Although counting calories typically isn't encouraged for children, calorie recommendations are available and may be used as a guide. Calorie requirements for children vary by age, gender and activity level. In addition to total daily calorie intake, the composition of your child's diet is also important. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provides estimated calorie requirements for children ages 2 through 18 for activity levels including sedentary, moderately active and active.
Sedentary Calorie Ranges
Using the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute calorie recommendations for children, sedentary children have the following estimated calorie requirements each day: girls and boys ages 2 to 3 years old need 1,000 calories; girls ages 4 to 8 need 1,200 calories; boys ages 4 to 8 need 1,400 calories; girls ages 9 to 13 need 1,600 calories; boys ages 9 to 13 need 1,800 calories; girls ages 14 to 18 need 1,800 calories; and boys ages 14 to 18 need 2,200 calories per day.
Moderate Calorie Ranges
Using the same guidelines provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, moderately active children require the following estimated calorie intake each day: girls and boys ages 2 to 3 years old need 1,000 to 1,400 calories; girls ages 4 to 8 need 1,400 to 1,600 calories; boys ages 4 to 8 need 1,400 to 1,600 calories; girls ages 9 to 13 need 1,600 to 2,000 calories; boys ages 9 to 13 need 1,800 to 2,200 calories; girls ages 14 to 18 need 2,000 calories; and boys ages 14 to 18 need 2,400 to 2,800 calories per day.
Active Calorie Ranges
The National Lung, Heart and Blood Institute calorie estimates for active children consist of the following: girls and boys ages 2 to 3 years old need 1,000 to 1,400 calories; girls ages 4 to 8 need 1,400 to 1,800 calories; boys ages 4 to 8 need 1,600 to 2,000 calories; girls ages 9 to 13 need 1,800 to 2,000 calories; boys ages 9 to 13 need 2,000 to 2,600 calories; girls ages 14 to 18 need 2,400 calories; and boys ages 14 to 18 need 2,800 to 3,200 calories per day.
Diet Composition
The composition of your child's diet is just as important as her overall calorie intake. The Food and Nutrition Board provides acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges for children ages 1 through 18. Using this reference, the following macronutrient ranges are acceptable for children: children ages 1 to 3 require 30 to 40 percent of total calories from fat, 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates and 5 to 20 percent of daily calories from protein. For children ages 4 through 18, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends macronutrient distribution ranges of 25 to 35 percent of total calories from fat, 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates and 10 to 30 percent of daily calories from protein.
Growth Charts
Pediatricians use growth charts to track your child's weight status and weight gain trends to see if he is at a healthy weight and growing at an appropriate pace. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website provide growth charts for infants, children and adolescents.
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