47 month old: The daily food requirements for children are easier to meet than you might think

While fussy eating or defiance around food is common at this age, it's still helpful to understand the current recommendations for a preschooler – even if they'll only eat jam sandwiches for dinner right now.

Between the ages of two and five, your child will gain two to three kilograms and grow 5-10cm in height. To support this change, their body needs the right fuel – that is, a balanced diet including healthy snacks.

Daily food requirements for children aged 4 – 8

The following are the recommendations from the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

• Vegetables = 4.5 serves a day. Standard serve is about 75g = 1/2 cup cooked vegies; 1 cup salad vegies; 1/2 potato; 1 tomato.
• Fruit = 1.5 serves a day. Standard serve is 150g = 1 apple, banana, orange or pear; 2 small apricots, kiwi fruit or plums; 1 cup canned fruit (no added sugar); 1/2 cup fruit juice (no added sugar); 30g dried fruit like sultanas.
• Grain (cereal) foods = 4 serves a day. Standard serve = 1 slice bread; 1/2 roll or flat bread; 1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta, noodles, barley, buckwheat, semolina, polenta or quinoa; 1/2 cup cooked porridge; 2/3 cup wheat cereal flakes; 1/4 cup muesli; 1 crumpet or English muffin.

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• Primary protein = 1.5 serves a day. Standard serve = 65g cooked lean meat; 80g poultry; 100g fish or 1 small can of fish; 2 large eggs; 1 cup legumes/beans; 170g tofu; 30g nuts, seeds, peanut or almond butter, or tahini or other nut or seed paste.
• Dairy (and non-dairy alternatives) = 2 serves (boys) or 1.5 serves (girls) a day. Standard serve = 1 cup milk or non-dairy 'milk' like soy; 1/2 cup evaporated milk; 2 slices hard cheese; 1/2 cup ricotta; 3/4 cup yoghurt.