Portion sizes and food groups
Updated 7 February 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/portion-sizes-and-food-groups
Primary (4 to 10 years old)
Typical portion sizes (grams/mls/household measures) raw and cooked food
Starchy foods
This includes:
- all breads
- barley
- buckwheat
- bulgur wheat
- cassava
- cornmeal
- couscous
- maize
- millet
- noodles and pasta
- oats
- plantain
- potatoes
- rice
- rye
- semolina
- spelt
- sweet potato
- tapioca
- yam
Bread
This includes:
- white, wholemeal, granary, brown, wheatgerm, multigrain, potato bread: 1 to 2 slices of medium bread
- chappattis, plain baked naan, rotis: 1 small
- rolls: 1 small roll
- bagels: 1 small or half a large bagel
- pitta, wraps: 1 small pitta, 2 x 6 inch wraps: 1 x 10 inch wrap
50g to 70g
Potatoes or sweet potato
This includes:
- boiled and mashed potatoes: Raw, 120g to 170g
- jacket and baked potatoes: Raw, 200g to 280g
Other starchy root vegetables
This includes:
- yam
- plantain
- cocoyam
- cassava
Raw, 100g to 150g.
Pasta and noodles
This includes:
- white and wholemeal spaghetti
- noodles and pasta shapes
Dried, 45g to 65g (based on average weight change of wholemeal and white spaghetti, pasta shapes and noodles)
Rice
This includes:
- white and brown rice
Dried, 35g to 55g (based on average weight change of white and brown rice).
Other grains
This includes:
- couscous
- bulgur wheat
- maize (polenta)
- cornmeal
Dried, 40g to 60g.
Starchy foods where fat or oil has been added before or during the cooking process
This includes:
- roast or sautéed potatoes
- chips
- potato wedges
- pre-prepared potato products
- fried rice
- bread
- noodles
- hash browns
- garlic bread
- Yorkshire pudding
- chapattis and naan made with fat
- pancakes and waffles cooked in oil
Potatoes cooked in oil or fat including:
- roast or sautéed potatoes
- chips
- potato wedges
- other processed potato products such as waffles
Raw, 70g to 100g.
Garlic bread
- as an accompaniment: 20g or one slice
Bread
Bread with no added fat or oil must be available every day.
All types of plain bread with no added fat or oil, including:
- brown
- wholemeal
- granary
- white
- mixtures of white and wholemeal
- pitta
- rolls
- chapattis
- naan
- ciabatta
- herb bread
Wholegrain
Starchy wholegrains including:
- wholemeal and granary flours
- wholemeal and granary breads and bread products
- whole-wheat pasta
- brown rice
- oats
Also look out for higher-fibre white bread, half and half wholegrain and white mixes such as 50/50 mix of brown and white rice, 50/50 whole wheat and white pasta.
Fruit and vegetables
This includes vegetables in all forms, including:
- fresh
- frozen
- canned
- dried
- juiced
- pulses such as beans and lentils
Vegetables or salad should be offered as an accompaniment to every meal, in addition to any vegetables used as ingredients in composite dishes such as casseroles and stews. Potatoes are classed as a starchy food and are not included in this food group.
- vegetables or mixed salad
- salad bars
Raw, 40g to 60g.
Vegetables
This includes:
- peas
- green beans
- sweetcorn
- carrots
- mixed vegetables
- cauliflower
- broccoli
- swede
- turnip
- leek
- brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- spinach
- spring greens
Cooked, 40g to 60g or 1 to 2 tablespoons.
Pulses
This includes:
- lentils
- kidney beans
- chickpeas
Dried, 15g to 20g. Cooked, 40g to 60g or 1 to 2 tablespoons (based on average weight change of chickpeas, kidney beans and green lentils).
Baked beans in tomato sauce
As an accompaniment.
Cooked, 50g to 70g or 1 to 2 tablespoons.
Vegetable-based soup
Cooked, 200g to 250g.
