Calorie Needs For Children
Guidelines on calorie needs for children
tend to vary. American diet guidelines suggest higher calorie intakes
for children than European guidelines. Both are therefore included in
the calorie tables below. That said, most pediatric dietitians and nutritionists
are agreed that a balanced diet, containing foods from all main food groups,
which contains enough energy to maintain a healthy weight, should meet
all the energy requirements of healthy children. So counting calories
is not really necessary. However, for reference purposes, here are the
basic guidelines for childrens' average calorie needs.
Figure 1. US Guidelines: Average Calorie
Needs For Children
| Age of Child |
Average Calorie Needs Each Day |
| 0-5 months |
650 calories |
| 5-12 months |
850 |
| 1-3 years |
1300 |
| 4-6 years |
1800 |
| 7-10 years |
2000 |
|