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Portion Sizes for Toddlers
The amount of food that young children eat varies from day to day and meal to meal.
Use our portion size ranges as a guide on how much to offer your 1-4 year olds, then allow children to eat to their appetite.
Taller or more active children will eat larger portions than shorter or less active children.
Toddler Menu Planner
Use our Toddler Meal planning tool to ensure your 1-4 years old receives a balanced diet every day.
Find out more >Portion Sizes for 1-4 year olds
Tot It Up
Use our toddler food tracker to check that your 1-4 year olds are getting a good balance of foods and activity
Find out more >Why Breast Milk Matters
This educational programme for frontline professionals contains a range of practical resources on infant feeding.
Find out more >
1/4 plain bagel
1/2 plain bagel
1/2 slice of bread with added wheatgerm
1 slice of bread with added wheatgerm
1/2 slice of granary bread
1 slice of granary bread
1/2 slice of white bread
1 slice of white bread
1/2 slice of malt loaf
1 slice of malt loaf
Naan bread – 1/8 naan
Naan bread – 1/4 naan
3 heaped tablespoons of cornflakes
6 heaped tablespoons of cornflakes
3 heaped tablespoons of rice crispies
6 heaped tablespoons of rice crispies
2 tablespoons of cooked pasta
5 tablespoons of cooked pasta
1 egg-sized potato
4 thick – cut chips
6 thick – cut chips
8 thick – cut chips
1 tablespoon of mashed potato
3 tablespoons of mashed potato
2 potato wedges
4 potato wedges
2 tablespoons of boiled rice
5 tablespoons of boiled rice
1/4 medium apple
1/3 medium apple
1/2 medium apple
1/4 medium banana
1/3 medium banana
1/2 medium banana
1/2 tangerine
1 tangerine
1 dried apricot
2 dried apricots
4 dried apricots
3 raspberries
5 raspberries
10 raspberries
3 strawberries
4 strawberries
10 strawberries
1/2 kiwifruit
3/4 kiwifruit
1 kiwifruit
1/2 plum
2/3 plum
1 plum
1/4 pear
3/4 pear
1/4 medium slice of pineapple
1/2 medium slice of pineapple
1 medium slice of pineapple
1/2 tablespoon of raisins
2 tablespoons of raisins
1 small floret of brocolli
2 small florets of brocolli
4 small florets of brocolli
2 carrot sticks
4 carrot sticks
6 carrot sticks
4 small sticks of celery
7 small sticks of celery
4 slices of cucumber
7 slices of cucumber
2 cherry tomatoes
3 cherry tomatoes
4 cherry tomatoes
1½ green beans – about ½ tablespoon
3 green beans – about 1 tablespoon
4½ green beans – about 1½ tablespoons
2 mange touts
5 mange touts
8 mange touts
1/2 tablespoon of peas
1 tablespoon of peas
2 tablespoons of peas
1/2 tablespoon of cooked spinach
1 tablespoon of cooked spinach
1/2 tablespoon of sweet corn
1 tablespoon of sweet corn
2 tablespoons of sweet corn
3 cherries
7 cherries
10 cherries
1/4 small tomato
1/2 small tomato
1 small tomato
1/4 plain bagel-
1/2 plain bagel
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1/2 slice of bread with added wheatgerm
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1 slice of bread with added wheatgerm
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1/2 slice of granary bread
-
1 slice of granary bread
-
1/2 slice of white bread
-
1 slice of white bread
-
1 slice of malt loaf
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1/2 slice of malt loaf
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Naan bread – 1/8 naan
-
Naan bread – 1/4 naan
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3 heaped tablespoons of cornflakes
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6 heaped tablespoons of cornflakes
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3 heaped tablespoons of rice crispies
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6 heaped tablespoons of rice crispies
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2 tablespoons of cooked pasta
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5 tablespoons of cooked pasta
