Serving Sizes and Dietary Guidelines

We follow the USDA guidelines for servings and food groups at each meal. This is because I'm a registered in home daycare and as such, must adhere.

Serving sizes:

Milk
1-2 yr: 1/2 cup or 4 fl ounces
3-5 yrs: 3/4 cup or 6 fl ounces
6-12 years: 1 cup or 8 fl ounces

Fruit/Veggies or 100% juice (Breakfast 1 fruit, Lunch/Dinner 2 fruit or veggie)
1-2 yrs: 1/4 cup each meal
3-5 yrs: 1/2 cup each meal
6-12 yrs: 1/2 cup breakfast, 3/4 cup lunch/dinner

Grains/cereals/bread
1-2 yrs: 1/2 slice or a 1/4 cup cooked cereal, pasta, rice or cold cereal
3-5 yrs: 1/2 slice or 1/4 cup cooked cereal, pasta, rice or 1/3 cup cold cereal
6-12 yrs: 1 slice or 1/2 cup cooked cereal, pasta, rice or 3/4 cup cold cereal

Protein
1-2 yrs: 1 ounce (snack 1/2 ounce) meat/cheese or 1 egg, 2 Tbs PB, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cooked dry beans or peas, 1/2ounce nuts/seeds, 1/4 cup yogurt

3-5 yrs: 1 1/2 ounce meat, cheese or 1 egg, 3 oz cottage cheese, 3/8cup cooked dried beans or peas, 3 Tbs peanut butter, 3/4 ounce nuts/seeds or 3/4 cup yogurt

6-12 yrs: 2 ounces meat, cheese or 1 egg. 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans or peas, 4 Tbs peanut butter, 1 ounce nuts/seeds, 1 cup yogurt


Breakfast must include: 1 serving grain, 1 fruit and 1 serving of milk
Snack must include 2 items from different food groups (portion sizes are a bit smaller at snack time)
Lunch and dinner must include: 1 protein, 1 grain, 2 fruits and/or veggies, and milk