One of the most common questions parents ask me: "Is my child eating enough?"

It can be worrying when your child seems to eat only a few mouthfuls at dinner, suddenly loses interest in a favourite food, or appears to eat much less than another child of the same age.  The reassuring news is that healthy children rarely eat the same amount every day. Just like adults, their appetites naturally change from day to day and even from meal to meal.  Rather than focusing on a single meal, it's much more helpful to look at your child's eating patterns, growth and development over weeks and months.

Instead of asking:  "Did my child eat enough today?"

Try asking:

• Are they growing as expected?

• Do they have energy to play and learn?

• Are they generally healthy?

• Are they eating foods from a variety of food groups over time?

These questions provide a much clearer picture of your child's nutrition than one small meal.

Healthy children are usually very good at knowing how much food their bodies need.  When parents trust their child's appetite, children are more likely to maintain that natural ability to recognise when they are hungry and when they are full.

Your role is to provide regular opportunities to eat nutritious foods.  Your child's role is to decide whether to eat and how much to eat from what is offered.  This approach helps reduce pressure and creates a more positive mealtime experience.  

Children often do best with a predictable routine.  Aim for:

• Three main meals.

• Two or three planned snacks.

• Water available throughout the day.

A regular eating routine helps children recognise hunger and fullness and reduces grazing throughout the day.

Instead of encouraging your child to eat more food, focus on gradually offering a variety of foods from each of the five food groups.

Repeated exposure to different foods helps children become more familiar and confident over time.

Remember, learning about food is just as important as eating it.

Success doesn't have to mean finishing everything on the plate.

Celebrate moments like:

• Sitting happily at the table.

• Trying a new food.

• Touching or smelling something unfamiliar.

• Helping prepare a meal.

• Talking about different foods.

These experiences build lifelong confidence around food.

While appetite changes are usually normal, it's important to speak with your GP or an Accredited Practising Dietitian if your child:

• Is losing weight.

• Is not growing as expected.

• Eats a very limited range of foods (less than 20 different foods).

• Frequently coughs, gags or chokes when eating.

• Has ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Seems unusually tired or lacks energy.

• Has been diagnosed with a medical condition that affects eating.

Early assessment can identify whether there is an underlying issue and provide strategies to support healthy growth.