Fruits in all forms
This includes:
- fresh
- frozen
- canned
- dried
- juiced
Fruits can be provided within other dishes, for example, fruit-based desserts such as crumbles.
Large-size fruit
For example:
- apples
- pears
- bananas
- peaches
Raw, 75g to 100g or 1 small sized fruit with skin.
Medium-size fruit
For example:
- satsumas
- tangerines
- plums
- apricots
- kiwis
Raw, 50g to 100g or 1 fruit with skin.
Small fruits
For example:
- strawberries
- raspberries
- grapes
Raw, 40g to 60g or 10 to 15 fruits.
Dried fruit
For example:
- raisins
- sultanas
- apricots
Dried, 15g to 30g or half to 1 tablespoon.
All fruit-based desserts should have a content of at least 50% fruit measured by weight of the raw ingredients (for example, fruit crumble, fruit pie, fruit sponge, fruit cobbler, fruit jelly). Fruit used as a decoration or jam added to a dessert does not count towards this standard.
- Fruit salad
- fruit tinned in juice
- stewed fruit
Raw or cooked, 65g to 100g (40 g min fruit) or 2 to 3 tablespoons.
Meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
This includes:
- fresh and frozen meat
- poultry
- fresh, frozen and canned fish
- shellfish
- eggs
Meat alternatives
This includes:
- soya and mycoprotein-based meat substitute
- tofu
Pulses
This includes:
- beans (cannellini, kidney, pinto, borlotti, haricot, butter, but not green beans)
- chickpeas
- lentils (red, green, brown and puy)
- nuts
Roast red meat
This includes:
- beef
- lamb
- pork
- veal
- venison
- goat
This is also the portion size for fillings for baked potatoes and sandwiches.
Raw, 50g to 80g.
Roast poultry
This includes:
- chicken
- turkey
- duck
This includes dishes or products made from these meats. This is also the portion size for fillings for baked potatoes and sandwiches.
Raw, 60g to 85g.
Red meat or poultry
In dishes such as:
- casserole
- stew
- pie
- curry
Note: weight may be reduced proportionately in composite dishes if adding another protein based food, such as:
- beans
- cheese
- milk:
Raw, 50g to 75g.
Meat-based soup
Cooked, 200g to 250g.
White fish
This includes:
- pollock
- hake
- coley
- cod
- haddock
- plaice
Whether cooked alone, or in a dish such as a casserole or fish pie, or as a breaded or battered product.
Raw, 60g to 90g.
Oily fish
This includes:
- fresh, tinned or frozen salmon
- sardines
- pilchards
- mackerel
- herring
- fresh or frozen tuna
Tuna only counts as an oily fish when it is fresh or frozen because the omega-3 fatty acids are removed during the canning process.
Raw, 55g to 80g.
Fish or shellfish
This includes:
- tuna
- salmon
- mackerel
- prawns
Served in a salad, baked potato or sandwich.
Cooked, 50g to 70g.
Breaded or battered fish portions and products
This includes:
- fish cakes
- fish fingers
- fish goujons
Cooked, 55g to 80g.
Egg
Served in a:
- salad
- baked potato
- sandwich
Cooked, 1 egg.
Meat alternatives
Made from:
- soya beans (such as soya mince and tofu)
- mycoprotein-based meat substitute (in dishes such as vegetarian casserole, stew, pie, or curry).
Note: weight may be reduced proportionately in composite dishes if adding another protein-based food such as beans, cheese, or milk.
Cooked, 50g to 70g
Pulses
This includes:
- beans (cannellini, kidney, pinto, borlotti, haricot, butter, but not green beans)
- chickpeas
- lentils (red, green, brown and puy)
Raw, 20g to 25g. Cooked, 50g to 60g or 1 to 2 heaped tablespoons.
Vegetarian
This includes vegetarian:
- sausages
- burgers
- nut cutlets
Raw or Cooked: 50g to 70g.
Meat products
Sausages
Made from:
- beef
- lamb
- pork
Raw, 50g to 75g or 1 sausage.
