How to Meet Child Calorie Requirements

Feeding a growing child is a challenge. Not only do parents need to worry about providing a balanced diet, but they also need to make sure they are meeting calorie requirements. With too many calories, children run the risk of becoming overweight. With too few calories, children may not get enough nutrients to grow strong and healthy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk to your doctor if your child is on a special diet, has food allergies or has any special requirements that would make it harder than usual to meet calorie requirements. Your doctor may recommend special supplements, such as liquid meals, to make sure your child is getting all the needed nutrients and calories.

2. Keep in mind that calorie requirements may vary depending on the type of lifestyle your child has. If he signs up for sports or becomes significantly more active than he used to be, he may need more calories. The same is true if he gets sick or is under severe stress.

3. Feed your child several small meals throughout the day. This is especially important if your child is a picky eater and refuses to finish his meals. By providing several opportunities for eating, you are ensuring that, even if he never finishes the food on his plate, he is still getting enough calories overall.

4. Add liquid calories if you think your child is not meeting his caloric requirements. Fruit juices, healthy smoothies made with fruit, milk and even chocolate milk can up the total calorie intake while still providing nutrition.

5. Determine what your child's calorie requirements are, so you can decide what you need to do to meet them. You can do this by consulting the FDA's official website and its food pyramid designed especially for children (see Resources below). The website offers detailed tips on how to modify your child's diet, introduce new foods and balance food groups.

Tips & Warnings

• Calorie intake is especially important during the teenager years. If you think your teen is not eating enough to meet her requirements, there is a chance she may have an eating disorder.
• Don't overdo it. Obesity may result when parents overestimate the number of calories a child needs. If you feel your children are eating too much or choosing the wrong foods, talk to a professional about things you can do to change their diets.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Food pyramid for children at Mypyramid.gov