Fruit Recommendations.

So much fruit do your kids need to eat each day?

Following the food pyramid, some general recommendations include that:

· 2-3 year old children eat 1 cup of fruit each day.

· 4-8 year old children eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of fruit each day.

· 9-13 year old girls and boys eat 1 1/2 cups of fruit each day.

· 14-18 year old girls eat 1 1/2 cups of fruit each.

· 14-18 year old boys eat 2 cups of fruit each day

When thinking of serving sizes and daily recommendations for fruits, keep in mind that 1 cup of fruit is usually equal to a cup of sliced or chopped fruit or:

· a small apple or half of a large apple

· a cup of applesauce

· a large banana

· about 32 seedless grapes

· a medium grapefruit

· a large orange ccc

· a large peach

· a medium pear

· 3 medium plus

· about 8 large strawberries

· a 1" thick wedge of watermelon

· 1/2 cup of raisins

Although a cup of 100% fruit juice, including apple juice and orange juice, can count as a cup of fruit, it is much better to eat whole fruits, which have more fiber, instead of juice.