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Table 5.1.1 Portion size ranges recommended for children aged 1–4 years

Food groups Portion size
Group 1: Bread, rice potatoes, pasta and ½–1 slice wholegrain or white bread, muffin, roll
other starchy foods or chapatti
3–6 heaped tbsp breakfast cereals
Group 2: Fruit and vegetables 5–8 tbsp of hot cereals like porridge made up with milk
Group 3: Milk, cheese and yogurt 2–5 tbsp of rice or pasta
½–1½ egg-sized potatoes or 1–4 tbsp of mashed potato
Group 4: Meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses ½–2 crispbreads or 1–3 crackers
¼–½ apple, orange, pear, banana
Group 5: Foods high in fat and sugar 3–10 small berries or grapes
2–4 tbsp freshly cooked, stewed or mashed fruit
1–2 tbsp raw or cooked vegetables
100–120 mL whole cow’s milk as a drink
1 small pot (125 mL) yogurt or fromage frais
2–4 tbsp grated cheese
Cheese in a sandwich or on a piece of pizza
4–6 tbsp custard or a milk pudding
2–4 tbsp ground, chopped or cubed lean meat, fish
or poultry
½–1 whole egg
2–4 tbsp whole or mashed pulses (peas, beans, lentils,
hummus, dhal)
½–1 tbsp peanut butter or 1–2 tbsp ground nuts
½–1 digestive biscuit or 1–2 small biscuits
1 small slice cake
1 tsp butter, mayonnaise or oil
1 tsp jam, honey or sugar
3–4 crisps or 2–4 sweets
1 small fun-sized chocolate bar

The measures used are 1 tbsp = one 15 mL tablespoon and 1 tsp = one 5 mL teaspoon. These are the spoons found
within a set of spoons for standard recipe measures.

Drinks or increase the risk of dental decay. Up to three
drinks per day can be milk (see above).
Children should be offered 6–8 drinks of
100–120 mL per day to provide adequate fluid. Pure fruit juices do provide nutrients from fruit
They may need more drinks in very hot weather or but they contain large amounts of the fruit sugar,
after extra physical activity as young children can fructose, and they are acidic. Both this sugar and
dehydrate quite quickly. acid can cause dental decay. To lower the acid and
sugar content fruit juices should be given diluted to
Water and milk are the safest drinks to offer under-fives – by only giving them at mealtimes the
between meals as they do not cause tooth erosion risk of dental decay is lowered.