Knowing your daily caloric needs can help you plan your diet more accurately when you are trying to gain, lose or maintain your current weight. A caloric intake tool will take into account your level of physical activity, age, height, weight and sex. This tool will also take your basal metabolic rate into account, which represents two-thirds of your energy expenditure. Basal metabolic rate describes the energy your body releases when carrying out basic functions such as keeping your heart beating and lungs expanding and contracting.
Ages 19 and Older
Step 1
Navigate to the USDA's online Adult Energy Needs and BMI Calculator. See link in References section. The USDA created this tool for adults aged 19 and older.
Step 2
Enter in your sex, height in inches or centimeters, weight in pounds or kilograms, age and activity level.
Step 3
Click on the "Calculate" button to display your BMI and approximate daily caloric intake to maintain current weight.
Ages Two to 20
Step 1
Navigate to the Baylor College of Medicine Children's Nutrition Research Center website. See link in References section.
Step 2
Enter your or your child's date of birth and measurement units. The calculator accepts both the English system of pounds and inches and the metric system of centimeters and kilograms. Enter your or your child's weight, height and gender.
Step 3
Click on the box below that represents your or your child's activity level.
Step 4
Click "Calculate."
Step 5
Look at the section of the pie chart titled calories to determine the amount of calories you need or your child needs daily to maintain a normal weight.
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