Burgers
Raw, 55g to 80g.
Other items
For example:
- scotch pies
- bridies
- sausage rolls
- cornish pasties
- encased meat pastry pies
- cold pork pie
Cooked, 80g.
Breaded or battered shaped chicken and turkey products
For example:
- nuggets
- goujons
- burgers
Cooked, 50g to 70g.
Milk and dairy
This includes all types of:
- milk
- cheese
- yoghurt (including plain or fruit, frozen and drinking yoghurt), or fromage frais
- milk-based sauces
- custard (made with milk)
- puddings made from milk
- milk-based sauces
Lower-fat drinking milk
150 to 200mls.
Milk puddings and whips made with milk
100g to 120g.
Custard made with milk
For example served with fruit.
Portion size excludes fruit: 80 to 100g.
Yoghurts
80g to 120g
Cheese
Added to:
- salads
- baked potatoes
- sandwiches
- crackers
20g to 30g.
Foods high in fat, sugar and salt
Deep fried foods including those deep fried or flash fried in the kitchen or in the manufacturing process, such as:
- chips (including oven chips)
- potato waffles
- hash browns
- samosas
- plantain chips
- spring rolls
- doughnuts
- pakora
- bhajis
Refer to relevant portion size.
Batter-coated and breadcrumb-coated foods
This includes any bought-in or homemade products such as:
- chicken nuggets
- fish fingers
- battered onion rings
- tempura
Refer to relevant portion size.
Pastry
This includes:
- shortcrust
- flaky
- filo
- choux
- puff
Used in:
- quiches
- meat pies
- fruit pies
- fruit tarts
- sausage rolls
- pasties
- samosa
Refer to relevant portion size.
Desserts
This includes cereal and starch based desserts such as:
- rice
- semolina
- tapioca pudding
Fruit-based desserts
This includes:
- jelly
- fruit compote
- crumbles
- sponge puddings
Vegetable-based desserts
This includes:
- soya-based mousse
Egg-based desserts
This includes ready to eat products and products prepared from egg such as:
- flans
- egg custard
- custard fillings in pies
- meringues
Dairy-based desserts
This includes:
- puddings with dairy-based fillings
- fruit or flavoured yoghurt or other fermented milk and milk products
- ice cream
- mousse
Fat-based desserts
This includes:
- ice cream, made with vegetable fats.
Fruit pies, sponge puddings or crumbles
80g to 100g.
Fruit jelly
Portion size excludes fruit. 80g to 100g.
Cakes and biscuits
Including:
- manufactured, bought-in products
- prepared from scratch cakes
- biscuits such as individual cakes, buns and pastries, scones, sweet and savoury biscuits
Cakes, tray bakes, muffins, scones, doughnuts
40g to 50g
Biscuits and flapjack
25g to 30g.
Ice cream
60g to 80g.
Pizza base
50g – 70g.
Savoury crackers, bread sticks
Served with fruit, vegetables or dairy foods.
Portion size excludes fruit: 10g to 15g or 1 to 2 crackers.
Condiments
This includes:
- ketchup
- mayonnaise
- salad cream
- brown sauce
- chutney
No more than 10g, or one teaspoonful.
Gravy
20g to 30g or 1 tablespoon.
Snacks
Snacks means pre-packaged items other than confectionery, sandwiches, cakes or biscuits, which are ready to eat without further preparation and which consist of or include as a basic ingredient potato, cereals, soya, nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables.
Refer to relevant portion size for fruit, vegetables and crackers.
Confectionery
Confectionary is not permitted.
No portion sizes provided.
This includes:
- cereal bars
- processed fruit bars
- non-chocolate confectionary (whether or not containing sugar)
- chocolate in any form (except hot chocolate)
- any product containing or wholly or partially coated with chocolate
- any chocolate-flavoured substance
Cocoa is permitted.
Healthy drinks
Fruit or vegetable juice
Maximum portion size: 150mls.
Drinking milk
150mls to 200mls.
