Child Meal Pattern
Breakfast
1-2 year olds 3-5 year olds 6-12 year olds
Milk—must be fluid milk 1/2 cup 3/4 cup 1 cup
Vegetable or fruit or 100% fruit juice
1/4 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup
Grains/Breads—must be enriched or whole grain
Bread
OR, Cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin
OR, Cold dry cereal
OR, Hot cooked cereal
OR, Cooked pasta or noodles or grains
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/3 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1 slice
1 serving
3/4 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Lunch or Supper
1-2 year olds 3-5 year olds 6-12 year olds
Milk—must be fluid milk 1/2 cup 3/4 cup 1 cup
Meat/Meat alternate
Lean meat, poultry, or fish without bone
OR, Alternate protein product
OR, Cheese
OR, Egg (large)
OR, Cooked dry beans or peas
OR, Peanut butter or other nut or seed butters
OR, Nuts and/or seeds
OR, Yogurt, plain or sweetened
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1/2 egg
1/4 cup
2 tbsp
1/2 oz
4 oz
1 1/2 oz
1 1/2 oz
1 1/2 oz
3/4 egg
3/8 cup
3 tbsp
3/4 oz
6 oz
2 oz
2 oz
2 oz
1 egg
1/2 cup
4 tbsp
1 oz
8 oz
Vegetable or fruit or 100% fruit juice—
serve two different vegetables and/or
fruits to equal
1/4 cup 1/2 cup 3/4 cup
Grains/Breads—
must be enriched or whole grain
Bread
OR, Cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin
OR, Cold dry cereal
OR, Hot cooked cereal
OR, Cooked pasta or noodles or grains
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/3 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1 slice
1 serving
3/4 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Snack—select 2 of the 4 components 1-2 year olds 3-5 year olds 6-12 year olds
Milk—must be fluid milk 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup
Vegetable or fruit or 100% fruit juice
1/2 cup 1/2 cup 3/4 cup
Grains/Breads—must be enriched or whole grain
Bread
OR, Cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin
OR, Cold dry cereal
OR, Hot cooked cereal
OR, Pasta or noodles or grains
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1/2 slice
1/2 serving
1/3 cup
1/4 cup
1/4 cup
1 slice
1 serving
3/4 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Meat/Meat alternate
Lean meat, poultry, or fish
OR, Alternate protein product
OR, Cheese
OR, Egg
OR, Cooked dry beans or peas
OR, Peanut or other nut or seed butters
OR, Nuts and/or seeds
Or, Yogurt, plain or sweetened
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 egg
1/8 cup
1 tbsp
1/2 oz
2 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 oz
1/2 egg
1/8 cup
1 tbsp
1/2 oz
2 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1/2 egg
1/4 cup
2 tbsp
1 oz
4 oz
Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs
The Child Care Commission approved the use of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) meal patterns as the minimum
amount of food which can be served to comply with the licensing standards for adequate nutrition. The Recommended Dietary Al-
lowance is based on the age, sex, weight, and height of an individual.