Sample meal plans for 1 to 4 year olds

These are some examples of meal plans for 1 to 4 year olds. The meal plans have a mix of food groups with the portion sizes for each age.

Generally, 1 to 4 year olds will have 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks each day.

Read about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4 years

Meal plan for a child aged 1 year

This plan is for a 1 year old healthy child within the average range for growth at this age.

Find out about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4

Food pyramid for a child aged 1 year

Cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice: 3 to 4 servings a day

Vegetables, salad and fruit: 2 to 3 servings a day

Milk, yogurt and cheese: 3 servings a day

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts: 2 servings a day

Fats, spreads and oils in very small amounts

Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt: maximum 1 to 2 a week and in tiny amounts

Read about the food pyramid for children aged 1 to 4 years

Water throughout the day

Give 100ml water to drink with meals.

Find out which drinks children aged 1 to 4 years need

Breakfast

  • 1 cup (200ml) milk for cereal and to drink (1 serving)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) iron-fortified wheat flakes (1 serving)
  • half a mandarin in segments (half serving)

Mid-morning snack

  • 1 yogurt (47g) (half serving)

Lunch

  • 15g cheddar cheese (half serving)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) tomato pasta sauce (half serving)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) cooked macaroni pasta (1 serving)

Mid-afternoon snack

  • 1 teaspoon (12g) peanut butter (1 serving)
  • 1 cracker (half serving)

Dinner

  • 30g chopped chicken (1 serving)
  • 30g carrots and green beans (1 serving)
  • half scoop mashed potato (half serving)
  • 1 yogurt (47g) (half serving)

Evening snack

  • 100ml breastmilk or milk (half serving)

Servings

The meal plan gives:

  • 3 servings of cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
  • 2 servings of vegetables, salad and fruit
  • 3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese
  • 2 servings of meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts
Meal plan for a child aged 2 years

This plan is for a healthy child aged 2 years.

Find out about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4

Food pyramid for a child aged 2 years

Cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice: 3 to 4 servings a day

Vegetables, salad and fruit: 2 to 3 servings a day

Milk, yogurt and cheese: 3 servings a day

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts: 2 servings a day

Fats, spreads and oils in very small amounts

Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt: maximum 1 to 2 a week and in tiny amounts

Read about the food pyramid for children aged 1 to 4 years

Water throughout the day

Give 100ml water to drink with meals.

Find out which drinks children aged 1 to 4 years need

Breakfast

  • 1 cup (200ml) milk for cereal and to drink (1 serving)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) iron-fortified toasted rice cereal (1 serving)

Mid-morning snack

  • 1 slice (25g) wholemeal bread toasted, thinly spread with butter or margarine (1 serving)

Lunch

  • 30g tinned tuna with small amount of mayonnaise added (1 serving)
  • half cup (30g) sweetcorn (1 serving)
  • 2 tablespoons (40g) cooked pasta (1 serving)

Mid-afternoon snack

  • 2 thumbs (25g) cheese (1 serving)
  • 1 cracker (half serving)

Dinner

  • 30g beef mince (1 serving)
  • 30g grated carrot (1 serving)
  • half scoop (30g) mashed potato (half serving)
  • 1 mandarin (1 serving)

Evening snack

  • 200ml breast milk or milk (1 serving)

Servings

The meal plan gives:

  • 4 servings of cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
  • 3 servings of vegetables, salad and fruit
  • 3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese
  • 2 servings of meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts
Meal plan for a child aged 3 years

This plan is for a 3 year old child.

Find out about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4

Food pyramid for a child aged 3 years

Cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice: 4 to 6 servings a day

Vegetables, salad and fruit: 4 to 5 servings a day

Milk, yogurt and cheese: 3 servings a day

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts: 3 to 4 servings a day

Fats, spreads and oils in very small amounts

Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt: maximum 1 to 2 a week and in tiny amounts

Read about the food pyramid for children aged 1 to 4 years

Water throughout the day

Give 100ml water to drink with meals.

