Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

I am clueless about how much my DD should be eating. With DS, he ate a ton all the time, so I never had to worry about how much he needed to eat. DD is a much pickier eater and I'm not sure if she's eating enough at each meal. How much does your toddler eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? I will ask my doctor at her appointment next month but curious what other kids her age are eating.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

I think at that age they will eat what they want/need at meals. I would just take note of what she snacks on during the day. If you feel like she eats less at meals and snacks a lot I would cut down on the snacks. DC#1 hardly ate ever, #2 could eat all day, they are all different

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

I have NO idea.

My DS is 16 months old and I just put food on his tray, if he wants more he tells me, if he's done he pushes it away.

I really don't measure anything or pay attention to specific serving sizes. I just give him what looks like a decent amount of food for someone his size and then let him tell me what he needs. Works for us!

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Posted by Hofstra26

I have NO idea.

My DS is 16 months old and I just put food on his tray, if he wants more he tells me, if he's done he pushes it away.

I really don't measure anything or pay attention to specific serving sizes. I just give him what looks like a decent amount of food for someone his size and then let him tell me what he needs. Works for us!

Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

My ds is a bottomless pit. But I have never worried about portion size.

As for milk he only drinks it 2x a day. Too much is not good.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Posted by Teachergal

Posted by Hofstra26

I have NO idea.

My DS is 16 months old and I just put food on his tray, if he wants more he tells me, if he's done he pushes it away.

I really don't measure anything or pay attention to specific serving sizes. I just give him what looks like a decent amount of food for someone his size and then let him tell me what he needs. Works for us!

I think I'm worried she's avoiding food so she can fill up on milk. She drinks 23-25 oz. of milk a day, so I'm thinking maybe she's not eating more at her meals so she can get drink more milk. (I give the milk after the meal to avoid only filling up on milk). Or maybe I'm just overthinking things!

Message edited 7/25/2014 11:02:09 AM.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

My DD is 14 months and I don't think she eats enough either. Some days are better than others. I generally give her a plate with three different things on it and let her have at it. Some days she eats it all, other days she literally eats like one piece of something and then will refuse to eat the rest and push the plate away. She also doesn't like milk much so I try to make sure what she eats makes up for the lack of milk. seems to be growing just fine, although she is in the 25th percentile, but I worry too. The doctor is not concerned, so I try not to be either.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

I let him eat until he throw the food on the floor

I think at this age they will let you know if they aren't getting enough/if they are still hungry

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Some meals DS eats a ton. Others he barely touches his food. He lets us know when he's hungry.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

I read that they need about 1000 calories per day.

This site has helpful serving suggestions
http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/toddler_food.html

Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Dd is picky - one day she likes something the next she hates it. It's hard to get her to eat. The doctor always told me to feed her til she stops eating.
She gained no weight from her 12 month a appt to her 15 month appt so the doctor had me add in 2 more meals - and by meals sometimes it's just yogurt.

Re: Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Breakfast, They split 2 waffles, banana and an egg. Lunch they split a grilled cheese. Dinner they split a slice of pizza or 3 chicken fingers, half avocado and almost a half box of Mac n cheese.

My mom said she looked up and a half sandwich (1slice of bread) was typical. They will split a large bowl of ziti though because they love it. (pretty much an adult portion).

They usually only have a snack after nap around 3. Usually Cheerios. Maybe 1/4 cup.

They drink water all day with 8/9 oz of milk in am and pm. They are 21 mo but have been doing this from at least 14/15 mo.

Message edited 7/25/2014 1:14:18 PM.

Portion sizes for a 14-18 month old?

Dd is either a bottomless pit or has 2 bites and she's done. She eats well usually at breakfast and lunch but dinner is a hit or miss. I always offer applesauce after her dinner because its her one staple food she never turns away when she is hungry. For lunch I always offer a pack to see if she is still hungry.

She drinks 18-24ozs of milk a day. The rest is water whenever she wants it and she always has at least 2 snacks a day.

Message edited 7/25/2014 10:35:09 PM.