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1 boiled potato
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4 thick – cut chips
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6 thick – cut chips
-
8 thick – cut chips
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1 tablespoon of mashed potato
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3 tablespoons of mashed potato
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2 potato wedges
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4 potato wedges
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2 tablespoons of boiled rice
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5 tablespoons of boiled rice
1/2 small slice of ham
1 small slice of ham
1 ½ small slices of ham
3 tablespoons of cooked minced meat
1/2 medium sausage
1 medium sausage
1/4 small fillet of salmon
1/2 small fillet of salmon
1 small fillet of salmon
1/2 tablespoon of tuna mayonnaise
1 tablespoon of tuna mayonnaise
1/2 boiled egg
1 boiled egg
1/2 onion bhaji
1 onion bhaji
1 ½ onion bhajis
1 falafel
2 falafels
3 falafels
1 small bowl of soup (90 – 125ml)
1/2 chocolate coated biscuit
1 chocolate coated biscuit
1/2 digestive biscuit
1 digestive biscuit
1 garibaldi biscuit
2 garibaldi biscuits
1/2 custard cream
1 custard cream
2 tablespoons of jelly
4 tablespoons of jelly
2 squares of milk chocolate
3 squares of milk chocolate
4 squares of milk chocolate
7 small milk chocolate buttons
2 wine gums
5 crisps
110ml/3.5oz Squash/diluted fruit juice
2 tablespoons of fish and potato pie
4 tablespoons of fish and potato pie
3 tablespoons of macaroni cheese
5 tablespoons of macaroni cheese
1 small slice of pizza
2 small slices of pizza
3 tablespoons of cottage pie
1 small slice of quiche
1/2 samosa
1 samosa-
1 small bowl of soup (90 – 125ml)
¾ slice wholemeal toast, 3 tablespoons scrambled egg, 2 cherry tomatoes halved
3 small chicken nuggets, 6 thick cut chips, 1 tablespoon green beans
3 tablespoons apple sponge cake
4 tbsps pasta with bolognaise, 1 tablespoon green beans
1 small pancake with 8 small berries
1 Weetabix with ½ banana
6 ½ tablespoons porridge and 7 blueberries
Cheese sandwich (¾ slice wholemeal bread), 3 cherry tomatoes halved
3 tablespoons baked beans, ¾ slice wholemeal toast, 5 small cucumber sticks
1½ fish fingers, 3 tablespoons mash, 1 tablespoon of peas
1½ small slices chicken, 1 egg–sized potato and 3½ small florets of broccoli
1½ small slices Margherita pizza and 4 carrot sticks
3 tablespoons fruit crumble
1½ oatcakes and 18g cheese cubes
6 raspberries, 2 heaped tablespoons ice cream
½ small fillet salmon, 2 small florets broccoli, 3 medium potato wedges
¾ medium slice bread, 1 small slice of ham, 2 cherry tomatoes, 2 small slices cucumber
1 oatcake, ¼ medium apple, 15 grams cheese cubes
Portion Sizes Table
Food Group 1: Bread, cereals, potatoes & other starchy foods
Offer a serving from within these portion size ranges at each meal and some snacks.
Foods marked with an asterisk * should be limited to mealtimes and no more than one snack per day because of their sugar content.
Bagel
1/4 – 1/2 bagel
Bread slices (fresh or toasted) – wheatgerm
1/2 – 1 medium slice
Bread slices (fresh or toasted) – granary
1/2 – 1 medium slice
Bread slices (fresh or toasted) – white
1/2 – 1 medium slice
Maltloaf*
1/2 – 1 slice
Naan bread
1/8 – 1/3 naan
Dry flaked cereal (e.g. Cornflakes)*
3 – 6 heaped tablespoons
Pasta (cooked)
2 – 5 tablespoons
Boiled potatoes
1/2 – 1 ½ egg-sized potatoes
Chips
4 – 8 thick cut chips
Mashed potato
1 – 4 tablespoons
Potato wedges
2 – 4 medium wedges
Rice – boiled or fried
2 – 5 tablespoons
Food Group 2: Fruit and Vegetables
Offer at least 1 – 2 servings at each meal and also offer them with some snacks
These are low energy, high nutrient foods – allow toddlers to eat larger portions if they wish to.
