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What is a healthy portion size for toddlers?

Parenting Perspective

Healthy portion sizes for children are far smaller than adults. One formula is one tablespoon of each food group per year of age, per meal. For instance, a two-year-old can have 2 tablespoons of vegetables, grains, or protein. Portion sizes should be served in small child-sized bowls and sized according to appetite and growth. Forcing a child to complete everything can result in overeating habits. Have faith in the toddler’s capacity to self-regulate hunger and fullness cues therefore promote variety rather than quantity.

Spiritual Insight

Allah Almighty says in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’araf (7), Verse 31: ‘…And eat and drink and do not be extravagant (wasteful), as indeed, He (Allah Almighty) does not like extravagance.’ It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2380 and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3349, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls.’ These divine instructions clearly support portion control, balance, and mindfulness in all aspects of nourishment.

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