Nutrition

A proper balanced diet is important for all children. 

Children should eat whole grain breads and cereals over refined-grain products and limit juice intake.  Parents should try to cook with vegetable oils with low saturated fats and trans fatty acids instead of butter or animal fats. As well as decrease the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods, drink nonfat or low fat milk, reduce salt intake and try introducing fish into children's diets that is broiled or baked, to help promote a healthy diet and life style.

Choose my plate is an excellent resource to help get started.1  This website offers family meal plans, healthy snack options, daily food tracker, daily food plans, and interactive games to get children more involved with healthy food choices. Below is the image of what a healthy plate should look like, myplate has replaced the food pyramid. 

The next two graphs are taken from the same article mentioned above, however these graphs recommend how many calories per day a child should consume based upon the childs activity level (males listed first then female). 

1.     http://www.choosemyplate.gov/kids/ParentsEducators.html

2. Gidding SS, Dennison BA, Birch LL, et al. Dietary recommendations for children and adolescents: a guide for practitioners. Pediatrics. 2006;117(2):544-59.