Portion Control
The U. S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) meal patterns for the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) require specific portions for each meal component (milk, meats/meat alternates, grains, fruits, and vegetables). Portion control is an important part of all food service operations because it:
- ensures that CNPs provide the correct amounts of each meal component to meet the meal pattern requirements for reimbursable meals and snacks;
- provides the required servings to meet children’s nutritional needs;
- ensures that standardized recipe yields are accurate;
- provides a consistent portion size that promotes customer satisfaction;
- guides food ordering and preparation; and
- minimizes waste and controls food costs.
Overall, portion control is essential for providing reimbursable meals and snacks, promoting customer satisfaction, and ensuring operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness in food service programs.
General Guidance | Start with Half a Cup | Weights and Measures
General Guidance
- Basics at a Glance (Institute of Child Nutrition): Guidance on recipe abbreviations, measurement conversions, portioning tools, and steamtable pan capacity
- No Time to Train: How Foods Are Portioned (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- No Time to Train: Portioning Matters (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- On the Road to Professional Food Preparation eLearning: Portion Control (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- Portion Control: Why Controlling Portion Size is So Important (Mississippi Department of Education)
- Resource Center: Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Program (USDA): Guidance on common can and jar sizes, decimal equivalents, and measures for portion control
- Yield Study Form for the Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Start with Half a Cup Portion Guides for Fruits and Vegetables
- Fruits Portion Guide 8½ by 14
- Fruits Portion Guide 11 by 17
- Fruits Portion Guide 24 by 36
- Vegetables Portion Guide 8½ by 14
- Vegetables Portion Guide 11 by 17
- Vegetables Portion Guide 24 by 36
Weights and Measures
- Weights and Measures (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- On the Road to Professional Food Preparation eLearning: Weights and Measures (Institute of Child Nutrition)