Foods Portions Example photos

Appendix 1: Age 1-3 years Expected meal pattern: 3 meals and 2-3 snacks plus milk. If you choose to include the foods below, suggested age-appropriate portion sizes are listed.

Foods Portions Example photos

Bread ½ - 1 medium slice (15 - 30g)

¼ - ½ bagel

Breakfast cereal

1 -1½ tbsp cereal (10 - 15g)

½ - 1 wheat biscuits

Potato / rice / pasta

1 - 2 tbsp mashed potato / cooked rice / cooked pasta (45- 90g)

1 - 2 small potatoes 6-8 chips (30-40g)

Fruit Note: as a general rule a child’s portion of fruit is the amount that fits in the palm of their hand

½ - 1 small piece (40 - 80g)

2 tsp raisins (15g) 100ml fruit juice (+

water to dilute)

Vegetables 1 tbsp (30g)

Dairy and alternatives

165ml whole or semi-skimmed milk and fortified milk alternatives

1 standard pot yoghurt (100g)

20g cheese

Meat / fish / egg / pulses etc

1 - 1½ tbsp minced meat (30 - 45g)

½ chicken breast

1 slice cooked meat

1½ fish finger

½ sausage 2 tbsp baked

beans (75g) ¾ tbsp

houmous 70g fish or

quorn pieces ½ - 1 egg

Oils and Spreads

1 level tsp butter / margarine (5g)

¾ tsp oil (3g)

Appendix 2: Age 4-6 years Expected meal pattern: 3 meals and 1-2 snacks or milky drinks. If you choose to include the foods below, suggested age-appropriate portion sizes are listed.

Foods Portions Example Photos

Bread 1 – 1 ½ slices (30-40g)

Breakfast cereal

2 - 3 tbsp cereal (20-30g)

1 - 2 wheat biscuits


2 - 3 tbsp mashed potato (120g) / cooked rice (70g) / cooked pasta (60g)

3 small potatoes 10 chips (50g)

Fruit 1 medium / 2 small pieces (80-100g)

2 ½ tsp raisins (20g) 120ml fruit juice (+

water to dilute under 5 years)

Note: plates and bowls size 18cm / 7 ½ inches diameter (side-plate size)

Vegetables 1 ½ tbsp (45g)


165ml semi-skimmed milk and fortified milk alternatives


20g cheese


2½ tbsp minced meat (70g)

3/4 chicken breast

1 ½ slices cooked meat

2½ fish fingers

1 sausage 4 tbsp baked

beans (140g)

¾ tbsp houmous

130g fish or quorn pieces

1 egg

Oils and Spreads

1 tsp butter / margarine (8g)

1 tsp oil (5g)


Appendix 3: Age 7-10 years Expected meal pattern: 3 meals and 1-2 snacks or milky drinks. If you choose to include the foods below, suggested age-appropriate portion sizes are listed.


Bread 1 – 1 ½ slices (30-40g)

Breakfast cereal

2 - 3 tbsp cereal (20-30g)

2 wheat biscuits


3 tbsp mashed potato(140g) / cooked rice (90g) / cooked pasta (65g)

3 small potatoes

12 chips (70g)

Fruit 1 medium / 2 small pieces (80-100g)

2 ½ tsp raisins (20g)

135ml fruit juice

Vegetables 1 ½ tbsp (45g)


190ml semi-skimmed or skimmed milk and fortified milk alternatives


20g cheese


3 tbsp minced meat (85g)

1 chicken breast

2 slices cooked meat

3 fish fingers 1 ½ sausages 5 tbsp baked

beans (160g) 1 ¾ tbsp

houmous 140g fish or

quorn pieces 1 egg

Oils and Spreads


1 tsp oil (5g)


Appendix 4: Age 11-14 Expected meal pattern: 3 meals and 1-2 snacks or milky drinks. If you choose to include the foods below, suggested age-appropriate portion sizes are listed.


Bread 2 slices (60g)

Breakfast cereal

3-4 tbsp cereal (35g)

2 ½ wheat biscuits


4 ½ tbsp. mashed potato(200g) / cooked rice (115g) / cooked pasta (90g)

4 small potatoes

15 chips (90g)

Fruit 1 large / 2 ½ small pieces (150g)

3 tsp raisins (25g)

150ml fruit juice

Vegetables 2 tbsp (60g)


220ml semi-skimmed or skimmed milk and fortified milk alternatives

1½ standard / a large pot yoghurt (150g)

25g cheese


3 tbsp minced meat (85g)

1 ¼ chicken breast

2 slices cooked meat

3 fish fingers 1 ½ sausages 6 tbsp baked

beans (185g) 1 ¾ tbsp.

houmous 165g fish or

quorn pieces 1 ½ eggs

Oils and Spreads


1 tsp oil (5g)

Note: plates and bowls size 18cm / 7 ½ inches diameter (side-plate size) For children over 14 years, adult portions sizes can mostly be used. However as calcium requirements for teenagers are higher than those recommended for adults, it may be necessary to include extra dairy foods / foods rich in calcium.

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Foods Portions Example photos