Combination drinks
For example:
- fruit juice with water
- flavoured milk
Maximum portion size: 330mls.
Secondary (11 to 18 years old)
Typical portion sizes (grams/mls/household measures) raw and cooked food.
Starchy foods
This includes:
- all breads
- potatoes
- rice
- couscous
- bulgur wheat
- semolina
- tapioca
- maize
- cornmeal
- noodles and pasta
- oats
- millet
- barley
- buckwheat
- rye
- spelt
- plantain
- yam
- sweet potato
- cassava
Bread
This includes:
- white, wholemeal, granary, brown, wheatgerm, multigrain, potato bread: 2 thick slices of bread
- chappattis, rotis: 1 large
- plain baked naan: half of 1 large
- rolls: 1 large roll or sub roll
- bagels: 1 large bagel
- pitta, wraps: 1 large pitta, 1 x 12 inch wrap
80g to 100g
Potatoes or sweet potato
This includes:
- boiled and mashed potatoes: Raw, 200g to 250g
- jacket and baked potatoes: Raw, 330g to 410g
Other starchy root vegetables
This includes:
- yam
- plantain
- cocoyam
- cassava
Raw, 150g to 200g.
Pasta and noodles
This includes:
- white and wholemeal spaghetti
- noodles
- pasta shapes
Dried, 65g to 80g (based on average weight change of wholemeal and white spaghetti, pasta shapes and noodles).
Rice
This includes:
- white and brown rice
Dried, 55g to 65g (based on average weight change of white and brown rice).
Other grains
This includes:
- couscous
- bulgur wheat
- maize (polenta)
- cornmeal
Dried, 60 to 70g.
Starchy foods where fat or oil has been added before or during the cooking process
This includes:
- roast or sauteed potatoes
- chips
- potato wedges
- pre-prepared potato products
- fried rice
- bread
- noodles
- hash browns
- garlic bread
- yorkshire pudding
- chapattis and naan made with fat
- pancakes and waffles cooked in oil
Potatoes cooked in oil or fat including:
- roast or sauteed potatoes
- chips, potato wedges
- other processed potato products such as waffles
Raw, 120g to 150g.
Garlic bread
As an accompaniment: 40g or 2 slices.
Bread
Bread with no added fat or oil must be available every day.
All types of plain bread with no added fat or oil, including:
- brown
- wholemeal
- granary
- white
- mixtures of white and wholemeal
- pitta
- rolls
- chapattis
- naan
- ciabatta
- herb bread
Wholegrain
Starchy wholegrains including:
- wholemeal and granary flours
- wholemeal and granary breads and bread products
- whole-wheat pasta
- brown rice and oats
Also look out for higher-fibre white bread, half and half wholegrain and white mixes such as 50/50 mix of brown and white rice, 50/50 whole wheat and white pasta.
Fruit and vegetables
This includes vegetables in all forms, including:
- fresh
- frozen
- canned
- dried
- juiced
- pulses such as beans and lentils
Vegetables or salad should be offered as an accompaniment to every meal, in addition to any vegetables used as ingredients in composite dishes such as casseroles and stews.
Potatoes are classed as a starchy food and are not included in this food group.
Vegetables or mixed salad, salad bars
Raw, 80g.
Vegetables
This includes:
- peas
- green beans
- sweetcorn
- carrots
- mixed vegetables
- cauliflower
- broccoli
- swede
- turnip
- leek
- brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- spinach
- spring greens
Cooked, 80g or 2 to 3 tablespoons.
Pulses
This includes:
- lentils
- kidney beans
- chick peas
Dried, 30g. Cooked, 80g or 3 tablespoons (based on average weight change of chickpeas, kidney beans and green lentils).
Baked beans in tomato sauce
As an accompaniment.
Cooked, 90g to 100g or 3 tablespoons.
Vegetable-based soup
Cooked, 250g to 300g.
Fruits in all forms
This includes:
- fresh
- frozen
- canned
- dried
- juiced.
