Portion size

[not2late]

Great little sidebar in the September 2004 issue (page 206) of Parents magazine concerning portion size for kids.

I've looked for it on the Parents.com site, but couldn't find it.

Anyhow, it has a visual guide and a description for an appropriate portion for a 4 year old, 6 year old and 9 year old. The example uses a whole wheat sandwich, mini carrots, an apple, milk and graham crackers (the stick type form---they look no wider or longer than the mini carrots)

4 year old:
1/3 sandwich
2 mini carrots
1/3 small apple
3 graham stick cookies
1/2 cup milk

6 year old:
2/3 sandwich
5 mini carrots
2/3 apple
3 graham stick cookies
1 cup milk

9 year old:
1 whole sandwich
8 mini carrots
9 graham stick cookies
1 cup milk

editing to add
The other "Rule of Thumb" for portion size is 1 tablespoon per year of age, especially true until around age 6. So for a 2 year old, a serving size of spinach is 2 tablespoons.

The "Rule of Thumb" for daily calories for ages 1-3 is 40 cals per every inch of height. So a child who is 30 inches tall, needs around 1200 cals daily.

This link has serving sizes for kids aged 4-6. 30 grams = 1 ounce.

http://www.health24.com/child/Nutrition/833-855,25358.asp

And here's another one with serving sizes for children

http://www.drugs.com/CG/NORMAL_DIET_FOR_CHILDREN___1_TO_11_YEARS_OF_AGE.html

[Desertthorn]

Great post. I hope thoes sandwiches have a protein ensive