Foods marked with an asterisk * should be limited to mealtimes and no more than one snack per day because of their sugar content.
Apple
1/4 – 1/2 medium apple
Banana
1/4 – 1 medium banana
Clementine / tangerine / mandarin
1/2 – 1 fruit
Dried apricots / prunes
1 – 4 whole fruits
Pear
1/4 – 3/4 whole fruit
Pineapple
1/4 – 1 medium slice
Kiwifruit / plum / apricot
1/2 – 1 fruit
Raisins/sultanas*
1/2 -2 tablespoons
Broccoli / cauliflower
1 – 4 small florets or 1/2 – 2 tablespoons
Carrot
1 – 3 tablespoons / 2 – 6 carrot sticks
Celery / cucumber / radishes / other
2 – 8 small sticks / slices
Cherry tomatoes
1 – 4 cherry tomatoes
Green / French beans
1/2 – 2 tablespoons
Mange touts
2 – 8 mange touts
Peas
1/2 – 2 tablespoons
Spring greens / spinach (cooked)
1/2 – 2 tablespoons
Sweet corn
1/2 – 2 tablespoons
Grapes and berries
3 – 10 small grapes / berries
Cherries
3 – 10 Cherries
Strawberries
3-10 small strawberries
Plum
1/2 – 1 fruit
Tomato
1/4 – 1 small tomato
Food Group 3: Milk, cheese and yogurt
Offer a serving from within these portion size ranges about 3 times each day. An excess of these foods can reduce the appetite for iron-containing foods from the other food groups so limit serving sizes to those indicated.
Milk should be given in a cup, mug or glass – not a bottle. Semi skimmed milk can be used from two years of age and skimmed milk from five years of age for children who eat a wide variety of foods, but changing is not necessary.
Cow’s milk as a drink
1 cup of milk (100 – 120 ml / 3 – 4oz)
Yogurt
1 average pot (125ml)
Processed cheese
15 – 21g (1 slice / 1 triangle or string / 1 Mini Babybel ™)
Custard
5-7 tablespoons custard
Rice Pudding
2-5 tablespoons rice pudding
Food Group 4: Meat, Fish, Eggs, Nuts and Pulses
Offer a serving from within these portion size ranges 2 – 3 times per day – twice for toddlers eating meat and fish and 3 times a day for vegetarians.
Ham
1/2 – 1 ½ small slices 1 ½ – 4 wafer thin slices
Minced meat
2 – 5 tablespoons
Sausages
1/4 – 1 medium sausage
Tinned fish in Sandwich / Salad
1/2 – 1 ½ tablespoons
Poached / boiled / fried
1/2 – 1 egg
Bhajis or pakora made with chickpea flour
1/2 – 1 ½ bhaji or pakoras
Falafels
1 – 3 mini falafels (25g each)
Homemade soups with meat / fish / pulses
1 small bowl (90 – 125ml)
White / oily fresh fish
1/4 – 1 small fillet or 1 – 3 tablespoons
Food Group 5: Foods high in Fat and Sugar
Toddlers under two years of age have lower energy requirements and should not be offered sweet puddings, cakes, biscuits, confectionery, chocolate or savoury snacks such as crisps.
Biscuits, Cakes and Puddings
Include once a day
Confectionery, sweet drinks and savoury snacks
Limit these foods to occasional mealtimes – no more than one item once a week.
