Principles of Portions
Eating nutritious foods is important for all children; however, providing them with the proper portions
for their age may be a challenge for Child Care Providers. Children should eat items from each of the major
food groups on a daily basis — unless they have a food allergy. Visit www.mypyramid.gov and refer to your
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Food Chart for further information on the food groups. Each
growing body needs the right combination of nutrients to maintain good health and wellness. The CACFP is
here to help train Child Care Providers on the proper amount of food to serve to children in care.
The examples provided below will assist you in offering proper portions at meal and snack time.
Breakfast
•A juice, fruit, or vegetable
A complete breakfast consists of:
• A grain/bread
1 juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 1-2 equals:
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup 100% orange juice
• 1/4 cup peaches
• 1/4 cup potatoes
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 1-2 equals:
• 1/3 muffin
• 1/2 store bought waffle
• 1/2 slice of bread
• 1/4 cup of cold dry cereal
1 juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 3-5 equals:
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup 100% orange juice
• 1/2 cup peaches
• 1/2 cup potatoes
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 3-5 equals:
• 1/3 muffin
• 1/2 store bought waffle
• 1/2 slice of bread
• 1/3 cup of cold dry cereal
1 juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 6-12 equals:
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup 100% orange juice
• 1/2 cup peaches
• 1/2 cup potatoes
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 6-12 equals:
• 2/3 muffin
• 1 store bought waffle
• 1 slice of bread
• 3/4 cup of cold dry cereal
• Fluid milk
1/2 cup
ages 1-2
3/4 cup
ages 3-5
1 cup
ages 6-12
© Val Crafts
Snack**
A complete snack consist of two of the following four components:
• Meat/meat alternate •Grain/bread
• Juice, fruit, or vegetable •Fluid milk*
1 meat/meat alternate serving for
children ages 1-2 and 3-5 equals:
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1/4 cup yogurt
• 1/2 ounce sliced turkey
1 grain/bread serving for
children ages 1-2 and 3-5
equals:
• 3 Ritz crackers
• 1/8 bagel
1 juice, fruit, or vegetable
serving for children ages
1-2 and 3-5 equals:
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 1/2 cup spinach
1 meat/meat alternate serving for
children ages 6-12 equals:
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1 ounce sliced turkey
1 grain/bread serving for
children ages 6-12 equals:
• 6 Ritz crackers
• 1/4 bagel
1 juice, fruit, or vegetable
serving for children ages
6-12 equals:
• 3/4 cup carrots
• 3/4 cup spinach
Association for Child Development • February 2011
1 cup
1/2 cup ages 6-12
ages 1-2
and 3-5
*If milk is one of the two
components at snack, the
second component cannot
be a liquid, but must be a solid.
**You must select foods from two
different components.
Lunch/Dinner
A complete lunch/dinner consists of:
• Meat/meat alternate •Grain/bread • 2 or more juice, fruit, or vegetable
1 meat/meat alternate serving for
children ages 1-2 equals:
• 1 ounce chicken
• 1 ounce cheese
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) cottage cheese
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) cheese food
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 1-2 equals:
• 1/4 of a 2-inch biscuit
• 1/4 hamburger bun
• 1/2 of a 6 ½ inch tortilla shell
• 1/4 cup cooked rice
1 meat/meat alternate serving for
children ages 3-5 equals:
• 1 ½ ounces chicken
• 1 ½ ounces cheese
• 3 ounces (3/8 cup) cottage cheese
• 3 ounces (3/8 cup) cheese food
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 3-5 equals:
• 1/4 of a 2-inch biscuit
• 1/4 hamburger bun
• 1/2 of a 6 ½ inch tortilla shell
• 1/4 cup cooked rice
1 meat/meat alternate serving for
children ages 6-12 equals:
• 2 ounces chicken
• 2 ounces cheese
• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) cottage cheese
• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) cheese food
1 grain/bread serving for children
ages 6-12 equals:
• 1/2 of a 2-inch biscuit
• 1/2 hamburger bun
• 1 of a 6 ½ inch tortilla shell
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
© Val Crafts
•Fluid milk
1 total juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 1-2 includes two or more
servings for a total of 1/4 cup:
• 1/8 cup peas
• 1/8 cup banana
• 1/8 cup strawberries
• 1/8 cup broccoli
1 total juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 3-5 includes two or more
servings for a total of 1/2 cup:
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/4 cup banana
• 1/4 cup strawberries
• 1/4 cup broccoli
1 total juice, fruit, or vegetable serving for
children ages 6-12 includes two or more
servings for a total of 3/4 cup:
• 3/8 cup peas
• 3/8 cup banana
• 3/8 cup strawberries
• 3/8 cup broccoli
1/2 cup
ages 1-2
3/4 cup
ages 3-5
1 cup
ages 6-12
When choosing cheese, ensure the package states natural cheese, cheese spread, or cheese food. Natural
cheeses such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack cheese are made from milk. Cheese spread and cheese
food are made with natural cheese plus other ingredients to create a soft cheese that melts easily. When
serving cheese food or cheese spread, purchase twice as much because 2 ounces of cheese spread or cheese
food equals 1 ounce of natural cheese. Read packages carefully.
Avoid cheeses that are labeled “imitation cheese,” “cheese product,” “cheese snack,” and “cheese dip.” These
products contain ingredients that are not allowed to be classified as true cheese as regulated by the Food and
Drug Administration. Therefore, these products are not creditable on the CACFP.
“Educating parents and caregivers about nutrition to promote the development of children and establish healthy eating habits to last a lifetime.”
In accordance with Federal Law and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis
of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, you must write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington D.C., 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider
and employer.
Association for Child Development • February 2011