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Getting enough serves
The amount of food that you need from each food group changes as you grow and age.

Use the information below as a guide. On some days you might have more foods from a particular group than on others.

Try to include more foods from groups that you struggle to eat enough of especially vegetables to help develop a healthy eating pattern. 

Babies

(0-12 months)

  • Breastmilk or commercial infant formula is all a baby needs until around 6 months of age.
  • Start to introduce solid foods (smooth mashed or soft pieces) when your baby shows signs of being ready. 

Toddlers

(1-3 years)

Vegetables: 2 – 3 serves
Fruit: ½ – 1 serve
Grains: 4 serves
Meat and alternatives: 1 serve
Dairy and alternatives: 1 – 1½ serves

Children

(4-8 years)

Vegetables:: 4½ serves
Fruit: 1½ serves
Grains: 4 serves
Meat and alternatives: 1½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 1½ – 2 serves

(9-11 years)

Vegetables: 5 serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 4 – 5 serves
Meat and alternatives: 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 2½ – 3 serves

Teenagers

(12-13 years)

Vegetables: 5 – 5½ serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 5 – 6
Meat and alternatives: 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 3½ serves

(14-18 years)

Vegetables: 5 – 5½ serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 7 serves
Meat and alternatives: 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 3½ serves

Pregnancy

Vegetables: 5 serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 8 serves
Meat and alternatives: 3½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 2½ – 3½ serves

Breastfeeding

Vegetables: 5½ serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 9 serves
Meat and alternatives: 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 4 serves

Adults

(19-50 years)

Vegetables: 5 – 6 serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 6 serves
Meat and alternatives: 2½ – 3 serves
Dairy and alternatives: 2½ serves

Pregnancy

Vegetables: 5 serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 8½ serves
Meat and alternatives: 3½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 2½ serves

Breastfeeding

Vegetables: 7½ serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 9 serves
Meat and alternatives: 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 2½ serves

Older Adults

(51-70 years)

Vegetables: 5 – 5½ serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 4 serves (Women)
6 serves (Men)
Meat and alternatives: 2 – 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 4 serves (Women)
2½ serves (Men)

(70+ years)

Vegetables: 5 serves
Fruit: 2 serves
Grains: 3 serves (Women)
4½ serves (Men)
Meat and alternatives: 2 – 2½ serves
Dairy and alternatives: 3½ – 4 serves