Nutritionists reveal what your child's portion size should really be – you might be shocked
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Parents pressuring children to finish their meals and large portion sizes are fuelling Britain’s obesity crisis, nutritionists have warned. A new poll for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) found 37% of parents always or often make their children eat everything on their plate, with a further 23% sometimes insisting children finish everything they are served. The foundation is encouraging parents to use adult and child fist sizes to judge appropriate portion sizes and how they should differ for children.
Its YouGov poll of 1,065 parents of children under 18 found 48% of parents said their children have second helpings at least once a week, while many rely on their own estimates when serving portion sizes. Bridget Benelam, nutrition communications manager for the BNF, said: "As a rule, children need portion sizes that reflect their body size and calorie requirements, so we're encouraging parents to check the portion sizes they are serving to their children. One way to get an idea of proportions is to compare yours and your child's hands.
"For example, for baked potatoes we suggest a potato approximately the size of a fist, which will be larger for an adult, smaller for a younger child. If in doubt, start small and offer second helpings if your child is still hungry.". In England, about a quarter of adults are living with obesity and 37.9% are classified as overweight, while over a fifth of 10 to 11-year-old children are classified as living with obesity. The survey revealed 7% of parents with children aged four and under and 11% of those with children aged five to 11 give their children the same portion sizes as they give to themselves. Some 15% of parents measure portions while 14% follow package instructions.
