Food Needs

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The preschooler needs to eat frequently throughout the day. Assessing the child's nutritional needs includes determining a child's acceptance of food. You can use a dietary history along with physical measurements of growth and development.  Because many preschoolers are frequently on the go/on their own and are now more self-sufficient than during the toddler stage, they open refrigerator doors, climb onto kitchen cabinets, and open jars to find their favorite foods. For example, children may well have stuffed cookies into little pockets when they enter the center at 7:00 a.m. In short, realize that parents might be misinformed regarding their children's diet.

A good dietary history taken by the care provider may reveal that the child is consuming less-than-recommended amounts of food or reveal food behaviors that impact nutrient intake. Such analysis may reveal conflicts that could be avoided by allowing the child to decide how much to eat or not to eat at all. By neutralizing meal and snack times, children may improve their own diets. Additionally, in a supportive environment, overweight and underweight preschoolers can be taught to self-regulate food intake instead of responding to external cues such as time of day and amount of food on plate.

Recommended food intake based on the Food Guide Pyramid for Children and suggested serving sizes (ages 3–5)*

*Serving sizes based on CACFP meal pattern.

†Whole milk may be used for some underweight children, Food Guide Pyramid milk serving is 1 c.

‡Avoid for allergic children.

§Allow a minimum serving of 1 Tbsp/year of age for cooked fruits, vegetables, cereals, and pasta until children reach 1/2 c portion size. Additional servings of food may be needed to meet energy requirements of some children.

If only a limited diet is served, the child learns to enjoy only a few foods. Parents and care providers should expose children to a variety of foods without rewards or punishments. Children will dislike foods presented in a negative context.

Preschoolers would need to consume only 1/2 to 3/4 of a slice of whole-grain bread; however, one slice has been allowed in the example. The general rule for minimum serving size is 1 tablespoon (measuring) per year of age. The guide emphasizes use of beans as a substitute for part of the protein, whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits, milk and milk products, and vegetables, specifically the dark green varieties and those with a high vitamin C content.