5 year old feeding schedule: Amounts and food chart

At 5 years old, your child is transitioning from the preschool phase into the realm of being a big kid. Starting kindergarten can change the game a bit when it comes to feeding. Eating lunch at school as well as interactions with peers may influence your family’s feeding dynamic. Keep reading for all you need to know about feeding your five year old.

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5 year old child sample feeding schedule

Around 5 years old, you may begin to see your child become a more curious eater. Typically, tendencies start to fade a bit and kids at this age really enjoy being part of meal planning and prep. If you can, try to involve them by allowing them to do simple cooking tasks or let them help choose foods at the grocery store. 

At this age, kids will eat roughly every 3 - 4 hours but may go longer between meals, especially if they are in school. Sometimes, we see a shift away from a morning snack once kindergarten starts and an uptick in the afternoon snack, particularly if kids are in school for a full day. 

Below is a sample feeding schedule for a 5 year old. Use it as a guide, but know it may be adjusted to fit your family’s needs. 

How much to feed a 5 year old: Food chart

The key to feeding your five year old is to keep offering a variety of foods and to keep modeling healthy eating habits. Involve your child in making choices about their meal when possible. For example, let them choose either strawberries or blueberries with their oatmeal.

5 year old feeding chart 

5 tips for feeding your 5 year old 

Tip #1: Eliminate distractions

As much as possible, eliminate distractions during mealtime. , put away toys and phones, and allow your family to enjoy the time together. This not only allows your child to focus on eating but also helps them learn about table manners and practice having conversations with others. 

Tip #2: Focus on breakfast 

Breakfast is sometimes called the most important meal of the day and with good reason! Serving your child a balanced, breakfast sets them up for success all day long, especially if they are headed to school. Research shows [] that eating breakfast positively impacts kids’ school performance. 

Tip #3: Create a meal and snack schedule 

As your child becomes more independent, it can be tempting to leave more eating decisions to them. However, it is still best that the parent or caregiver sets the meal and snack schedule. This allows children to learn more about their body’s hunger and fullness cues as well as encourages them to eat more consciously at mealtime instead of grazing throughout the day.

Tip #4: Offer a variety of foods 

Even though pickiness tends to fade a bit around five years old, kids can get stuck in food ruts sometimes. Adults do too! Do your best to offer a variety of foods and to try new foods with your child. They don’t have to like everything (neither do you!), but this builds skills to try new foods and to eat a variety of foods throughout their lifetime. 

Tip #5: Involve kids in the kitchen

Cooking with kids can be messy, but it can also be fun and rewarding! When you can, involve your kiddo in the cooking process. Whether it’s helping plan meals, grocery shopping, or preparing a meal or snack, this involvement makes them more likely to try foods. Additionally, it helps teach them skills they will need in the future to make healthful eating decisions. 

Night feedings for a 5 year old

Typically, five year olds should not need to eat overnight. Be sure to offer enough opportunities to eat throughout the day and watch out for foods that could make it difficult to sleep - such as foods or beverages containing caffeine, etc. If your child is struggling with night wakings from hunger, talk to your pediatrician.

At this age, early morning awakenings in children are often attributed to hunger, as it's challenging for many to go over 12 hours without eating. For example, a 5:30 PM dinner could mean a 5:30 AM wake-up. Even children who usually sleep well may find it difficult to return to sleep if they're hungry. If you’re dealing with early risings, consider having dinner a bit later or providing a nutritious snack before starting the bedtime routine.

Note that it’s common for kindergarteners to have , whether they’re related to hunger or not. Consider submitting for a customized sleep plan through if you’d like expert help and step-by-step guidance.

Takeaway

Eating with your five year old should be enjoyable, but may also bring about some changes as they start school. Keep enjoying a variety of foods together and include them in meal prep when possible. It’s all about instilling good habits at this age.

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