Chocolate coated
1/2 – 1 biscuit
Digestive (plain)
1/2 – 1 biscuit
Fruit (e.g. garibaldi)
1 – 2 biscuits
Sandwich (e.g. bourbon)
1/2 – 1 biscuit
Jelly
2 – 4 tablespoons
Bar of chocolate / chocolate biscuit
2 – 4 squares of chocolate
Chocolate buttons
6 – 8 small buttons
Soft Sweets (e.g. jelly tots / jelly beans)
2 – 4 sweets
Crisps (e.g. Wotsits ™ / Hula hoops ™)
4 – 6 crisps
Squash / diluted fruit juice
100-120ml / 3-4oz squash/diluted fruit juice
Portions with foods from more than one food group
The food groups included in each portion are shown below the portion size range.
Fish and potato pie
2 – 6 tablespoons
Food Groups 1 and 4
Food Groups 1 and 4
Macaroni cheese
2 – 5 tablespoons
Food Groups 1 and 3
Food Groups 1 and 3
Pizza (meat / cheese)
1 – 2 small slices (70g) pizza
Food Groups 1, 3 and 4
Food Groups 1, 3 and 4
Pizza (veg)
1 – 2 small slices (70g) pizza
Food Groups 1 and 3
Food Groups 1 and 3
Shepherds / Cottage pie
2 – 5 tablespoons
Food Groups 1 and 4
Food Groups 1 and 4
Quiche
1/2 – 1 ½ small slices (30 – 90g)
Food Groups 1, 3, 4 and 5
Food Groups 1, 3, 4 and 5
Samosas (meat)
1/2 – 1 samosa or 1 – 2 small samosas
Food Groups 1, 4 and 5
Food Groups 1, 4 and 5
Samosas (vegetable)
1/2 – 1 samosa or 1 – 2 small samosas
Food Groups 1, 2 and 5
Food Groups 1, 2 and 5
Soup meat / fish / veg
1 small bowl (90 – 125ml)
Food Groups 2 and 4
Food Groups 2 and 4
Pizza (veg)
1 – 2 small slices (70g) pizza
Food Groups 1 and 3
Food Groups 1 and 3
Scrambled egg meal
½-1 slice wholemeal toast with 2-4 tablespoons scrambled egg, 1 – 4 cherry tomatoes
Chicken nugget meal
2-4 small chicken nuggets, 4-8 thick cut chips, 1/2 – 2 tablespoons green beans
Apple sponge cake
2-4 tablespoons apple sponge cake
Pasta bolognaise
3-5 tablespoons pasta with bolognaise, ½- 2 tablespoons green beans
Pancake and berries
½ – 1 small pancake, 3 – 10 small berries
Weetabix
½ – 1½ Weetabix, ¼ – 1 banana
Porridge and berries
5 – 8 tablespoons porridge, 3 – 10 small berries
Cheese Sandwich
Cheese sandwich (½ – 1 slice wholemeal bread), 1 – 4 cherry tomatoes
Baked beans on toast
2-4 tablespoons baked beans, ½ – 1 slice wholemeal toast, 2-8 small sticks cucumber slices
Fish finger meal
1-2 fish fingers, 1-4 tablespoons mash, ½ – 2 tablespoons of peas
Chicken and veg
1-2 small slices chicken, ½-1½ egg–sized potatoes and 1-4 small florets of broccoli
Pizza and carrots
1-2 small slices Margherita pizza, 2-6 carrot sticks
Fruit crumble
2-4 tablespoons fruit crumble
Oatcakes and cheese
1-2 oatcakes and 15-21g cheese cubes
Ice cream dessert
3 – 10 small berries, 2 – 3 heaped tablespoons ice cream
Salmon and veg
¼ – 1 small fillet salmon, 1 – 4 small florets broccoli, 2 – 4 medium potato wedges
Ham and tomatoes
½-1 med slice bread, ½-1½ sml slices ham, 1-4 cherry toms, 2-8 sml slices cucumber
Oatcakes, apple, cheese
1-2 oatcakes, ¼-½ medium apple, 15-21 grams cheese cubes