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What is a Toddler Serving Size Meats and Beans?

By Stephanie Brown, About.com

Question: What is a Toddler Serving Size Meats and Beans?

This is one food category where parents tend to worry that their toddler isn't getting enough. It takes surprisingly little to meet the requirement, though. Take a typical chicken breast and cut it in half. Now cut it in half again. Just one of those pieces is a full toddler-sized serving for the entire day. If you're offering larger meat portions than this, try cutting back and offering more vegetables instead.

Answer: Your toddler needs:

2 Ounces of Meat and Beans

1 ounce can come in the form of:

  • 1 ounce of cooked lean meats like beef, turkey, chicken, pork or ham
  • 1 sandwich slice of turkey or ham
  • 1 ounce of ground beef (about 1/3 of a small hamburger patty)
  • 1 ounce cooked fish (about 1/6 can of tuna)
  • 1 egg
  • 12 almonds
  • 24 pistachios
  • 7 walnut halves
  • 1/2 ounce of seeds like pumpkin or sunflower
  • 1 tablespoon of almond or peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup of cooked beans
  • 1/4 cup of cooked peas or lentils
  • 1/4 cup tofu
  • 2 tablespoons hummus

Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition

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