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Toddler eating in high chair in kitchen

Toddler Portions

Toddlers eat small amounts of food and take their time with eating. As a general rule, at each meal, serve one tablespoon of food from each food group for each year of your child’s age. 

If your toddler asks for more of something, give it to them. It’s ok if they eat some things and not others. The goal is to offer 4-5 food groups for main meals and 2-3 for snacks.

For example, you might offer a one-year old the following for lunch:

Diced cooked chicken arranged on a white surface

Protein

One tablespoon of finely chopped chicken

Green peas scattered on a white background

Vegetables

One tablespoon of soft-cooked peas

Pile of fresh cottage cheese on white background

Dairy

One tablespoon of cottage cheese

Diced pears scattered on white background

Fruits

One tablespoon of chopped very-ripe pear

Whole grain cereal rings scattered on white background

Grains

One tablespoon of o-shaped cereal

Green peas scattered on a white background

Vegetables

One tablespoon of soft-cooked peas

Diced pears scattered on white background

Fruits

One tablespoon of chopped very-ripe pear

Think Beyond A Single Meal

Keep in mind what your toddler eats over time. Meals and healthy snacks give children several chances everyday to eat a variety of foods. If your child eats only a little or nothing at one meal, don’t worry. They’ll make up for it with other meals and snacks to get what they need for good health over time.
Child being fed with a spoonful of food

How Much Food To Offer Your Toddler Each Day

Dairy

Two cups filled with milk on a white background

2 cups

Protein

Scrambled eggs on a plain white plate

2 ounces

1 ounce is one
egg, 1 ounce
chopped meat, ¼
cup beans or
lentils, 1
tablespoon
peanut butter

Fruits

Diced strawberries on white plate

¾ cup to 1 cup

Grains

Cooked brown rice served on a white plate

2-3 ounces

1 ounce is 1 cup
ready-to-eat
cereal, 1 slice
bread, 1 tortilla, ½
cup cooked rice
or pasta

Vegetables

Diced zucchini pieces on a white plate

¾ cup to 1 cup

Feeding Tips:

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KEEP A SCHEDULE:

Three meals and 2 to 3 small snacks a day is ideal. Encourage water: Offer your child water between meals. Offer milk or 100% juice only with meals or snacks, not by itself.

Plate with fork and knife on green background

EAT FAMILY MEALS:

Make mealtime a family time. Start to offer your toddler the same foods everyone else eats. Then, let them choose how much to eat. Don’t force or bribe them to eat. Keep it relaxed and stress-free.

Heart inside circle with soft pastel colors

FEED WITH LOVE:

Your job (as a parent or caregiver) is to offer your child healthy foods. You choose what to offer and when. Your child’s job is to decide how much to eat or if they’ll eat at all. Don’t punish or trick them to eat more. Let their body guide their eating.

Open book with bookmark in light green circle

USE A FEEDING JOURNAL:

Write down everything your child eats and drinks to see the whole picture. You will see they eat more at one time and not so much at other times. Their appetite is like a roller coaster and that is normal.

Food Journal

Breakfast – 7:00 a.m.

  • 1 scrambled egg
  • ½ piece whole grain toast
  • ½ cup milk
  • 4 mandarin orange sections
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Scrambled eggs on white background, centered view

1 scrambled egg

Toasted whole grain bread slice on white background

½ piece whole grain toast

White cup holding fresh milk, viewed from above

½ cup milk

Four peeled mandarin slices on white background

4 mandarin orange sections

Broccoli florets arranged on a white background

3 steamed broccoli florets

Mashed sweet potatoes on a white background

3 tablespoons hummus

Clear glass bowl with water, viewed from above

water

Morning Snack – 10:00 a.m.

  • 3 steamed broccoli florets
  • 3 tablespoons hummus
  • Water
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Lunch – 12:30 p.m.

  • ½ whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana slices
  • 4 steamed baby carrots cut into sticks
  • ½ cup milk
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Toast with peanut butter and banana slices

½ whole grain toast
with peanut butter
and banana slices

Carrot sticks arranged on white background

4 steamed baby carrots cut into sticks

White cup holding fresh milk, viewed from above

½ cup milk

Bowl of yogurt with yellow spoon

4 ounces vanilla Greek yogurt

Three sliced peach wedges on white background

3 slices of canned peaches

Clear glass bowl with water, viewed from above

water

Afternoon Snack – 3:30 p.m.

  • 4 ounces vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 3 slices of canned peaches
  • Water
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Dinner – 6:00 p.m.

  • ⅓ cup pasta with tomato sauce
  • 1 ounce skinless chicken cut into strips
  • ½ roll
  • ¼ cup steamed green beans
  • 3 mango cubes
  • ½ cup milk
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Bowl of pasta with tomato sauce

⅓ cup pasta
with tomato sauce

Five beige tofu sticks on white background

1 ounce skinless chicken cut into strips

Crusty bread roll with a small bite taken

½ roll

Chopped green beans piled on white background

¼ cup steamed green beans

Three mango cubes on white background

3 mango cubes

Cup filled with milk from above

½ cup milk

Scattered red seeds with cut halves visible

A few grapes (cut in fourths)

Cup filled with milk from above

½ cup milk

Bedtime Snack – 7:30 p.m.

  • A few grapes (cut in fourths)
  • ½ cup milk
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