Feeding Your 5 Year-Old
Your child has grown so much and learned so much in these last five years. What does he or she need now to continue to grow, develop and learn?
Your Child Still Needs Milk!
Skim milk or lowfat milk is best for most children. You can also give other dairy foods such as yogurt, cheese, frozen yogurt and ice milk.
Fruits and Vegetables are Important Every Day!
Aim for four servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables every day. Give carrots for snacks, bananas on cereal and salads with meals. Try to serve fruits and vegetables as a part of every meal. Offer water when your child is thirsty.
Also Important For 5 Year-Olds
- Lots of good, healthy exercise. Turn that TV off.
- Three meals a day plus snacks.
- A regular bedtime. This will help your child adjust to going to school. And it will give you some quiet time.
- Lots of attention. Mealtime is a good time to sit and talk.
- Learning kitchen safety. Let your 5 year-old help in the kitchen.
- Give jobs your child is ready for.
- Brushing teeth after meals or at least rinsing with water.
Getting Your Child Ready For School
Here are some things you have probably been doing:
- Reading together.
- Counting things together.
- Talking about shapes, sizes and colors.
- Talking about where things are up, down, behind and in front of other things.
But are you making sure your child is in the habit of eating breakfast? Children who eat breakfast do better in school. They learn more. So get your child into the breakfast habit NOW!
| Food |
Daily Servings |
Serving Sizes |
Bread, Cereal,
Rice, and Pasta |
9 |
1/2 Slice or 1/4 Cup |
| Fruit |
4 |
1/4 Cup Cooked; 1/2 Cup Raw |
| Vegetables |
3 |
1/4 Cup Cooked: 1/2 Cup Raw |
Milk, Yogurt
and Cheese |
5 |
1/2 Cup; 3/4 Ounce Cheese |
Meat, Poultry,
Fish, and Dry Beans |
3 |
1 Tablespoon; 1 Egg;
1/2 Cup Cooked Beans and Eggs |
This page last updated on 3/09/07.