The Five Food Groups for Children

what do children need, and how much?

Children need to eat a wide variety of foods to get the nutrients essential to their health. A good rule of thumb is to make sure every meal contains at least three of the five food groups, and every snack contains at least two groups. Knowing your way around the five groups is a great way to be sure you’re making the most of every meal and snack.

five-food-groups-for-Children

The Five Food Groups: Recommended Daily Servings for Children1

Grains (oz)

2 to 3 Years*
3
4 to 8 Years*
4 (girls)
5 (boys)
9 to 13 Years*
5 (girls)
6 (boys)

FOOD CHOICES2

1 slice of bread, 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice, cooked pasta, or cooked cereal = 1 ounce

Bread, rice and pasta food group

Vegetables (c)

2 to 3 Years*
1
4 to 8 Years*
1 (girls)
1 - 1/2 (boys)
9 to 13 Years*
2 (girls)
2 - 1/2 (boys)

FOOD CHOICES2

1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or 2 cups of raw leafy greens = 1 cup

Bread, rice and pasta food group

Fruits (c)

2 to 3 Years*
1
4 to 8 Years*
1 - 1/2
9 to 13 Years*
1 - 1/2

FOOD CHOICES2

1 cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or 1/2 cup of dried fruit = 1 cup

Bread, rice and pasta food group

Milk/Dairy (c)

2 to 3 Years*
2
4 to 8 Years*
2
9 to 13 Years*
3

FOOD CHOICES2

1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese, or 2 ounces of processed cheese = 1 cup

Bread, rice and pasta food group

Meat/Beans (oz)

2 to 3 Years*
2
4 to 8 Years*
3 (girls)
4 (boys)
9 to 13 Years*
5

FOOD CHOICES2

1 ounce of meat, poultry, or fish, 1/4 cup cooked dry beans, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, or 1/2 ounce of nuts or seeds = 1 ounce

Bread, rice and pasta food group

*For fruits and vegetables, serving sizes are 1/3 cup for 2 to 3 years of age and 1/2 cup for 4 years of age.
1Nicklas TA, Hayes D, for the American Dietetic Association. Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition guidance for healthy children ages 2 to 11 years. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108:1038-1047.
2US Department of Health & Human Services. The report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. US Department of Health & Human Services.

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