The number of calories a teenager's body needs daily ranges from 1,600 to 3,200 calories. The broad range accounts for differences in age, gender and activity level.
Average Needs
A moderately active 13-year-old girl needs between 1,600 and 2,000 calories daily, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Between 14 and 18 years, she should eat about 2,000 calories a day.
At 13, a moderately active boy requires 1,800 to 2,200 calories. From 14 to 18, he needs 2,400 to 2,800.
Considerations
Your teen's calorie requirements also vary according to his activity level. A sedentary 13-year old boy only needs 1,800 calories. If he's very active, his body needs between 2,000 and 2,600. From 14 to 18 years, a sedentary boy needs 2,200 calories, while a very active boy may need up to 3,200 calories.
Less active girls only require about 1,600 calories at 13 and 1,800 between ages 14 and 18. Girls who play sports, bike or are more active need up to 2,000 calories at 13 and up to 2,400 calories between 14 and 18.
Nutrition
Eating the right foods is as important as eating the right number of calories. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains and milk products, includes protein from lean meat, fish, eggs and beans, and is low in saturated fats, sugar, salt, trans fat and cholesterol.
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