Nutrition Information

TABLE 1 Estimated Daily kCalorie Needs for Children

Children Sedentary* Active**
Females
4-8 yr 1200 1800
9-13 yr 1600 2200
Males
4-8 yr 1400 2000
9-13 yr 1800 2600

*Sedentary describes a lifestyle that includes only the activities typical of day-to day life.
**Active describes a lifestyle that includes at least 60 minutes per day of moderate physical activity
(equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour) in addition to the activities of
day-to-day life.
SOURCE: Whitney, E., Rolfes, S.R. (2011). Understanding Nutrition. California: Wadsworth.

TABLE 2 Recommended Daily Amounts from Each Food Group (1200 to 2600 kCalories)
Food
Group
1200
kcal
1400
kcal
1600
kcal
1800
kcal
2000
kcal
2200
kcal
2400
kcal
2600
kcal
Fruits 1 c 1 c 1 c 1 c 2 c 2 c 2 c 2 c
Vegetables 1 c 1 c 2 c 2 c 2 c 3 c 3 c 3 c
Grains 4 oz 5 oz 5 oz 6 oz 6 oz 7 oz 8 oz 9 oz
Meats and
Legumes
3 oz 4 oz 5 oz 5 oz 5 oz 6 oz 6 oz 6 oz
Milk 2 c 2 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c
Oils 3 tsp 3 tsp 4 tsp 5 tsp 6 tsp 6 tsp 7 tsp 8 tsp

NOTE: The Discretionary kcalorie allowance is 100 kcalories for 1200 through 1800 kcal groups, and 267,
290, 362, and 410 kcalories for 2000, 2200, 2400, and 2600 kcal groups, respectively.
SOURCE: Whitney, E., Rolfes, S.R. (2011). Understanding Nutrition. California: Wadsworth.





Table 3
Recommended Eating and Physical Activity Behaviors to Prevent Obesity
The Expert Committee of the American Medical Association recommends the following healthy habits
for children 2 to 18 years of age to prevent childhood obesity:
Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks and fruit-flavored
punches.
Eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables every day.
Learn to eat age-appropriate portions of foods.
Eat foods low in energy density such as those high in fiber and/or water and modest in fat.
Eat a nutritious breakfast every day.
Eat a diet rich in calcium.
Eat a diet balanced in recommended portions of carbohydrate, fat, and protein.
Eat a diet high in fiber.
Eat together as a family as often as possible.
Limit the frequency of restaurant meals.
Limit television watching or other screen time to no more than 2 hours per day and do not have
televisions or computers in bedrooms.
Engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
SOURCE: S.E. Barlow, Expert Committee recommendation regarding the prevention, assessment, and
treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: Summary report. Pediatrics 120 (2007): S164-
S192.