How Much Does My Kid Need to Eat?

Sally Kuzemchak, M.S., R.D.
·9 min read
helicopter flying in food to 3 plates iwth kids of various ages at each
helicopter flying in food to 3 plates iwth kids of various ages at each

Illustration by Lucia Calfapietra

When it comes to our children, we want the best—i.e. we want them to have stable relationships and build healthy friendships. We want them to be cared for (mentally, socially, and emotionally), and we want them to be happy. Every parent wants their child to "be well." And a major part of being well is living well. We want to ensure our kids are physically fit. So how to you know if your child is nutritionally cared for? How can you ensure your kid is getting enough to eat?

To cut through the confusion, nutrition experts helped compile this guide of just how much food children need at each age, plus tips on how to stay on track. Follow their advice—and your child's weight will be one concern you can cross off your list.

How Many Calories Do Babies and Toddlers Need

Daily Calorie Needs 1,000 - 1,400

Remember that baby of yours who happily ate chicken, squash, and most anything else that landed on their high chair tray? Well, they've likely been replaced by someone who is a lot less agreeable at mealtime. After baby's first year, growth slows down—and so to does their appetite. Infants need to eat about 35 to 50 calories per pound, while toddlers require roughly 35 to 40 calories per pound, according to guidelines from the Institute of Medicine. How do you know if you're hitting that target?

illustration of food items for ages 1-3
illustration of food items for ages 1-3

Illustration by Lucia Calfapietra

  • Trust toddler instincts. It's natural for a 2-year-old's appetite to be erratic from day to day. Yet according to a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, up to 85 percent of parents say they push their kids to eat more, giving them rewards and praise for having a couple more bites. Believe your child when they push their plate away. Otherwise, they'll start to eat when they're not hungry—and that's a slippery slope. "Keeping you child aware of their hunger may go a long way to help prevent obesity," says Tanja Kral, Ph.D. Kids are just too busy to eat; after a few bites, they're hopping down from the table to play. It's okay to have healthy munchies (such as bite-size veggies, fruit, cheese, and whole-grain crackers) within arm's reach during playtime, but serve most meals and snacks at the table so eating there becomes a habit, adds Dina Rose, Ph.D., a sociologist in Hoboken, New Jersey, who specializes in children's eating habits.

  • Stick to a schedule. Serve meals and snacks about three hours apart. "This helps keep your child at a healthy weight by 'normalizing' hunger," says Jill Castle, R.D., author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters From High Chair to High School. A child who's always nibbling will never feel hungry. Plus, if your child skimps at one meal, you'll both know there's another opportunity to eat in a few hours.

  • Avoid food bribes. Yes, you'll get the short-term gain of a few bites of peas or chicken, but telling your child to eat more than they want can set them up for a pattern of overeating. You're also sending the wrong message about food. "If kids think that vegetables are just the yucky stuff you have to eat to get to the good stuff, they'll never learn to really like them," says Rose.

Sample Menu for 1 to 3 Year Old Kids

Toddlers should have a maximum of two cups of whole milk a day; switch to water if your child is still thirsty. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that low fat or reduced-fat milk not be started before 2 years of age unless suggested by a doctor. Have water or 100 percent juice at snack time. Don't exceed 4 ounces of juice daily.

Breakfast

  • Oatmeal (1/2 cup mixed with 1 tsp. brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon)

  • 1/2 banana sliced

Lunch

  • Bean-and-cheese quesadilla (1 6" whole-wheat tortilla with 1 tbsp. fat-free refried beans and sprinkled with 2 tbsp. shredded cheese)

  • 1/4 cup chunky salsa for dipping

Dinner

  • 1 oz. grilled chicken

  • 1/2 cup roasted sweet potatoes

  • 1/2 cup steamed broccoli (toss with 1/4 tsp. olive oil and 2 tsp. Parmesan cheese)

Snacks

  • 1/2 cup low-fat flavored yogurt with 1 whole-grain waffle cut into strips

  • 1/2 apple, sliced, with a piece of string cheese

  • 1/2 banana

  • 1/2 cup applesauce

How Many Calories Do Preschool- and Kindergarten-Aged Children Need

Daily Calorie Needs 1,200-1,800

While you were able to keep tabs on what your toddler ate, kids this age might consume about 40 percent or more of their calories away from you, usually having snacks and lunch at school or on after-school playdates. "Keep snack portions on the small side and boost the amount of food by about one third at the main meals," suggests Sarah Krieger, R.D. Other tips:

illustration of food items for ages 4-6
illustration of food items for ages 4-6

Illustration by Lucia Calfapietra

  • Make a lunch date. Some schools allow parents to drop by and have lunch with their child once in while, or at least volunteer in the lunchroom. "Most kids this age are slow eaters, and end up throwing out a lot of their lunch," says Liz Weiss, R.D., coauthor of No Whine With Dinner. "So don't count on your child getting all the calories in her lunch box. Adjust their lunch size accordingly, and plan for a bigger breakfast or dinner."

