Parents often wonder how much food their toddlers should eat. Recent media coverage suggests over the past 20 years, restaurants and food companies have been increasing their serving sizes. This trend is a contributing factor in the rise in obesity among adults and children.
It’s common sense that children should eat less than adults. After all, they are smaller.
Refer to the following serving size guidelines as you prepare meals and snacks for your one to two-year-old-child:
Dairy (milk, yogurt)
Servings: 16-20 ounces of milk per day. Whole milk, soy or rice milk are recommended.
Other equivalents: 1/2 -3/4 ounce of cheese = 4 ounces of milk. 1/4 cup of yogurt = 2 ounces of milk
Fruits and veggies
Servings: 5 or more per day
Serving size: 1-2 tablespoons – Pureed, mashed, or cubed
Grains
Servings: 3-4 per day
Serving sizes: 1/2 slice of bread, 1/4 cup of cooked cereal, 1/4 cup of dry cereal, 1/4 cup of pasta, 2-3 saltine crackers, or 1/2 tortilla
Non-dairy Proteins (meat, fish, beans, eggs)
Servings: 2 per day
Serving sizes: 1/2 egg, 2-3 tablespoons beans (i.e. black, pinto, edamame, etc…), 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or 1 ounce of fish, lean beef, pork or chicken
