Children 2 to 6 year old Food pattern
Food pattern (Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk/Beans, and Oils) are same for 2 to 3 year olds as 4 to 6 year olds regardless of the gender
The quantity for 2 to 3 year olds is about two thirds of the quantity for 4 to 6 year olds, except for the milk. The milk needs are 2 cups per day for all children between 2 to 6 year olds. There are six major food groups, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk/Beans, and Oils. The oils are primarily given here as to the amount you must use in cooking. For healthy growth, a child must eat from all the food groups, as well as much variety within the group. No single food meets all the nutritional requirements for a healthy body.
Fruits: 2- to 3-year-olds: 1 cup; 4- to 6-year-olds: 1½ cups
1 Cup Equivalence
1 Cup of sliced/chopped fresh, frozen or canned fruit
1 Cup fruit juice
1 Cup unsweetened fruit juice
Examples:
Apple, Applesauce, Bananas, Cantaloupes, Guava, Oranges, Mango, Papaya, Ripened and pealed peaches or pears, cantaloupe, watermelon.
Vegetables: 2- to 3-year-olds: 1 cup; 4- to 6-year-olds: 1-1/2 cups
On a weekly basis, for each cup apply the following distribution:
Dark Green Vegetable: 1 Cup, for example Paalak or Sarson Saag
Orange colored vegetable: ½ cup, for example, carrots, pumpkins
Legume: ½ cup, for example, chana Dal, mung dal
Starchy: 1½ cup, for example, potatoes, peas
Other vegetable: 3½ cup
Grains: 2- to 3-year-olds: 3 ounces; 4- to 6-year-olds: 4 to 5 ounces
1 oz Equivalence
1 Medium size Roti/Chapati about 6" diameter preferably made from whole grain flour
½ Naan
1 Slice of bread from 1 pound loaf of bread preferably whole wheat
½ Cup Cooked Rice preferably brown rice
1 ounce ready to eat whole grain cereal
½ cup cooked Dalia
½ cup cooked oats
5 to 6 whole grain crackers
Meat, Beans: 2- to 3-year-olds: 2 ounce; 4- to 6-year-olds: 3 to 4 ounce
1 ounce Equivalence
1 Ounce (weight) of cooked meat, poultry, or Fish
¼ cup drained canned tuna or salmon
1 ½ Hot dog (2 ounce)
2 slices of lunch meat (Bologna, ham) ounces
1 Egg
¼ Cup Tofu
1 Soy burger patty
½ Cup cooked Lentils and beans. For example, Cholay, Rajma, Mah ki Dal
Milk Group: 2 to 6-year-olds: 2 cups
1 Cup Equivalence
1 Cup of whole milk, fat free milk, low fat milk, Lassi, Chach
1 Cup of Dahi (whole milk yogurt), fat free, or low fat yogurt
¼ Cup Paneer
2 cups Cottage cheese
2 ounce of processed cheese
1 Cup of rice pudding preferably made from brown rice.
Oils: 2- to 3-year-olds: 3 teaspoons; 4- to 6-year-olds: 4 teaspoons
Choose vegetable oils, for example, peanut oil, corn oil, olive oil, mustard seed oil
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