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Feature Articles: Eating Well Dietary Guidelines for Americans Children and Adolescents:Special considerations and recommendations Greta Hopke, RD., Candance Gabel, MS, RD, LD, Associate State Nutrition Specialist, Ellen Schuster, MS, RD, Associate State Nutrition Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans includes specific recommendations for children and adolescents. Being physically active and choosing healthy foods are important for young people of all ages. |
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The new recommendation for physical activity for children and
adolescents includes at least 60 minutes of physical activity on
most, preferably all, days of the week. A healthful eating plan,
considering both type and amount of foods eaten, is also
important for a healthy lifestyle.
Recommendations for children and adolescents
- At least half of grain servings should come from wholegrain products.
- Children age 2 to 8 should consume 2 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent of milk products each day. Children age 9 and older should consume 3 cups.
- Children age 2 to 3 should keep total fat intake between 30 and 35 percent of total calories, while children age 4 to 18 should keep total fat intake between 25 and 35 percent of total calories. Aim for most of the fat to come from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Good sources of unsaturated fatty acids include fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
- Young children should limit fish consumption to two servings per week of fish or shellfish to avoid high levels of mercury. Examples of fish low in mercury include shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish.
- Children should avoid excessive amounts of added sugars by limiting the intake of beverages with caloric sweeteners, sugars, sweets, and sweetened foods that provide little or no nutrients.
- Infants and young children should not eat or drink:
- Unpasteurized milk or any products made from unpasteurized milk
- Raw or partially cooked eggs, or food containing raw eggs
- Raw or undercooked meat and poultry
- Raw or undercooked fish or shellfish
- Unpasteurized juices
- Raw sprouts
Adapted from Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture, January 2005.
Last update: Tuesday, August 08, 2006
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