Nutrition in Early Childhood
Encouraging healthy eating habits during early childhood will help establish a foundation for healthy eating throughout life.
Nutrition Recommendations
Click on the arrow for nutrition recommendations per food group!
- 2-3 years: 1 – 1.5 cups/day
- 4-8 years: 1 – 2 cups/day
- 1 serving = 1/2 – 1 whole small fruit
- 1 serving = 1/2 cup cooked, canned, or fresh chopped fruit
- 1 serving = 1/2 cup 100% fruit juice
- 2-3 years: 1 – 1.5 cups/day
- 4-8 years: 1.5 – 2.5 cups/day
- 1 serving = 1/2 cup cooked, canned or fresh chopped vegetables
- 1 serving = 1/2 cup 100% vegetable juice
- 2-3 years: 2 – 4 oz/day
- 4-8 years: 3 – 5.5 oz/day
- 1 serving = 1 oz of beef, pork, poultry, or fish
- 1 serving = 4-5 tablespoons of beans or nuts
- 1 serving = 1 egg
- 2-3 years: 3 – 5 oz/day
- 4-8 years: 4 – 6 oz/day
- 1/2 of children’s grain intake should be from whole grains
- 1 serving = 1 slice of bread
- 1 serving = 1/2 bagel or bun
- 1 serving = 1/2 cup cereal, rice or pasta
- 2-3 years: 2 – 2.5 cups/day
- 4-8 years: 2.5 cups/day
- 1 serving = 3/4 cup milk or yogurt
- 1 serving = 3/4 oz of cheese
- Children (3-5 years old) should consume 4 servings
- 1 serving = 1 teaspoon of added butter, margarine, or oil
- Saturated fat: recommended <10% of daily total calories
*Did you know? 80-85% of young children overconsume the daily saturated fat recommendations
- Children 2-3 years old: 1200 mg/day
- Children 4-8 years old: 1500 mg/day
*Did you know? Over 70% of young children overconsume the daily sodium recommendations
- Recommended <10% of daily total calories
- Children 2-4 yrs: ~1,000-1,600 calories/day which equals 100-160 calories (25-40g) from added sugars
- Children 5-8 yrs: ~1,200-2,000 calories/day which equals 120-200 calories (30-50g) from added sugars
*Did you know? The average daily intake of added sugars for children 2-19 yrs is 17 tsp (~68g)
Facts on US Children's Eating Patterns
- 40% of daily caloric intake (2-18 yrs) from added sugars & solid fats
- 90% of children > 1 yr do not meet the daily recommendations for vegetable intake
- 1/3 of vegetables consumed are white potatoes in the form of fries or chips
- 60% of children > 5 yr do not meet daily recommendations for fruit intake
- Children > 1 yr overconsume daily recommendations for added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, & refined grains
Implications of Children's Eating Patterns
Consequences of Inadequate Nutrition
- Decreased cognitive performance - affecting alertness, attention & information processing
- Micronutrient deficiencies - negatively affecting overall health & cognitive development
- Increased irritability - may lead to mood swings, behavioral problems, & class interruptions
- Long term health consequences - may contribute to the development of diabetes, high blood pressure, & heart disease
Benefits of Adequate Nutrition
- Improved cognitive abilities - higher concentration levels & increased attention spans
- Improved perception & reasoning - improved problem solving & information processing
- Decreased behavioral & emotional problems - less interruptions in the classroom
- Strong immune systems - less sick time, fewer school absences; leading to improved academic performance
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