How Much Food Does My Toddler Need?

There are no recommended number of servings for toddlers under 24 months
Offer a variety of foods from each food group in Canada’s Food Guide every day
Use the following chart as a guide on how much to offer
Eat as a family as much as possible
Always let your child decide how much to eat. Never force, pressure or bribe your child to eat

Food Group	Suggested Serving Size
Vegetables and Fruit Offer a variety of colours – especially green and orange	1/4- 1/2 medium vegetable or fruit 15 – 60 mL (1- 4 tbsp) cooked vegetables or fruit, or grated or chopped raw vegetables or fruit 30-60 mL (1 – 2 oz) 100% juice
Grain Products Offer whole grains	1/4 – 1/2 slice bread 1/8 – 1/4 bagel, pita or tortilla 30 – 100 mL (2 tbsp – ½ cup) cooked cereal 15 – 60 mL (1 -4 tbsp) cooked pasta, rice or couscous
Milk and Alternatives Offer 500 mL (16 oz) of homo milk each day	60 – 125 mL (1/4 – ½ cup or 2- 4 oz) homo (3.25%) milk or breastmilk 1/2 – 1 oz cheese 30 -100g (2 tbsp – ½ cup yogurt)
Meat and Alternatives Offer fish at least twice a week. Offer alternatives like beans, lentils and tofu often	1 – 4 tbsp (1/4 – 1 1/4 oz) cooked fish, poultry or meat 1 tbsp – 1/2 cup tofu, cooked beans or lentils 1/4 – 1 egg 1 tsp – 1 tbsp peanut butter or other nut butters

These menus give an example of how to put together nutritionally balanced meals
Offer at least three out of the four food groups at every meal and two out of the four food groups at every snack
Meals and snacks should be scheduled regularly throughout the day. Offer only water in between

Food Group	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Breakfast	Scrambled egg Whole grain English Muffin with margarine Milk	Whole grain toast with thinly spread peanut butter Banana slices Milk	Oatmeal Applesauce Milk
Morning Snack	Canned peaches Yogurt	Dry cereal Grapes cut in quarters	Crackers Cheese
Lunch	Vegetable soup Grilled cheese sandwich Milk	Baked salmon Cooked rice Cooked broccoli Sliced peaches Milk	Vegetarian chilli with beans and cheese Whole grain bun Milk
Afternoon Snack	Pear slices Cottage cheese	Tomato slices Cheese cubes	Cantaloupe Yogurt
Dinner	Cooked chicken Baked sweet potato Bread with margarine Peas Milk	Bean salad Whole grain crackers Cooked green beans Milk	Pasta with tomato and meat sauce Strawberries Milk
Evening Snack	Fruit salad Milk	Hard boiled egg Milk	Orange Milk