What is a serve?

“So it’s one serving each or equal portions?”

Questions such as this a not uncommon across Australia from both; children and adults. Help your children understand what a serve is with the following activity.

1. Know the facts

The Australian Dietary Guidelines group foods together, these are known as the Five Food Groups; grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy and lean meats. They then identify a serving size in each group that have roughly the same amount of key nutrients and kilojoules.

2. Take the quiz

Don’t worry about the results too much, this is a great way to find out what you need to learn.

3. Time to study

You may be surprised to know that 1 cup of frozen vegetables equals a serve but 1 egg is only half a serve. Take a look at the examples below and take the quiz again (we hope you improve on your results).

• Vegetables and legumes/beans
• Fruit
• Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
• Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat

Find out more about the Australian Dietary Guidelines at eatforhealth.gov.au