Kids Food Pyramid: Calorie CountingUnless your child has a problem with their weight, counting calories is quite unnecessary. Making sure they are eating the right foods and in the right portions is usually enough, and they are likely to be getting the correct number of calories already. The amount of calories your child requires will go up as they get older. By the time they reach the age of five, they will need about 1800 calories a day, but this is also dependent on their weight and height. A child two to five years older will need around 2000 calories each day, again depending on their weight and height. Teen boys will need around 2500 calories each day at the beginning of their teens. Later on this will go up to 3000 calories each day. Teen girls on the other hand will remain at a constant 2200 calories throughout their teen years. Teen values usually carry on to adulthood. Changes in calorie requirements are dependent on lifestyle, height, weight, and later on, age. It should be made clear that calories are units of energy, and not fat or weight that you can gain. Caloric measurements are the measurements of energy that food should provide the body. Since calories are energy, they should be used as such. Maintain your child’s exercise habit to make sure that their calories are being put to good use, and are not being stored in the body’s fat cells. Calories can be stored in the body's fat cells to be used as energy units later on. This is why people count calories. They want to eat the same amount of calories that is enough for their body to function on a daily basis and to have a little extra stored up. In the previous paragraph it was mentioned that calories are not fat that can be gained. When we take in too many calories, though, the body can store these energy units in the fat cells. If they have too many calories in store then your child will start gaining weight. This means that your child is taking in too many calories or at least more calories than they can burn off through their regular exercise routine. It was mentioned in other articles on this site that some children do go through chubby phases, so really keep in mind that young children can grow out of it. Just make sure they are keeping their exercise routines. It is when they are in the older stages of middle childhood and coming into puberty that you should worry about them continuing to be overweight. Calories, like daily-recommended servings can be approximated. If you and your child want to be strict about it, you can be. But keep in mind that we burn calories all the time, and there will be days that you and your child will need more calories. If you find you or your child hungry or weak, there is a chance that you are both not getting enough calories to help you run your bodies. Take advantage of the online calorie counters which will help you calculate your calorie requirements based on height, weight, and age. For a better measure, however, ask a nutritionist, as they will also be able to evaluate both your calorie needs based on lifestyle. Next Article: Healthy Eating for Kids: The Problem of Portions and Serving Sizes |
Sign up to our FREE email mini course now and get more useful tips and information, delivered straight to your inbox, on how to get your kids to eat healthy. When you sign up, you'll receive:
Subscribe now and enjoy the benefits instantly!
|
How To Get Your Kids To Eat Healthy Food - Without A Fight!
|
