The number of calories that a child should have per day depends on the age and sex of the child, as well as the child's level of physical activity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans gives estimated calorie requirements for different age groups at three levels of activity. In general, the older and more active your child is, the more calories she requires each day.
Children Age 1 Year
The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans does not include calorie recommendations for children under the age of 2 years. However, the American Heart Association estimates that your 1-year-old child should have about 900 calories per day. Those calories should include 2 cups of milk or dairy, 1 1/2 oz. lean meat or beans, 1 cup fruit, 3/4 cup vegetables and 2 oz. grains.
Children 2 to 3 Years of Age
A sedentary child 2 to 3 years of age should have about 1,000 calories per day. A moderately active child the same age should have 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day. The estimated requirement for an active 2- to 3-year old is also 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day. Sedentary means that your child gets no physical exercise other than that required by normal day-to-day life. Moderately active indicates physical activity equivalent to walking 1 1/2 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, and active means that your child engages in physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles each day at 3 to 4 miles per hour.
Children 4 to 8 Years of Age
Sedentary girls 4 to 8 years of age should have 1,200 calories per day, and sedentary boys should have 1,400. The estimated calorie requirement for moderately active girls and boys this age is 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day. Active girls in this age group need 1,400 to 1,800 calories per day, and active boys need 1,600 to 2,000.
Children 9 to 13 Years of Age
Girls 9 to 13 years of age who lead a sedentary lifestyle should have about 1,600 calories per day, and sedentary boys should have 1,800. Girls in this age group who are moderately actively should eat about 1,600 calories per day, and moderately active boys, 1,800 to 2,000. If your child is an active girl 9 to 13 years of age, she should have 1,800 to 2,200 calories per day, while an active boy needs 2,000 to 2,600.
Children 14 to 18 Years of Age
Girls 14 to 18 years of age who are sedentary need about 1,800 calories per day, while sedentary boys need about 2,200. The recommended number of daily calories for moderately active girls in this age group is 2,000, and for boys, 2,400 to 2,800. An active 14- to 18-year old girl needs 2,400 calories per day, and a boy with the same level of activity needs 2,800 to 3,200.
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