{"id":7920,"date":"2016-04-27T06:00:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T10:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/candostreet.com\/blog-parents\/?p=7920"},"modified":"2016-04-01T12:06:33","modified_gmt":"2016-04-01T16:06:33","slug":"how-much-is-enough-food-for-a-4-8-year-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/candostreetny.com\/blog-parents\/how-much-is-enough-food-for-a-4-8-year-old\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much is Enough Food for a 4-8 Year Old?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"food\"With all the concerns about children’s food consumption, and gaining unhealthy amounts of weight, the following guidelines, on what to feed children 4-8 years old, may prove helpful.<\/strong> <\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

The guidelines are from WebMD (fit.webmd.com).<\/p>\n

DAIRY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Servings a Day: 4<\/p>\n

Look for reduced-fat, low-fat, or skim.<\/p>\n

1 Serving Size<\/p>\n

Milk<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/2 to 3\/4 cup<\/p>\n

Cheese<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Choose 1:<\/p>\n

\u2022 2 to 3 dice-sized cheese cubes<\/p>\n

\u2022 1\/2 to 1 slice packaged cheese<\/p>\n

Yogurt<\/p>\n

1\/2 cup to 3\/4 cup (4 to 6 oz)<\/p>\n

PROTEIN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Servings a Day: 2<\/p>\n

Make most meat choices lean or low-fat.<\/p>\n

1 Serving Size<\/p>\n

Meat, Fish, Poultry, or Meat Substitute<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

1 oz (about the 1\/3 to 1\/2 the size of an adult\u2019s palm)<\/p>\n

Tofu or Tempeh<\/p>\n

1\/2 cup<\/p>\n

Egg<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

1 egg<\/p>\n

4 Tbsp (about the size of your child\u2019s fist)<\/p>\n

Beans or Peas<\/p>\n

Nuts (includes peanut butter)<\/p>\n

2 Tbsp<\/p>\n

VEGETABLES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Servings a Day: 4 to 8<\/p>\n

Serve mostly green or brightly colored veggies.
\nLimit starchy veggies like potatoes.<\/p>\n

1 Serving Size<\/p>\n

3 to 4 Tbsp<\/p>\n

Starchy Vegetables (like white potatoes)<\/p>\n

Limit to 1 to 2 servings a day.<\/p>\n

FRUIT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Servings a Day: 2<\/p>\n

Raw fruit is best.<\/p>\n

1 Serving Size<\/p>\n

Choose 1:<\/p>\n

\u2022 1\/2 to 1 small raw fruit<\/p>\n

\u2022 Canned 4 to 6 Tbsp<\/p>\n

Opt for fruit packed in water, juice, or light syrup
\ninstead of heavy syrup.<\/p>\n

4 to 6 oz total per day<\/p>\n

Fruit Juice<\/p>\n

GRAINS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Total Servings a Day: 4<\/p>\n

Choose whole-grain options when possible.<\/p>\n

1 Serving Size<\/p>\n

Choose 1:<\/p>\n

\u2022 1 slice of bread<\/p>\n

\u2022 1\/2 English muffin<\/p>\n

\u2022 1\/2 Bagel<\/p>\n

\u2022 1\/2 to 1 Tortilla<\/p>\n

Cooked cereal<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/2 cup<\/p>\n

Cold, Dry cereal<\/p>\n

1 cup<\/p>\n

Pasta, noodles, rice or grains<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/2 cup<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pediatric Nutrition Handbook 6th edition, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. 2009.<\/p>\n

American Cancer Society: \u201cControlling Portion Sizes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Move: \u201cHealthy Families.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Parent\u2019s Guide to Childhood Obesity, American Academy of Pediatrics. 2006.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2011 WebMD<\/p>\n

fit.webmd.com<\/p>\n

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