Kid-Size Food Portions Guide

Ages 4 to 8

By Bonnie Schiedel

Grains: 4 to 8 oz

Examples of 1 ounce of grains:

  • 5 whole wheat crackers
  • ½ English muffin
  • ½ cup cooked oatmeal
  • 1 cup breakfast cereal
  • ½ cup cooked rice
  • ½ cup cooked spaghetti
  • 1 small (6 inch) tortilla
  • 1 pancake 4 ½ inches in diameter

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Vegetables: 1 ½ cups

Examples of 1 cup of vegetables:

  • 2 cups of salad greens
  • 12 baby carrots
  • 1 medium (2 ½ to 3 inches in diameter) potato
  • 2 large stalks of celery
  • 1 large (3 inch in diameter) tomato

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Fruit: 1 to 1 ½ cups

Examples of 1 cup of fruit:

  • ½ large (3.25 inches in diameter) apple
  • 32 seedless grapes
  • 1 large (8-9 inch long) banana
  • 8 large strawberries
  • 2 large plums
  • 1 small wedge (1 inch thick) watermelon

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Milk: 2 cups

Examples of 1 cup of milk:

  • 8 oz container of yogurt
  • 1 ½ oz of hard cheese
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1 ½ cups ice cream
  • 3 slices processed cheese

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Meat and Beans: 3 to 4 ounces

Examples of 1 ounce of meat or beans:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tbsp of peanut butter
  • ½ ounce of nuts or seeds
  • ¼ cup baked beans
  • ¼ cup tofu
  • 2 Tbsp hummus

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Oils: 4 teaspoons

Examples of 1 tsp of oil:

  • ½ Tbsp of peanut butter
  • 1 Tbsp of mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp of Italian dressing

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Share your own menu ideas and get healthy eating tips from other parents at the Kaboose food message board.

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