Evidenced‐based, practical food portion sizes for preschool children and how they fit into a well balanced, nutritionally adequate diet

Abstract

These practical food portion size ranges could be used both in early years settings and in advice to parents. The food plan emphasises the need to include a variety of nutrient-dense foods if a balanced diet is to be achieved for preschool children.

Fifteen-minute consultation: The healthy child: “My child is a fussy eater!”

“…A preschool child portion is double this amount. For example, this may equate to four chips or half a piece of fruit, in a preschool child, which is often significantly less than parental expectations 15. See figure 1 for photographs of preschool portion sizes.…”

Healthy eating for 1–3 year‐olds: A food‐based guide

“…Both these toddlers will usually be able to regulate their food intake but the larger child will generally need more to eat. Therefore, when providing recommendations, giving a range of portion sizes is useful so that parents and care providers can be confident that if their toddler eats a variety of foods within the portion ranges, they will be adequately fed (More & Emmett ).…”

“…). Therefore, healthy eating guidance is especially needed about the appropriate frequency and portion sizes of high‐sugar/salt, high‐fat foods and foods with low nutrient density (More & Emmett ).…”

“…The key paper used to provide the evidence base for the proportions of the food groups and the serving sizes of foods shown in the BNF resource was published by More and Emmett () in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics . This used portion sizes of foods consumed by young children (aged 1–4 years) from the NDNS and ALSPAC and combined these into a theoretical food plan fulfilling healthy eating guidelines regarding the number of servings from each food group.…”

“…Portion sizes of foods from the main food groups within the BNF guide were based on the study described above (More & Emmett ) but adjusted where necessary to reflect the wider age range considered in the investigation by More and Emmett (1–4 year‐olds) compared with the BNF resource (focusing on 1–3 year‐olds). The portion sizes used are intended as a guide rather than a precise recommendation as the needs of toddlers will vary due to differences in bodyweight but also for individuals on a day‐to‐day basis depending on activity levels and appetite.…”