, 10:13pm

How old is a child? You can't compare my growth spurting, nearly 5ft 11 year old with a little 6 year old can you?

Quite!

But I guess the programme is trying to aim the idea at people who actually have no idea about healthy eating?

One tablespoon is very little and almost not worth having really!

Daisy

Maudie

09-03-2010, 10:29pm

A tablespoon is 15ml and isn't a lot really. I give the girls frozen yoghurt and it isn't really for them - it is so I don't pig out on a tub of Ben and Jerrys. DD1 has two scoops and DD1 has one.

Both will quite happily sit at the table and eat and eat and eat. I have now started to give them a chocolate button at the end of a meal to signify the meal is over and the kitchen is closed.

WoollyNewty

09-03-2010, 10:38pm

When my brother was a teenager I used to watch with huge envy as he used to get a whole litre tub out the freezer once my mum had left for work and devour the whole thing FOR BREAKFAST. Skinny as a bloody whippet with legs to die for......:rant: .

Actually it kind of scares me how much teenage boys need to consume - I'm not sure how I will ever fund it? One of his mates (who was also well over 6 foot) used to get through several loaves of bread a day and whole chickens.

Back to the point - Spud doesn't like ice cream (because of the cold) but if Alex has it I'd give him probably 2 big spoons/scoops. I don't really think it's about portion size of one element - it's about their whole diet.

thirzasmum

09-03-2010, 11:06pm

How old is a child? You can't compare my growth spurting, nearly 5ft 11 year old with a little 6 year old can you?
My older two now both eat more than me and metabolise it
better!

My growing 14 and 10yr olds eat more than me too!!
Interestingly my 16yr old has started to regulate her portions a bit but in a sensible way.

We try to set portion sizes for "treat" foods eg only 1 yog as pudding or 1 hot cross bun but if they are hungry they can have seconds or thirds of food within reasonable "rules (eg if you want more beef you should have some left over broccoli too...). Most of the time we eat well, and I see no point in trying to portion control veg based meals for children who are hungry,growing and too slender to clothe for their height (I can't believe it, they aren't super skinny!)

smiley

09-03-2010, 11:15pm

Mine would complain at just one tablespoon!

They are good eaters though, have a balanced diet and are both slim so it doesn't worry me

S xxxx

jamsplat

10-03-2010, 06:43am

DD1 would eat liters of ice cream if I let her, she loves anything frozen (ice cubes, snow, you name it, if its frozen she devoures it). She doesn't eat it that often (once a fortnight maybe) and usual portion is probably a minimilk (or if she's at the inlaws about 3 cornettos!)

DD2 (who is much more solidly build than her skinny sister) isn't that fussed about icecream (or cakes/biscuits really) she wants some if her sister has some but tends not to eat much, she's probably not finished a tablespoon most times she's been served (dairy free) icecream

Twistarella

10-03-2010, 08:06am

I did have a chortle to myself when Jo Frost was lecturing us on healthy eating last night :teehee: Pot, kettle, black anyone?

Anyway, I couldn't work out if she meant that 1 tablespoon a day was what was sufficient or whether whenever kids had icecream it should be one tablespoon. A has it maybe once, twice a month - I never have it in the house so it's only if it's on the kids menu at a restaurant.

VivB

11-03-2010, 07:14am

I did have a chortle to myself when Jo Frost was lecturing us on healthy eating last night :teehee: Pot, kettle, black anyone?

.
I said the same to dp last week !! I bet she eats more than 1 tbs of icecream :wink:

Chickster

11-03-2010, 08:16am

I did have a chortle to myself when Jo Frost was lecturing us on healthy eating last night :teehee: Pot, kettle, black anyone?

Absolutely! As much as I love the woman and think what she manages to achieve with kids is brilliant, I do think that she needs to take a little of her own advice when it comes to healthy eating and portion sizes!

I found it a really interesting programme this week and was astonished at how little a portion size was for an 8 year old. I think it was a real eye opener for many parents.

Squeaker

11-03-2010, 08:44am

I was more stunned that the iddy biddy pizza fed 4!

A is a never ending pit when it comes to food so I have to regulate what he gets though he loves fruit and sweetcorn so when I think he's had too much bad stuff he'll often get that.

T is a fussy eater like me but also not that interested in food so if it's something she likes and is in the mood I give it until she's had enough, after all she may not eat again properly for another day or so. She does have a sweet tooth though so I have to regulate that.

*kate*

11-03-2010, 11:14am

We try to set portion sizes for "treat" foods eg only 1 yog as pudding or 1 hot cross bun but if they are hungry they can have seconds or thirds of food within reasonable "rules (eg if you want more beef you should have some left over broccoli too...). Most of the time we eat well, and I see no point in trying to portion control veg based meals for children who are hungry,growing and too slender to clothe for their height (I can't believe it, they aren't super skinny!)Absolutely what Thirzasmum said. I don't portion control my kids' food, and I know DS eats more than me, but they're active and eat well most of the time.

