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Federal dietary guidelines are intended for children over the age of 2. Parents with questions about appropriate serving sizes and feeding schedules for infants and toddlers should consult with their child’s pediatrician.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed MyPyramid, an interactive tool designed to help tailor eating plans based on an individual’s age, gender and activity level. MyPyramid replaced the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid in 2005, and recommends the amounts of foods to be eaten daily from each of six basic food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, dairy, meat/beans). However, rather than recommending serving sizes, the new guide recommends specific measurements of foods in cups or ounces.