Daily Calorie Requirements for Kids

Calorie Needs of Infants

• The pediatricians who run Keep Kids Healthy recommend that infants take in approximately 650 calories per day until they begin eating solid food (See reference 1). One ounce of baby formula or breast milk has 20 calories. A newborn baby will probably take about 20 ounces of formula or breast milk per day and will gradually increase that amount to 32 ounces per day. The infant should remain at 650 calories, roughly 32 ounces, of breast milk or formula per day until solids are added to the diet. At that point the infant's intake of formula or breast milk should stay the same, but another 200 calories of solid food can be added to the diet.

Calorie Needs of Toddlers

• Toddlers are stubborn creatures. Some days they may eat everything in sight and still beg for more. Other days they may refuse to eat at all, insisting on drinking just milk for two days straight. Toddlers usually need about 1,300 calories per day, on average (reference 1). Toddlers will probably never eat a steady diet of 1,300 calories each day. Some days they may be closer to 900 calories, while other days they may eat 1,700 calories or more. The important thing is that at the end of the week, they are averaging approximately 1,300 calories of healthy foods, including plenty of milk.

Calories Needs of Preschoolers

• Children from ages 3 to about 6 need to consume about 1,800 calories per day (reference 1). Preschoolers are old enough to start insisting that they try everything on their plate and should be encouraged to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and good sources of protein. Preschoolers may also hold on to some of their toddler habits of eating more on some days and less on other days, but by the age of 6 their caloric intake should begin to level off.

Calorie Needs of School Age

• School-aged children, from age 6 until they become teenagers, need to eat about 2,000 calories of healthy foods each day (reference 1). School-aged children generally eat on a more regular schedule than younger kids. They need a nutritious breakfast before school and should be sent to school with a lunch that contains all the major food groups. School-aged children need a snack after school before dinner and may even need another snack after dinner before bed.

Calorie Needs of Teens

• Teenagers need to consume more calories than at any other time in their lives. Teenage boys need anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 calories per day to help them grow and develop properly (reference 1). Boys who are very active in sports may need even more calories in their diet. Teen girls need to consume about 2,200 calories per day (reference 1). Again, a teen girl who plays sports and is very active may need even more calories. Teens are known for eating poorly, making it important to encourage good habits during these years.