Ingredient quantity guide for larger long day care menus (60-250 children)
The tables below will help you order and prepare foods and drinks for 60 – 250 children in quantities that meet the Menu planning guidelines for long day care, support children’s nutrition needs and reduce food wastage at the same time.
For centres with less than 60 children see this guide.
The Ingredient quantity guide helps you order and prepare foods and drinks in quantities that meet the Menu planning guidelines for long day care. This supports children’s nutrition needs while also reducing food wastage.
Lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seed and legumes/beans
Offer 1 children’s serve of lean meat, poultry, fish or alternatives per child per day.
| What is 1 children’s serve? | 60 children | 80 children | 100 children | 120 children | 150 children | 200 children | 250 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean red meat, pork, poultry (raw) | 50g boneless | 3kg | 4kg | 5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg | 10kg | 12.5kg |
| Lean red meat (cooked) | 30g | 1.8kg | 2.4kg | 3kg | 3.6kg | 4.5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg |
| Poultry (cooked, skin off) | 40g | 2.4kg | 3.2kg | 4kg | 4.8kg | 6kg | 8kg | 10kg |
| Fish (raw) | 60g | 3.6kg | 4.8kg | 6kg | 7.2kg | 9kg | 12kg | 15kg |
| Fish (canned/ cooked) | 50g | 3kg | 4kg | 5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg | 10kg | 12.5kg |
| Egg | 1 egg | 60 eggs | 80 eggs | 100 eggs | 120 eggs | 150 eggs | 200 eggs | 250 eggs |
| Legumes (dry) | 35g | 2.1kg | 2.8kg | 3.5kg | 4.2kg | 5.25kg | 7kg | 8.75kg |
| Legumes (cooked/tinned, drained weight) | 85g (½ cup) | 5.1kg (30 cups) | 6.8kg (40 cups) | 8.5kg (50 cups) | 10.2kg (60 cups) | 12.75kg (75 cups) | 17kg (100 cups) | 21.25kg (125 cups) |
| TVP* | 20g | 1.2kg | 1.6kg | 2kg | 2.4kg | 3kg | 4kg | 5kg |
| Tofu | 85g | 5.1kg | 6.8kg | 8.5kg | 10.2kg | 12.75kg | 17kg | 21.25kg |
| Hummus | 60g (¼ cup) | 3.6kg (14 cups) | 4.8kg (20 cups) | 6kg (25 cups) | 7.2kg (30 cups) | 9kg (37½ cups) | 12kg (50 cups) | 15kg (62½ cups) |
| Nuts, nut butters, seeds | 15g | 900g | 1.2kg | 1.5kg | 1.8kg | 2.25kg | 3kg | 3.75kg |
* TVP stands for Textured Vegetable Protein which is a vegetarian meat substitute.
Fruit
Offer 1 children’s serve of fruit* per child per day.
| What is 1 children’s serve? | 60 children | 80 children | 100 children | 120 children | 150 children | 200 children | 250 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit (fresh/ frozen) | 75g (½ med piece) | 4.5kg (30 pieces) | 6kg (40 pieces) | 7.5kg (50 pieces) | 9kg (60 pieces) | 11.25kg (75 pieces) | 15kg (100 pieces) | 18.75kg (125 pieces) |
| Fruit (cooked/ tinned, drained) | ½ cup | 30 cups | 40 cups | 50 cups | 60 cups | 75 cups | 100 cups | 125 cups |
| Dried fruit** | 15g | 900g | 1.2kg | 1.5kg | 1.8kg | 2.25kg | 3kg | 3.75kg |
* Dried fruit leaves a sticky residue on teeth and can contribute to tooth decay. If included on the menu it should only be offered once per week.
