What is the latest time you would feed a 3 yr old child would eat a substantial meal in the evening?

Question

my toddler is eating a breakfast, snack, cooked lunch, snack and then.....??? sounds a lot but these are all small portion sizes, should i give another cooked meal in evening.

Answer 1

yes the kid should be having 3 meals a day an 2-3 snacks inbetwen as long as its a healthy balanced diet.

7.30 am breakfast - porridge (quaker oats) with a piece of fruit
10.30 am Snack Fruit or a biscuit
12.30 pm Lunch Sandwich or sausage roll, yogurt, fruit
3.30 pm snack, carrot sticks, fruit, crackers.
5.30 pm dinner, hot dinner with 3 veg portions followed by either a treat or more fruit.
7 pm milk and cookie before bed.

Answer 2

Depends when he goes to sleep .My son has breakfast and then a main meal at about12:00 and then another big meal at about 5.00 o clock then at about 7.00 a light snack usually warm milk and a biccy..then bed at 8.00.In between he usually snacks on fruit,pitta bread or the odd biscuit.KIds are pretty active
and you'll be amazed how much they eat and quickly they can burn it off.On the other hand some days he can live on his breakfast only for most of the day and just have a meal at the end of the day b4 bed..If he's hungry feed him ..

Answer 3

Our two year old eats dinner at 5:30 with us, on top of all the meals you mentioned. He will eat what he wants, we never expect that he will finish his meal. I have found that if he eats a great lunch then he won't eat a great dinner. His height and weight are normal (actually on the lower side of normal). I don't think you can over feed them at that age because they are more concerned with investigation the world than eating. As long as the food is healthy, (ie a banana and yogurt for a snack, not cookies).

Answer 4

Try not to give anything two hours before bedtime (except maybe a sugar free coco or hot milk)
If his bedtime is 8 or 9, don't give anything hot or large after 6 or 7.
Change this to suite your toddler though. Some might fidget on an empty tummy and others will be hyper active if they've had a snack.

Answer 5

Yes, you should give her a cooked meal in the evening. 5 small meals a day is ideal. I always give my son a snack after dinner, right before he goes to bed that way he's not going to bed hungry.

Answer 6

For me, my 4yrr old has toast & ceral for breakfast, a cooked lunch at school, a snack when she comes in and something to nibble on for dinner, with a yoghut. I would think as long as they eat well during the day, a snack (HEALTHY) would surffice if they not too bothered about dinner. If you;re concerened speak to your health visitor or doc. As long as they are maintaining a good weight, I wouldnt think it would be cause for concern

Answer 7

My childrens main meal is in the evening. It's the only time of day we can all be round the table at the same time. We eat between 5.30 and 6pm so it's settling down in their tummys before it's bath and bed time. I think it also helps them to sleep through with a full meal inside them

Answer 8

i have a 5 yearold and she is a picker she eats lots and lots of little snacks, meals she rarely ever eats a big meal little kids just do that , i make sure i have food in my car all the time you never know when they want to eat and it helps to not stop at bad places to get some food like gas stations and fast food it seems like they never stop eating but i can see why shes a string bean growing like crazy, i usually give her a piece of beard or a a small bowel of oatmeal or cereal if she dosent eat good with us at dinner time before bed dinner is at 430-5pm and she gets out of head start at 2pm so its tough to get it right

Answer 9

my 3 yr old has breakfast snack cooked lunch snack cooked tea
give u some idea breakfast 4 wheetabix snack apple and a pear lunch pasta bake and veg snack grapes then he will have lasagne garlic bread or whatever we r having

Answer 10

I would give another small meal to get him/her through the night, but make sure its at least 1 hour before bed time.