In general, it is the parents' job to monitor what their child
eats, while the child is in the best position to decide how much
to eat. Normally, healthy and active children's bodies do a good
job of "asking" for just the right amount of food, although
their minds may lead them astray when choosing which foods to
eat. You can easily overestimate the amount of food your child
actually needs, especially during the younger years of middle
childhood. Youngsters of this age do not need adult-sized
servings of food. However, if you are unaware of this, you might
place almost as much food on your child's plate as on your own.
As a result, your child must choose between being criticized for
leaving food on his plate, or for overeating and running the
risk of obesity. Weighing your children occasionally is one way
for you to monitor your youngsters' nutrition. There is rarely a
reason for you to count calories for your children, since most
youngsters control their intake quite well. As the middle years
progress, child