Fruits can be provided within other dishes, for example, fruit-based desserts such as crumbles.
Large-size fruit
For example:
- apples
- pears
- bananas
- peaches
Raw, 100g to 150g or 1 medium sized fruit with skin.
Medium-size fruit
For example:
- satsumas
- tangerines
- plums
- apricots
- kiwis
Raw, 80g to 100g or 1 to 2 fruits with skin.
Small fruits
For example:
- strawberries
- raspberries
- grapes
Raw, 80g or 15 to 20 fruits.
Dried fruit
For example:
- raisins
- sultanas
- apricots
Dried, 25g to 30g or 1 tablespoon.
All fruit-based desserts should have a content of at least 50% fruit measured by weight of the raw ingredients (for example, fruit crumble, fruit pie, fruit sponge, fruit cobbler, fruit jelly). Fruit used as decoration or jam added to a dessert does not count towards this standard.
Fruit salad, fruit tinned in juice and stewed fruit
Raw or cooked. 130g (80 g min fruit) or 3 to 4 tablespoons.
Meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
This includes:
- fresh and frozen meat
- poultry
- fresh
- frozen and canned fish
- shellfish
- eggs
Meat alternatives
This includes products such as:
- soya and mycoprotein-based meat substitute Quorn
- tofu
- pulses such as beans (cannellini, kidney, pinto, borlotti, haricot, butter, but not green beans)
- chickpeas
- lentils (red, green, brown and puy)
- nuts
Roast red meat
This includes:
- beef
- lamb
- pork
- veal
- venison
- goat
This is also the portion size for fillings for baked potatoes and sandwiches.
Raw, 80g to 95g.
Roast poultry
This includes:
- chicken
- turkey
- duck
As well as dishes or products made from these meats.
This is also the portion size for fillings for baked potatoes and sandwiches.
Raw, 85g to 125g.
Red meat or poultry
In dishes such as:
- casserole
- stew
- pie
- curry
Note: weight may be reduced proportionately in composite dishes if adding another protein based food, such as beans, cheese, or milk.
Raw, 75g to 90g.
Meat-based soup
Cooked, cooked 250g to 300g.
White fish
This includes:
- pollock
- hake
- coley
- cod
- haddock
- plaice
Whether cooked alone, or in a dish such as a casserole or fish pie, or as a breaded or battered product.
Raw, 90g to 125g.
Oily fish
This includes:
- fresh, tinned or frozen salmon
- sardines
- pilchards
- mackerel
- herring
- fresh or frozen tuna. Tuna only counts as an oily fish when it is fresh or frozen because the omega-3 fatty acids are removed during the canning process
Raw, 80g to 110g.
Fish or shellfish
This includes:
- tuna
- salmon
- mackerel
- prawns
Served in a salad, baked potato or sandwich: Cooked, 70g to 100g.
Breaded or battered fish portions and products
This includes:
- fish cakes
- fish fingers
- fish goujons
Cooked, 85g to 95g.
Egg
Served in a salad, baked potato or sandwich.
Cooked, 1 to 2 eggs.
Meat alternatives made from soya beans
This includes:
- soya mince and tofu
- mycoprotein-based meat substitute
In dishes such as vegetarian casserole, stew, pie, or curry
Note: weight may be reduced proportionately in composite dishes if adding another protein-based food such as beans, cheese, or milk.
Cooked, 70g to 100g
Pulses
This includes:
- beans (cannellini, kidney, pinto, borlotti, haricot, butter, but not green beans)
- chickpeas
- lentils (red, green, brown and puy)
Raw, 40g to 45g. Cooked, 100 to 120g or 2 to 3 heaped tablespoons.
Vegetarian sausages, burgers, nut cutlets
Raw or Cooked: 70g to 100g.
Meat products
Sausages
Made from:
- beef
- lamb
- pork
Raw, 75g to 95g or 1 or 2 sausages.
Burgers
Raw, 80g to 100g.
