How to Set Food Portion Sizes for Young Children

It seems logical to just let a child eat as much as he wants, as long as the food is healthy. After all, children eat when they are hungry. In fact, the amount a young child eats varies widely depending on the child's age, general health condition and whether or not the child is going through a growth spurt. Because of this, there are no set portion sizes recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children, according to the Build Healthy Kids website. The USDA does, however, list common serving sizes and suggestions for a balanced diet.

Things You'll Need

  • Kitchen scale
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons

Instructions

  1. Children Ages 2 to 3

    • 1

      Give your child about 3 ounces of total grains per day. This might be half a bagel, one slice of whole-wheat bread, three to five large crackers or between 3 and 5 heaping tablespoons of cereal.

    • 2

      Prepare 1 cup of vegetables for your child each day. This is about the size of a baseball. A cup of fruit is also recommended for children ages 2 and 3. This would equal a small apple or large banana, according to the WebMD website. Very young children might need the vegetables and fruit to be cut in small pieces or mashed up.

    • 3

      Pour 2 cups of milk for your child each day, plus a third serving of dairy, such as a small yogurt or 2 tablespoons of cheese.

    • 4

      Give your child between 2 and 4 ounces of protein per day. One ounce equals one egg, 1/4 cup of beans, one small slice of meat or a couple of chicken nuggets.

    Children ages 4 through 8

    • 5

      Serve your young child 4 or 5 ounces of grains per day. One serving equals about 1 ounce. At least half of the servings should be whole grains, according to the WebMD site. One serving is equal to 1/2 cup of cooked pasta or rice, or a cup of cereal.

    • 6

      Give your child 1 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables per day. Try to give your child different choices each day so that he will learn to appreciate a wide variety of vegetables and fruit.

    • 7

      Provide 2 cups of dairy per day. This might look like 1 cup of milk plus 2 ounces of processed cheese. Choose dairy products that are made of low-fat milk.

    • 8

      Serve 3 or 4 ounces of protein per day. This might look like two eggs for breakfast, four chicken nuggets for lunch, and 1/4 cup of beans for dinner.

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