Find out which drinks children aged 1 to 4 years need

Breakfast

  • 1 egg (1 serving)
  • 100ml unsweetened orange juice (1 serving)
  • 1 slice wholemeal bread toasted with 5g butter or margarine (1 serving)

Mid-morning snack

  • 1 small pot (47g) yogurt (half serving)
  • 5 to 6 raspberries, cut in halves (1 serving)

Lunch

  • 1 falafel (half serving)
  • quarter tub (35g) hummus (1 serving)
  • 3 to 4 cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters (1 serving)
  • half small wrap (1 serving)
  • 100ml low fat milk (half serving)

Mid-afternoon snack

  • 25g cheese (1 serving)
  • 1 rice cake (1 serving)

Dinner

  • 30g salmon (1 serving)
  • half cup (30g) carrots (1 serving)
  • 1 scoop mashed potato (1 serving)
  • 25g rice pudding made with 200ml milk (1 serving)

Evening snack

  • 100ml milk (half serving)
  • half slice (30g) banana bread (half serving)

Servings

This meal plan gives:

  • 4.5 servings of cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
  • 4 servings of vegetables, salad and fruit
  • 3.5 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese
  • 3.5 servings of meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts
Meal plan for a child aged 3 years on a vegetarian diet

This plan is for a 3 year old whose family eats a vegetarian diet.

Find out about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4

Water throughout the day

Give 100ml of water to drink with meals.

Find out which drinks children aged 1 to 4 years need

Breakfast

  • 30g porridge made with 100ml milk (1 serving)
  • 200ml milk (100ml to drink and 100ml for porridge) (1 serving)
  • 5 to 6 strawberries (1 serving)

Mid-morning snack

  • 3 to 4 cucumber sticks (1 serving)
  • 35g hummus (1 serving)

Lunch

  • 1 boiled egg (1 serving)
  • 1 slice of bread with 5g butter or margarine (1 serving)
  • 1 mandarin (1 serving)

Mid-afternoon snack

  • 2 crackers (1 serving)
  • 25g cheese (1 serving)

Dinner

  • 40g chickpeas, or 1/4 cup (1 serving)
  • 40g onions and peppers, or half a cup (1 serving)
  • 80g rice (2 servings)
  • 1 pot (125g) plain yogurt (1 serving)

Evening snack

  • 1 slice of malted fruit loaf with 5g butter or margarine (1 serving)

Servings

This plan gives:

  • 6 servings of cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
  • 4 servings of vegetables, salad and fruit
  • 3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese
  • 3 servings of meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts
Meal plan for a child aged 4 years

This plan is for a 4 year old child.

Find out about portion sizes for children aged 1 to 4

Food pyramid for a child aged 4 years

Cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice: 4 to 6 servings a day

Vegetables, salad and fruit: 4 to 5 servings a day

Milk, yogurt and cheese: 3 servings a day

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts: 3 to 4 servings a day

Fats, spreads and oils in very small amounts

Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt: maximum 1 to 2 a week and in tiny amounts

Water throughout the day

Give 100ml water to drink with their meals.

Find out which drinks children aged 1 to 4 years need

Breakfast

  • 200ml milk for cereal and to drink (1 serving)
  • Half a sliced banana (1 serving)
  • 1.5 wheat biscuits (like Weetabix) with 100ml milk (1 serving)

Mid-morning snack

  • 1 pitta bread (2 servings)
  • 35g hummus (1 serving)

Lunch

  • 80g beans (2 servings)
  • 1 slice of wholemeal bread with 5g butter or margarine (1 serving)
  • 1 pot (125g) plain yogurt (1 serving)

Mid-evening snack

  • 100ml custard (half serving)
  • 40g stewed plums (1 serving)

Dinner

  • 30g beef (1 serving)
  • 80g stir fried vegetables (2 servings)
  • 75g noodles (2 servings)
  • 100ml unsweetened orange juice (1 serving)

Evening snack

  • Half a bagel with 5g butter or margarine (1 serving)
  • 100ml milk (half serving)

Servings

This plan gives:

  • 7 servings of cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice
  • 5 servings of vegetables, salad and fruit
  • 3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese
  • 4 servings of meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans and nuts
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This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 8.

Page last reviewed: 5 November 2021
Next review due: 5 November 2024