The Average Caloric Intake for Children

Children need to get adequate calories from healthy foods each day.

Good nutrition is important during childhood, when children are growing and developing. Children need to eat enough calories to grow and thrive, but too many calories can contribute to obesity.

Variation

The number of calories children need depends on many factors. Children who are more active need to consume more calories, as do children who are taller for their ages. Boys often need more calories than girls.

Young Children

One-year old children need approximately 900 calories per day, according to the American Heart Association. Children ages 2 to 3 require 1,000 calories per day. Children ages 4 to 8 years need between 1,200 and 1,400 calories per day, youth ages 9 to 13 require between 1,600 and 1,800 calories per day, and children ages 14 to 18 need between 1,800 and 2,200 calories per day.

Types of Calories

Most of the calories in a child's diet should come from healthy foods, according to the American Heart Association. Children should include dairy, lean meats or beans, vegetables, fruits and whole grains in their diets.

References

• American Heart Association: Dietary Recommendations for Children
• KidsHealth: Healthy Eating

Resources

• Baylor College of Medicine: Children's Nutrition Research Center-Happy Eating Calculator