Other items
- scotch pies
- bridies
- sausage rolls
- cornish pasty
- encased meat pastry pies
- cold pork pie
Cooked, 110g.
Breaded or battered shaped chicken and turkey products
For example:
- nuggets
- goujons
- burgers
Cooked, 70g to 100g.
Milk and dairy
This includes all types of:
- milk
- cheese
- yoghurt (including plain or fruit, frozen and drinking yoghurt), or fromage frais
- milk-based sauces
- custard (made with milk)
- puddings made from milk
- milk-based sauces
Lower-fat drinking milk
200 to 250mls.
Milk puddings and whips made with milk
120g to 150g.
Custard made with milk
For example served with fruit.
Portion size excludes fruit 100g to 120g.
Yoghurts
120g to 150g
Cheese
Added to:
- salads
- baked potatoes
- sandwiches
- crackers
30g to 40g.
Foods high in fat, sugar and salt
Deep fried foods including those deep fried or flash fried in the kitchen or in the manufacturing process, such as:
- chips (including oven chips)
- potato waffles
- hash browns
- samosas
- plantain chips
- spring rolls
- doughnuts
- pakora
- bhajis
Refer to relevant portion size.
Batter-coated and breadcrumb-coated foods
This includes any bought-in or homemade products such as:
- chicken nuggets
- fish fingers
- battered onion rings
- tempura
Refer to relevant portion size.
Pastry
This includes:
- shortcrust
- flaky
- filo
- choux
- puff
Used in:
- quiches
- meat pies
- fruit pies
- fruit tarts
- sausage rolls
- pasties
- samosa
Refer to relevant portion size.
Desserts
Cereal and starch based desserts
This includes:
- rice
- semolina
- tapioca pudding
Fruit-based desserts
This includes:
- jelly
- fruit compote
- crumbles
- sponge puddings
Vegetable-based desserts
This includes:
- soya-based mousse
Egg-based desserts
This includes:
- ready to eat products
- products prepared from egg such as flans, egg custard, custard fillings in pies, meringues
Dairy-based desserts
This includes:
- puddings with dairy-based fillings
- fruit or flavoured yoghurt
- other fermented milk and milk products
- ice cream
- mousse
Fat-based desserts
This includes:
- ice cream, made with vegetable fats
Fruit pies, sponge puddings or crumbles
100g to 120g.
Fruit jelly
Portion size excludes fruit: 100g to 120g.
Cakes and biscuits:
This includes:
- manufactured, bought-in products
- prepared from scratch cakes
Biscuits such as:
- individual cakes
- buns
- pastries
- scones
- sweet and savoury biscuits
Cakes, tray bakes, muffins, scones, doughnuts
50g to 60g.
Biscuits and flapjack
30g to 40g.
Ice cream
100g.
Pizza base
80g to 100g.
Savoury crackers, bread sticks (served with fruit, vegetables or dairy foods)
Portion size excludes fruit: 15g to 30g or 2 to 3 crackers.
Condiments
This includes:
- ketchup
- mayonnaise
- salad cream
- brown sauce
- chutney
No more than 10g, or one teaspoonful.
Gravy
40g to 50g or 2 tablespoons.
Snacks
Snacks means pre-packaged items other than confectionery, sandwiches, cakes or biscuits, which are ready to eat without further preparation. They consist of, or include as a basic ingredient, potato, cereals, soya, nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables.
Refer to relevant portion size for fruit, vegetables and crackers.
Confectionery
Confectionary is not permitted, no portion sizes provided.
This includes:
- cereal bars
- processed fruit bars
- non-chocolate confectionary (whether or not containing sugar)
- chocolate in any form (except hot chocolate)
- any product containing or wholly or partially coated with chocolate
- any chocolate-flavoured substance
Cocoa is permitted.
Healthy drinks
Fruit or vegetable juice
Maximum portion size: 150mls.
Drinking milk
200 to 250mls.
Combination drinks
For example:
- fruit juice with water
- flavoured milk
Maximum portion size: 330mls.