The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion provides dietary reference intake amounts for carbohydrates, fat, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. These DRI amounts vary for each age group. In general, the DRI increases with age. School-age children require fewer calories than adults and therefore generally require less of each macronutrient, vitamin and mineral.
Calories and Macronutrients
The recommended calorie intake for girls 4- to 8-years-old is 1,200 calories per day, while girls 9 to 13 need 1,600 calories per day. Boys 4 to 8 need 1,400 calories per day and boys 8 to 13 need 1,800 calories per day. The CNPP recommends that all four groups receive 10 to 30 percent of their calories from protein, 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates, and 25 to 35 percent from fat.
Fiber and Sugar
The recommended amount of fiber for all individuals is 14 g per 1,000 calories ingested. Based on these recommendations, girls 4 to 8 need 17 g of fiber per day, boys 4 to 8 need 20 g, girls 9 to 13 need 22 g and boys 9 to 13 need 25 g. All groups should receive less than 25 percent of their calories from added sugar.
Minerals
The DRI values for most minerals increase as children get older. Children 4- to 8-years-old need only 800 mg calcium per day, but children 9 to 13 need 1,300 mg per day. Four- to 8-year-olds need 500 mg phosphorus and kids 9 to 13 need 1,250 mg. Children who are 4 to 8 need 5 mg zinc, 130 mg magnesium and 1,600 mg potassium per day. From age 9 to 13, children need 8 mg zinc, 240 mg magnesium and 2,000 mg potassium. Iron requirements decrease with age; 4- to 8-year-olds need 10 mg and 9- to 13-year-olds need 8 mg. All groups should consume fewer than 2,400 mg sodium per day.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
The vitamin C recommendation is 25 mg for 4- to 8-year-olds and 45 mg for 9- to 13-year-olds. B vitamin requirements vary some, but riboflavin, thiamine and B6 amounts are similar, with 4- to 8-year-olds needing .6 mg per day, while 9- to 13-year-olds need .9 to 1 mg per day. Four- to 8-year-olds also need 8 mg niacin, 200 mcg folate and 1.2 mcg B12 per day. Nine- to 13-year-olds need 12 mg niacin, 300 mcg folate and 1.8 mcg B12 per day.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Children require the same amount, 5 mg, of vitamin D per day as adults. Four- to 8-year-olds also need 55 mcg vitamin K, 400 mcg vitamin A and 7 mg vitamin E per day. Nine- to 13-year-olds need 60 mcg vitamin K, 600 mcg vitamin A and 11 mg vitamin E.
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