Serving Sizes for 1-3 Year Olds
Grain Group
Bread
Muffin
Crackers
Hot Cereal
Cold Cereal (dry)
Cooked Pasta or Grains
1⁄4 to 1⁄2 slice
1⁄4 to 1/3 muffin
2 saltine size
2 Tbsp to 1⁄4 cup
1⁄4 cup
2 Tbsp to 1⁄4 cup
Vegetable Group
Cooked
Raw chopped
Leafy greens
1 to 3 TBSP
1 to 3 TBSP
1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup
Fruit Group
Canned or pureed
Fresh
Dried
Juice (full strength)
1 to 3 TBSP
1⁄4 cup total
1 TBSP
1⁄4 cup (2 oz)
Dairy Group
Milk or milk substitute
Cheese
Yogurt
Cottage Cheese
1⁄2 cup (4 oz.)
1 ounce
1⁄2 cup
1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup
Meat, Fish, Poultry, Dry Beans, Eggs and Nut Group
Cooked; lean meat fish or poultry
Peanut Butter
Egg
Nuts, Seeds, Soy Beans
Dry Beans
1 ounce
2 TBSP
1 egg
1⁄2 ounce
1⁄4 cup
Fats and Sweets
Butter or margarine
Salad dressing
up to 1 tsp.
2 to 3 tsp.
Funded By: the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation of the Administration of Children and Families (OPRE/ACF), Grant Number: 90YF0046. Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees 2008.
Adapted with permission from: Horodynski, M.A., Coleman, G., Contreras, D., & Hoerr, S. (2005). Nutrition Education Aimed at Toddlers
(NEAT) Curriculum. Michigan State University
Serving Sizes for 1-3 Year Olds
Sometimes the best way to understand what they really mean by a serving
size is to actually see it, but actual size pictures are unrealistic for here, so
try these relative comparisons to get the idea.
A standard muffin is the size of a tennis ball
One ounce of cheese is a pair of dice
One ounce of meat is your ring and little finger
Two tablespoons of peanut butter is a ping-pong ball
One quarter cup fruit, vegetables, yogurt, etc is the size of a medium egg
Funded By: the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation of the Administration of Children and Families (OPRE/ACF), Grant Number: 90YF0046. Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees 2008.
Adapted with permission from: Horodynski, M.A., Coleman, G., Contreras, D., & Hoerr, S. (2005). Nutrition Education Aimed at Toddlers
(NEAT) Curriculum. Michigan State University
Serving Sizes for 1-3 Year Olds
Funded By: the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation of the Administration of Children and Families (OPRE/ACF), Grant Number: 90YF0046. Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees 2008.
Adapted with permission from: Horodynski, M.A., Coleman, G., Contreras, D., & Hoerr, S. (2005). Nutrition Education Aimed at Toddlers
(NEAT) Curriculum. Michigan State University