Glossary · Systems
Age-appropriate portion
Portion sizes scaled to a child's age, not adult sizes scaled down. A 2-year-old needs roughly a quarter of an adult portion; a 6-year-old, a half. Serving adult portions encourages over-eating and overrides hunger cues.
Rough guides by age
From around 6 months, first meals are a few small spoonfuls or a few soft pieces, and that's plenty. For toddlers, a handy guide is a portion of each food about the size of your child's own fist. Preschoolers and school-age children gradually work up from there. Start smaller than you think, and let your child ask for more. Children's appetites also differ from each other, so a sibling or friend eating twice as much says nothing about your child.
Why small portions help
A small portion is less overwhelming, especially for a new food, and finishing it and asking for more feels good. A big pile can push a child to eat past full, or make them give up before they start. Use a small serving spoon at the table, and serve seconds when asked. Children can always have more.
Appetite changes
After the first birthday, growth slows and many toddlers eat less than they did as babies. Appetite can swing from a big lunch to a tiny dinner. Look at the week rather than one meal.
- Use child-sized plates, bowls and cups.
- Serve family-style so children can take small amounts.
- Offer seconds of everything, not only the favorite.
- Skip the clean-plate rule.
When to ask
Every child's appetite is different. If you're worried about how much your child eats, ask your pediatrician.
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References
Related terms
Miriel uses this concept across food scans, meal plans, and AI Coach responses where it is relevant to a child's profile. For the underlying clinical and scientific basis, see the research page.