Sample Daily Menu for a 2-Year-Old

This menu shows a typical day of healthy eating for a 2-year-old who weighs about 27 pounds.

Breakfast

• Cereal (1⁄2 cup, iron-fortified) or 1 egg
• Citrus or tomato juice (1/2 cup) or cantaloupe or strawberries (1⁄3 cup)
• Toast (1/2 slice)
• Margarine or butter (1⁄2 teaspoon)
• Jelly (1 teaspoon)
• Two-percent milk (3⁄4 cup)

Snack

• Crackers (4)
• Cream cheese (1 oz) (1 oz = 2 tablespoons)
• Juice (1⁄2 cup)

Lunch

• Sandwich (1⁄2 ):Whole wheat bread (1 slice),meat (1 oz or 1 slice)
• Margarine or butter (1 teaspoon) or salad dressing (2 teaspoons)
• 2 tablespoons dark-yellow or dark-green vegetables
• Low-fat oatmeal cookie (1 small)
• Two-percent milk (1⁄2 cup)

Snack

• Apple (1⁄2, sliced), grapes (1⁄3 cup, sliced), or orange (1⁄2)
• Two-percent milk (1⁄2 cup)

Dinner

• Meat (2 oz) (2 oz is about the size of your child’s palm.)
• Vegetable (2 tablespoons)
• Pasta, rice, or potato (1⁄3 cup)
• Margarine or butter (1 teaspoon) or salad dressing (2 teaspoons)
• Two-percent milk (1⁄2 cup)