Offer an appropriate amount of food, but allow children to decide themselves how much they will actually eat.

Healthy eating in childhood comes from a division of responsibility between children and adults. Parents and staff or carers are responsible for providing appropriate amounts of food that are safe and nutritious.

Children can then decide what and how much they will eat from the foods offered. Children know when they are hungry or full, and should be allowed to stop eating when they are full. They should not be encouraged to finish a meal, or be praised for finishing everything on their plate. This allows them to eat according to their appetite and learn to respond to their body’s signals of hunger and fullness.