You may worry whether your child is eating too much or not enough. While it is not usually necessary to count calories in a child's diet, knowing approximately how many calories your child should eat, and about how many calories he is actually eating, can be useful in planning your child's menu. It can also help reassure you that your child is getting enough to eat, or warn you that your child is eating too much.
Measure by Height
According to Keep Kids Healthy, a good rule of thumb is that your child should consume 40 calories for every inch of height. So if your child is 40 inches tall, multiply by 40 calories, and you can estimate that she should consume 1,600 calories daily.
Use the Food Pyramid
The Food Guide Pyramid was designed for children between 2 and 6 years old, and is meant to be a general guide for food planning. The pyramid suggests children from 0 to 5 months need 650 calories; from 5 to 12 months, 850 calories; and from 1 to 2 years, 1,300 calories. Children ages 4 and 5 need between 1,200 and 1,600 calories, depending on their activity level, and 6-year-olds should consume between 1,400 and 1,800 calories. You can get personalized recommendations about the mix of foods your child needs and how much she should be eating on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.
Use a Calculator
In children, calculating the body mass index is a way to screen for obesity and determine if a child is at a healthy weight. BMI is calculated with a standard formula using the child's current height and weight. Use an online calculator to determine how many calories your child should be consuming, based on his current weight and activity level.
Older Children
Most school-age children need 1,600 to 2,500 calories a day. As girls enter puberty, they will need additional calories, though not as many as boys. Once boys enter puberty, about 12 or 13 years of age, they may need as many as 2,500 to 3,500 calories a day, according to KidsHealth. However, it is important to take into account a child's activity level. Children who are mostly sedentary will need the amount at the lower end of the range, while highly active children may need even more than the recommended 3,500 calories. If you have any questions about how many calories your child should be consuming, check with his pediatrician or a certified nutritionist.
Member Comments