What's a child's portion for fruits and vegetables?

A good rule-of-thumb for fruit and vegetable serving sizes is "one tablespoon per year of life" for kids 1 to 6 years of age, says Dr. Debby Demory-Luce, a registered dietitian with the CNRC. For older kids and adults, serving sizes based on the Food Guide Pyramid are:

• ¾ cup juice
  
• 1 cup raw leafy vegetables
  
• ½ cup chopped raw, canned or cooked fruit or other vegetable
  

According to Demory-Luce, the "5-A-Day" recommendation includes at least one vitamin A-rich and vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable serving each day. Vitamin A is found in apricots, papaya, mangos and cantaloupe, as well as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. High vitamin C foods include citrus fruit, cantaloupe, papaya, mangos, peaches, kiwi, strawberries, bell pepper, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and potatoes with skin.

To learn more about portion sizes for children, see the new USDA Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children at http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/KidsPyra/index.htm

Food Guide Pyramid
Toddler Nutrition (1 to 3 years of age)