Children Serve ThemselvesIntroductionPage 3 of 14

Children Serve Themselves: IntroductionPage 3 of 14
eating vegetables

Caregivers want to make sure children eat appropriate servings of fruits, vegetables, proteins and whole grains. They carefully prepare plates with adequate servings of each food item and encourage children to eat it. However, research shows us that family style meals where children are allowed to serve themselves and select their own portions support children’s ability to self-regulate and help create pleasant mealtimes.

What does it mean to allow children to serve themselves and select their own portions?

Watch this video to learn what self-service means for children.

In family style meal service, foods and beverages are placed in common serving containers, such as child-sized serving bowls and pitchers, and placed on the table where children eat.

Foods are passed around the table and children serve themselves ‘what’ and ‘how much’ they would like to eat.

Observing the division of responsibility is fundamental to family style meal service.

Caregivers' Responsibilities Child's Responsibilities
What foods are offered If they will eat (they may choose not to eat)
When foods are offered What they will eat
Where food is offered How much to eat

Watch the video from Dr. Samantha Ramsay, a leading nutrition expert who will explain the difference between serving size and portions.

The division of responsibility during family style meal service.

girl with bowl

Self-Service

  • During family meals, children serve themselves and select their own portions.
  • Allowing children to serve themselves improves their self-help skills.
bowl of fruit

Serving Size

  • The amount of food to be offered to a child as recommended by the Child and Adult Care Food Program., such as a 1/4 cup of fruit or 6 ounces (3/4 cup) of milk.
  • Supervising adults should provide a full serving for each child and let children decide how much and what they eat.
boy spooning vegetables on his plate

Portion

  • A portion refers to the amount of food the child selects to put on their plate.

Question Time

Note: Try answering the questions below. Take your best guess! This will not be graded/scored. It is OK if you do not know the answer.

1. In general, which of the following practices most closely describes how food is served to children in your care during meals?

2. What are recommended practices during family style meal service?

You can now move on with the lesson by clicking the "Save and Continue" button below.
Back