Nutrition: Foundations for Life

As is clearly indicated by the complexity of the Dietary Reference Intake Tables, it would be impractical to recommend to parents that they precisely calculate the recommended amounts of nutrients given to their children on a given day.  The recommended intakes are intended to suggest amounts that will satisfy the requirements of the majority of a particular age group. Fortunately the appetite is usually able to regulate the amount of food eaten, unless foods offered are artificially laden with certain attractive nutrients such as fats or sweets!  If offered reasonable amounts of a nutritious diet, most children will follow their genetically determined growth curve without becoming either undernourished or overweight. 

A reasonable dietary guide to the nutrition of children is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid.   Individualized dietary planning aides, appropriate for children and adults, are also available.

Other excellent resources include these:

• a very practical dietary guide from the USDA 

• website for educators, parents, and children from USDA

• interactive games about fruits and vegetables from Dole

• weight management programs for use by physicians and dieticians : www.waytogokids.com and www.just-for-kids.org.

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