Vegetables and legumes/beans
Offer 1–1½ children’s serves of vegetables and legumes per child per day.
| What is 1 children’s serve? | 60 children | 80 children | 100 children | 120 children | 150 children | 200 children | 250 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetables (fresh/frozen) | 75g | 4.5-6kg | 6-8kg | 7.5-10kg | 9-12kg | 11.25-15kg | 15-20kg | 18.75-25kg |
| Vegetables (cooked/ tinned, drained) | ½ cup | 30-45 cups | 40-60 cups | 50-75 cups | 60-90 cups | 75-112 ½ cups | 100-150 cups | 125-187 ½ cups |
| Vegetables (salad) | 1 cup | 60-90 cups | 80-120 cups | 100-150 cups | 120-180 cups | 150-225 cups | 200-300 cups | 250-375 cups |
| Legumes (dry) | 30g | 1.8-2.7kg | 2.4-3.6kg | 3-4.5kg | 3.6-5.4kg | 4.5-6.75kg | 6-9kg | 7.5-11.25kg |
| Legumes (cooked/tinned, drained weight) | 75g (½ cup) | 4.5-6kg | 6-8kg | 7.5-10kg | 9-12kg | 11.25-15kg | 15-20kg | 18.75-25kg |
Grain (cereal) foods
Offer 2 children’s serves of grain (cereal) foods per child per day.
| What is 1 children’s serve? | 60 children | 80 children | 100 children | 120 children | 150 children | 200 children | 250 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bread (all types) | 1 slice (40g) | 60 slices (3 loaves) | 80 slices (4 loaves) | 100 slices (5 loaves) | 120 slices (6 loaves) | 150 slices (7½ loaves) | 200 slices (10 loaves) | 250 slices (12½ loaves) |
| Pita bread | ½ large pocket (40g) | 30 pockets (2.4kg) | 40 pockets (3.2kg) | 50 pockets (4kg) | 60 pockets (4.8kg) | 75 pockets (6kg) | 100 pockets (8kg) | 125 pockets (10kg) |
| Breakfast cereal flakes | 30g | 1.8kg | 2.4kg | 3kg | 3.6kg | 4.5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg |
| Breakfast cereal (wheat biscuits) | 2 Weetbix™ | 120 Weetbix™ | 160 Weetbix™ | 200 Weetbix™ | 240 Weetbix™ | 300 Weetbix™ | 400 Weetbix™ | 500 Weetbix™ |
| Bread roll | ½ medium | 30 rolls | 40 rolls | 50 rolls | 60 rolls | 75 rolls | 100 rolls | 125 rolls |
| Pasta/noodles/rice/cous cous | 30g dry | 1.8kg | 2.4kg | 3kg | 3.6kg | 4.5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg |
| Flour | ¼ cup(35g) | 15 cups (2.1kg) | 20 cups (2.8kg) | 25 cups (3.5kg) | 30 cups (4.2kg) | 37 ½ cups (5.25kg) | 50 cups (7kg) | 62 ½ cups (8.75kg) |
| Cracker biscuit/ crisp bread | 35g | 2.1kg | 2.8kg | 3.5kg | 4.2kg | 5.25kg | 7kg | 8.75kg |
| Crumpet/ English muffin | 1 crumpet/ small muffin | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/ or alternatives
Offer 2 children’s serves of milk, yoghurt, cheese or calcium fortified alternatives per child per day.
| What is 1 children’s serve? | 60 children | 80 children | 100 children | 120 children | 150 children | 200 children | 250 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 100mL | 6L | 8L | 10L | 12L | 15L | 20L | 25L |
| Hard cheese | 15g (1 slice) | 900g | 1.2kg | 1.5kg | 1.8kg | 2.25kg | 3kg | 3.75kg |
| Yoghurt | 80g | 4.8kg | 6.4kg | 8kg | 9.6kg | 12kg | 16kg | 20kg |
| Custard | 100mL | 6L | 8L | 10L | 12L | 15L | 20L | 25L |
| Evaporated milk | 50mL | 3L | 4L | 5L | 6L | 7.5L | 10L | 12.5L |
| Milk powder | 15g | 900g | 1.2kg | 1.5kg | 1.8kg | 2.25kg | 3kg | 3.75kg |
| Ricotta cheese | 50g | 3kg | 4kg | 5kg | 6kg | 7.5kg | 10kg | 12.5kg |
*A ‘children’s serve’ refers to the portion of food appropriate for children aged 1–5 years. To be practical in the childcare setting, children’s serve sizes have been adapted from the serve sizes in the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
For more information please phone 1300 22 52 88 or email heas@nnf.org.au
Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this document show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services. This document may contain images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the title of a report, program or quotation. Copyright © State of Victoria 2016
Written and reviewed by dietitians and nutritionists at National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.
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The Healthy Eating Advisory Service is delivered by experienced nutritionists and dietitians at National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.
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