Numbers of Servings per Day for Teenagers

The number of servings that are right for your teenager hinges on how many calories he or she needs—which is based on age, sex, size and activity level. Most youngsters (and adults) should eat at least the minimum amount of servings in the ranges.

You might wonder how you’ll ever get your teenager to eat the recommended several servings of fruits and vegetables. But if you look at the table referenced below, you’ll see that many of the recommended serving sizes are actually quite small. For example, a recommended serving of ready-to-eat cereal—just one ounce—would barely cover the bottom of the bowl, when it wouldn’t be unusual for a growing boy to scarf down a cupful or more at breakfast.