Serving Sizes vs.

Portion Sizes
 Serving Sizes vs.
Portion Sizes
• A serving size is a unit of measure that
describes a recommended amount of a
certain food.
• A portion size is the amount of a food that
you choose to eat.
• For example, ½ cup of spaghetti (just the
pasta) is one serving. If you eat 2 cups (your
portion size) of spaghetti for dinner, you are
actually eating 4 servings.

2
 Larger Portion Sizes
• The portion sizes of a majority of foods
sold for immediate consumption far
exceed the recommended serving sizes
• Our perception of what a serving size is
has been altered by the increasing
availability and marketing of larger food
portions
– Added value and added calories

3
 Serving Sizes

• Serving sizes are found on a Nutrition Facts

label (otherwise known as a food label)
• All of the nutrients listed on that label, such as
fat, carbohydrate, and sodium, are based on
the serving size
• If you end up eating two or three times as
much as the serving size, the amount of
calories and fat will double or triple, and can
affect your weight

4
Sample for Macaroni
and Cheese

Calories:
250 x 2 = 500

Fat:
12g x 2 = 24 g (36%
DV)

5
 Portion Sizes for Children
• Children need adequate calories to meet their
needs for growth.
• On the other hand, portions that are too large
could lead to overeating or seem
overwhelming.
• Providing smaller servings to young children is
often the best way for them to learn to eat only
until satisfied, instead of overeating.
• Start kids off with less and encourage them to
ask for more if they're still hungry.

6
 Portion Control Through
Photography

• Post a picture of a plate of food

with the proper serving sizes in the
kitchen and/or in the classrooms

• Teachers and/or cooks can visualize

how much food should be on
children’s plates

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 Portion Control Through Photography
Meal Size:
4-7 months
On a 10” dinner plate

1 ½ T IFIC and 1 ½ T Vegetable

8
 Portion Control Through Photography
Meal Size:
8-12 months
On a 10” dinner plate

3 T IFIC, 2 T vegetable, 2 T Meat

9
 Portion Control Through Photography
Meal Size:
1-2 years
On a 10” dinner plate

1 oz Meat, ¼ cup vegetable, ¼ cup G/B

10
 Portion Control Through Photography
Meal Size:
3-5 years
On a 10” dinner plate

1 ½ oz Meat, ½ cup vegetable, ¼ cup G/B

11
 Portion Control Through Photography
Meal Size:
6-12 years
On a 10” dinner plate

2 oz Meat, ¾ cup vegetable, ½ cup G/B

12
Fruit Serving 4 -7 months

Sizes
On a 10” dinner plate 1 ½ Tablespoons

8 -1
2T

2m
ab
rs

ont
yea

les
p cu

hs
po
12

3/4

on
6-

s
up
¼c

rs
ea
2y
1-
½ cup

3 -5 years
13
Vegetable 4 -7 months
Serving Sizes 1 ½ Tablespoons
On a 10” dinner plate

8-
12
2T

m
ab
rs

on
yea

le

ths
spo
cup
12

on
3/4
6-

rs
up

ea
¼c

2y
1-
½ cup

3 -5 years
14
Grain/Bread
Serving Sizes
On a 10” dinner plate

8 -1
s

2m
ea r

¼s
2y

ont
lic
1s
6 -1

lice

hs
½ slice
1 -5 years
15
Grain/Bread
Serving Sizes
On a 10” dinner plate
rs
yea

p
12

½ cu
6-

up
¼c

rs
ea
2y
1-
¼ cup

3 -5 years
16
Meat Serving
Sizes 4 -7 months
On a 10” dinner plate
1 ½ Tablespoons (IFIC)

8-
12
2 T C or
(IF

mo
ab me
I
les

nth s
po at)
rs

s
yea

on
s
nce
12
2ou
6-

ce
un

rs
ea
1o

2y
1-
1 ½ ounces

3 -5 years
17
18
19
Examples of 1 cup

20
CACFP Meal Pattern
Meat/Meat Alternate

21
 Cheese Slices
1 slice of cheese is 19g
From the Food Buying
Guide
(p. I-40),
1 ounce = 28.35g
So, is 1 slice of cheese
enough to put on a
sandwich for 1-2 year
olds?

22
 Cheese Slices
NO!
• 1 ounce = 28.35g, but 1 slice of cheese is only
19g
• 28.35g divided by 19g = 1.49 or 1 ½ slices of
cheese on each sandwich for 1-2 year olds
• 3-5 year olds would need 2 ½ slices
• 6-12 year olds need 3 slices

23
CACFP Meal Pattern – Bread/Grain

24
Cheese Sandwich for
1-2 year olds
1 ½ slices of cheese = 1 oz
½ slice of bread

25
 Cheese Sandwich for
1-2 year olds

1 ½ slices of cheese = 1 oz
1 slice of bread (2 grain/bread servings)

26
Cheese Sandwich for
3-5 year olds
2 ½ slices of cheese = 1 ½ oz
½ slice of bread

27
Cheese Sandwich for
3-5 year olds
2 ½ slices of cheese = 1 ½ oz
1 slice of bread (2 grain/bread servings)

28
Cheese Sandwich for
6-12 year olds
3 slices of cheese = 2 oz
1 slice of bread

29
 Cheese Sandwich for
6-12 year olds
3 slices of cheese = 2 oz
2 slices of bread (2 grain/bread servings)

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CACFP Meal Pattern – Peanut Butter

31
Peanut Butter for
1-2 year olds
2 Tablespoons = 1 oz
½ slice of bread

32
Peanut Butter for
3-5 year olds
3 Tablespoons = 1 ½ oz
½ slice of bread

33
 Peanut Butter for
3-5 year olds
3 Tablespoons = 1 ½ oz
1 slice of bread (2 grain/bread servings)

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Peanut Butter for
6-12 year olds
4 Tablespoons = 2 oz
1 slice of bread

35
 Other Meat Alternates
• Cottage Cheese:
– 2 oz serving (about ¼ cup) = 1 oz meat alternate
• Yogurt:
– ½ cup or 4 oz yogurt = 1 oz meat alternate
– 6 oz = 1 ½ oz MA
– 8 oz = 2 oz MA
Note: Drinkable and frozen
yogurts are NOT creditable.

36
CACFP Meal Pattern – Milk

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