  • Watch out for emotional eating. If your child is constantly asking for snacks, they may be eating out of boredom or even anxiety. Use a "hunger scale" with your kids: 0 is totally empty, 10 is totally full, and 5 is neither hungry nor full. "If he's above a 5 and asking for food, he's probably eating for emotional reasons," says Susan M. Kosharek, R.D., author of If Your Child Is Overweight: A Guide for Parents. Children this age are old enough to understand emotions, so help give words to their feelings by asking, "Are you angry? Are you worried?" Then help them problem-solve or distract them from the situation without using food.

  • Serve family style. Allow your child to serve themself—without any prompting or pressuring from you—and they'll likely take a portion that's just the right size. "Some parents unknowingly over-feed by giving adult-size portions, and kids get used to eating those larger amounts," says Castle.

Sample Menu for 4 to 6 Year Old Kids

Serve meals with 3/4 cup of milk. The AAP recommends fat-free or low-fat milk for kids over age 2. Switch to water if your child is still thirsty. Have water or 100 percent juice at snacktime. Don't exceed 6 ounces of juice daily.

Breakfast

  • 1 small whole-wheat bagel spread with 1 tbsp. nut or seed butter

  • 1/2 cup fruit salad

Lunch

  • 1/2 turkey-and-cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread

  • Yellow pepper strips with 2 tbsp. low-fat ranch dressing

  • 1/2 cup sliced strawberries

Dinner

  • 2 oz. fish (such as cod or tilapia)

  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice

  • 4 asparagus spears roasted in olive oil

Snacks

  • 1/4 cup hummus and 10 baby carrots

  • 1 small box raisins

  • 1 clementine

  • 1/2 cup dried fruit

How Many Calories Do 7 to 9 Year Olds Need

Daily Calorie Needs 1,200-2,000

Your child's growth slows down more during this time—kids gain about four to seven pounds each year until puberty—but calorie needs rise because many kids are more active. "Sports and after-school activities like dance and karate are increasingly intense at this age," says Weiss. "So kids end up burning more calories." These pre-tweens often get to make a lot of their own food choices too, from deciding what to have in the cafeteria to how much to eat when at a friend's house. Make sure they fuel up right.

illustration of food items for ages 7-9
illustration of food items for ages 7-9

Illustration by Lucia Calfapietra

  • Keep an eye on weight. There's a surge in the percent of overweight and obese kids in the years leading up to puberty. "It's normal for kids this age to become heavier in preparation for an impending growth spurt but, if treats get out of control, your child can gain too much weight," says Castle. She suggests limiting treats to one a day, and teaching your child to opt for water instead of soft drinks and other beverages with added sugar.

  • Plan for sports. Give your child a healthy meal or snack containing carbohydrates (such as whole-grain cereal or bread) and protein (such as lean meat, yogurt, or milk) before games. They don't need anything except water to drink during and after exercise. Offer sports drinks only if they're playing hard on a hot day for more than an hour, with back-to-back soccer games, for example.

  • Serve (some) favorites but don't be a short-order cook. Be sure there is always foods on the table that your child likes—such as fruit, whole-grain bread, or a favorite grain side dish—so they can still be nourished even if they don't love the entrée.

Sample Menu for 7 to 9 Year Old Kids

Serve meals with 3/4 cup of 2% milk. Switch to water if your child is still thirsty. Have water or 100 percent juice at snack time. Don't exceed 8 ounces (or 1 cup) of juice daily.

Breakfast

  • 1 whole-wheat pita filled with 1 scrambled egg

  • Sliced orange

Lunch

  • Pasta salad (1 cup whole-wheat pasta mixed with 1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes and 1 oz. cheese cubed and drizzled with 1 tsp. olive oil)

  • 1 apple

Dinner

  • 2 pieces cheese pizza topped with grilled chicken

  • 1/2 cup broccoli with 2 tbsp. low-fat dipping sauce

  • 1 small piece of chocolate

Snacks

  • 1/4 cup each almonds and dried chopped apricots or cherries

  • 1 cup edamame sprinkled with salt

  • 1 whole apple

Calorie Calculator

Although you shouldn't count your child's calories every day, it's smart to know about how many are needed. Plug your child's weight, height, age, and activity level into the calculator at bcm.edu/cnrc for a precise number.