I don't always see what they eat outside of the home anyway, so they could be eating cream cakes and buns as soon as they leave the house.

Mine would complain at just one tablespoon!:nod: they'd complain bitterly!

Micah

11-03-2010, 12:33pm

I don't really police my childrens eating at all :no: They also self-regulate, the eat if they're hungry.

I mainly keep healthy food in the house (any goodies I'll eat them in one go :oops:) and they can eat as much as they like. I don't really bother with pudding vs savoury either, if they want some plain yoghurt then fine. Treats are for eating out (ice cream pudding for example), or a sweetie/piece of cake after swimming for example.

They are both incredibly active :nod:

We have just recieved all the healthy eating change 4 life stuff through school (DD1 is just 5). It is a complete load of B*llocks, talks about reducing calories, choosing low fat options (usually = high sugar :rolleyes) and no sugar (usually means crap loads of artificial flavourings). It is all about your childs eating too, when IMO it should be aimed at the parents, if the parents make healthy choices and keep a healthy kitchen, the children will too.

I do not believe in restricting a childs diet at all. They need fat, protein and carbs. As a child who was raised to "clear the plate" and put on a diet at 9 (despite doing over 30 hours/week regional level competitive sport) it just made me secretive about my eating, I am not even going to worry about a bit of puppy fat as long as they are eating the right stuff and doing exercise.

It's all about balance, and properly educating people. Yes peanut butter is high fat, but it's good fat, and a good source of protein, and about as healthy as you can get. Even chips aren't that bad, potato and vegetable oil :shrug: It's heavily processed food, fizzy drinks, artificial additives etc we need to keep away from.

BellaDonna

11-03-2010, 12:35pm

fist size (child's fist, not yours!) is a portion of protein or veggies I think...

I didn't see the programme but I think Minky is right - a portion of fruit or veg is one fist full - works for children and adults, apparently. :nod:

Micah

11-03-2010, 12:40pm

Oh and also- The problem is from birth- how many posts do we see here about babies not gaining enough weight, and people who switch to formula cos they're worried about weight, how much the baby is taking etc.

Then we wean and people fret about the baby not eating, not finishing dinner, only having a few mouthfuls rather than a whole jar....

So we teach our children to eat even if they're not hungry, they should because it's mealtime/a waste/keep mummy happy.

Then we get to four or five and wonder why they're overweight :shrug:

*SarahR*

11-03-2010, 12:40pm

Sparkly

11-03-2010, 12:50pm

I'd more or less let them have as much as they want :oops: We rarely have ice cream though, except in summer when we buy cones out and about rather than have it in the house. If it was just ice cream I'd prob give a few spoonfuls. If it was an accompaniment I'd give one or two.

My daughter is extremely slim though, so I'm always keen for her to eat as much as poss.

Lady M's Mummy

11-03-2010, 12:52pm

DD seems to like the idea of ice cream but largely leaves it when we give it to her. My portion size are no way a tablespoon though :happyno:

The pizza really got me too - Tilly can eat way more pizza than that :oops:

Micah

11-03-2010, 01:05pm

The pizza really got me too - Tilly can eat way more pizza than that :oops:

So can my DD, when she's hungry. I can offer it to her when she's not though, and she won't eat it :shrug:

DH also said it was some huge thick deep base jobby- we only ever eat thin crust- I bought a big Pizza express pollo one the other day and the whole thing is only about 500 calories- not that much between 2 adults, or even 2/3 children....

Damsella

11-03-2010, 01:06pm

I did have a chortle to myself when Jo Frost was lecturing us on healthy eating last night :teehee: Pot, kettle, black anyone?:laff:

Lady M's Mummy

11-03-2010, 01:08pm

DH also said it was some huge thick deep base jobby- we only ever eat thin crust- I bought a big Pizza express pollo one the other day and the whole thing is only about 500 calories- not that much between 2 adults, or even 2/3 children....

Same here....or we make the dough in the breadmaker and let her put her own toppings on so am sure that they must be lower fat than a deep crust jobby.

Rowan Tree

15-03-2010, 11:26am

Fortunately DD seems to have inherited the self-regulate ability from her Father. Rather than the eat and eat and eat gene that I have. :sigh:

She will stop eating and say she's had enough. (alien concept to me).

And this began in infancy - she was bottle fed, and we fed on demand - so she always left a little in the bottle. if she ever drained it all, i'd make them bigger next time, so she always stopped when she was full, rather than when the feed ran out. She was a content little thing, and still is :-)