The following guidelines provide good nutrition for children 1–5 years of age. Serving sizes and the total number of servings for each age group are listed. Your child’s age will influence food intake and preferences. Strict adherence to the food groups is not necessary. A “dental liquid diet” is appropriate for children older than 5 years. A registered dietician is available to answer questions about your child’s nutrition.

Milk
Age and (serving size): 1 year (1/4–1/2 cup), 2–3 years (1/2–3/4 cup), more than 5 years (3/4 cup)

• Foods to serve: milk (all types), milk shakes, breakfast drinks, cocoa, eggnog, malted milk, blended yogurt and custard or pudding thinned with milk
• Restricted foods: yogurt with seeds or nuts

Vegetables (2 servings)
Age and (serving size): 1 year (1–2 tablespoons), 2–3 years (3–4 tablespoons), more than 5 years (4–5 tablespoons)

• Foods to serve: well-cooked vegetables pureed with milk, vegetable juice, broth or cream to a liquid consistency
• Restricted foods: vegetables with seeds or tough skins (unless removed), fibrous tissue such as broccoli stem

Breads and starches (4 servings)
Age and (serving size): 1 year (1/4 cup), 2–3 years (1/3 cup), more than 5 years (1/2 cup)

• Foods to serve: blended whipped potatoes, strained cereals, pureed pasta (thinned with tomato sauce or milk)
• Restricted foods: all others

Fruit (2 servings)
Age and (serving size): 1 year (2–4 tablespoons), 2–3 years (4 tablespoons), more than 5 years (1/2 cup)

• Foods to serve: Pureed fruits (thinned with fruit juice, ginger ale, milk or cream), strained fruit juices with pulp removed
• Restricted foods: all others.

Meat (4 servings)
Age and (serving size): 1 year (1 ounce), 2–3 years (1 1/2 ounces), more than 5 years (2 ounces)

• Foods to serve: baby meats (thinned with broth, milk or cream sauce)
• Restricted foods: connective tissue and gristle must be removed from meats

Soups

• Foods to serve: broth, strained cream soups or any pureed soups
• Restricted foods: all others.

Seasonings

• Foods to serve: salt, flavor extracts, spices in moderation (as tolerated)
• Restricted foods: pepper

Fat (3 teaspoons)

• Foods to serve: margarine, oil or mayonnaise