Calories are units of energy your body draws on to fuel physical activity and all of its functions ranging from digestion to breathing. The amount of calories boys require depends on many factors such as activity level and age. If you have concerns about your child's daily caloric intake, make an appointment with a pediatrician to discuss his diet.
Base Calorie Needs
The United States Department of Agriculture has compiled a vast array of nutritional data that serves as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Part of the recommendations include suggested daily calorie intake based on gender, age and activity level. Base calorie needs take into account the needs of the body for day-to-day living in the absence of at least moderate physical activity, basically a sedentary lifestyle. Boys age 2 to 3 require about 1,000 calories while boys 4 to 8 need 1,400. Boys 9 to 13 need 1,800 while those 14 to 18 require 2,500.
Calorie Needs for Moderate to Intense Physical Activity
The USDA defines moderate activity as walking 1.5 to three miles daily or its equivalent activity. If your child meets this criteria, increase the above calorie recommendations by about 200 to 400 calories; boys between 14 and 18 might require up to 600 more. Intense physical activity qualifies as walking more than three miles daily or its equivalent and this will require anywhere between an extra 600 to 1,000 calories daily.
Calorie Percentage of Specific Nutrients
In addition to aiming for the appropriate amount of calories, you want to ensure your boy gets adequate amounts of particular types of nutrients. MayoClinic.com offers some guideline on percentage of calories from fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Boys age 2 to 3 need about 30 to 40 percent of calories from fat, while protein should comprise 5 to 20 percent and carbohydrates 45 to 65 percent. From age 4 to 18, daily percentages remain consistent; 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates, 10 to 30 percent from protein and 25 to 35 percent for fat. A gram of carbohydrate or protein contains four calories while a gram of fat contains nine.
Considerations for Recommendations
If your child needs to lose weight, these calorie guidelines might not apply as they might require less calories depending on the extent of their weight problem. The presence of certain medical conditions like cystic fibrosis might change daily calorie needs and ratios of intake between the different nutrients; for example, due to impaired nutrient absorption characteristic of this condition, children might require more calorie-dense fats. You should always consult with your pediatrician for guidance on an appropriate diet if your child has special circumstances such as these.
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