National Fatherhood Initiative ::: Dad E-mail

Dinnertime Tips for Dads

Dad, here’s a guide to help you determine if your child is eating enough, too much, or too little! And, hey dad – staying healthy is important for you too. So you might also want to keep these serving sizes in mind when you dine!

Age Group	One serving of Meat equals	One serving of Chopped Fruits/Veggies equals	One serving of Cooked Rice/Pasta equals	One serving of Cheese equals	One serving of Juice equals
Toddlers	4 marbles	3 dominoes	1 ping pong ball	2 dice	shot glass
Preschoolers to 8-year olds	2 matchbooks	2 golf balls	1/2 tennis ball	1 9 volt battery	espresso cup
Older kids, dads, and moms	ipod size (regular, not nano or mini)	light bulb	cupcake wrapper full	4 AA batteries	champagne flute

Childhood obesity is a “hot topic” today. Children grow at different rates and everyone’s body type is different – so make no assumptions. Consult your child’s doctor if you think that your child might be at an unhealthy weight.