How Many Servings of Fruits & Vegetables a Day for Kids?

Fruits and vegetables are the keys to good nutrition. Knowing how much to eat each day and what types will interest kids can be difficult, but fortunately the United States Government has provided all the answers. MyPyramid.gov lists each food group and how many servings are needed each day. These listings are broken down by age group, as not all ages of kids require the same helpings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Children

• The MyPryramid.gov program, part of the Untied States Department of Agriculture, breaks down the category of children into two groups. The fist consists of ages 2 to 3 and the next ages 4 to 8. Each group has different daily requirements for fruits and vegetables. For vegetables, the daily serving for a 2- to 3-year-old is one cup while a 4- to 8-year-old needs one and a half cup. For fruit, the younger children require one cup while the older group needs one to one and a half cup. These recommendations for children are based upon a child having less than 30 minutes per day of moderate physical exercise. More servings would be necessary for children who exercise more.

Girls

• MyPyramid.gov breaks down kids into three groups: the previously mentioned children and then girls and boys once the age of 9 is reached. Under the girls category, a further breakdown occurs with 9 to 13 and 14 to 18 age groups. For girls age 9 to 13, the proper daily serving of vegetables consists of two cups, while for girls age 14 to 18 it increases to two and one-half cups. For fruits, the correct serving stays the same for both groups of girls: one and one-half cup. As with children, these amounts are based upon the girls exercising less than 30 minutes daily.

Boys

• The age breakdown for boys is the same as girls. When it comes to vegetables, a proper serving for a boy ages 9 to 13 is two and one-half cups while the amount increases to three cups for the older 14 to 18 age group. For fruits, the correct serving is one and one-half cups for the younger boys and two cups for the older group. The same conditions apply regarding less than 30 minutes exercise daily.

A Cup

• The CDC gives examples of what constitutes a cup. If you choose an apple, then a small one is a cup. For one-half cup, a small banana or six baby carrots meets the serving threshold. Eat 16 grapes for one-half cup. For lettuce, one cup equals one-half cup serving. Eat one-half of a large sweet potato and one-half cup of green beans to get your one cup of vegetables.