Child Nutrition

Summary

A healthy diet helps children grow and learn. It also helps prevent obesity and weight-related diseases, such as diabetes. To give your child a nutritious diet:

• Make half of what is on your child’s plate fruits and vegetables
• Choose healthy sources of protein, such as lean meat, nuts, and eggs
• Serve whole-grain breads and cereals because they are high in fiber. Reduce refined grains.
• Broil, grill, or steam foods instead of frying them
• Limit fast food and junk food
• Offer water or milk instead of sugary fruit drinks and sodas

Learn about your children’s nutrient requirements. Some of them, such as the requirements for iron and calcium, change as your child ages.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Related Issues

• 10 Things To Know About Dietary Supplements for Children and Teens National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Avoiding Food Hassles with Kids American Academy of Family Physicians
• Better Nutrition Every Day: How to Make Healthier Food Choices National Institutes of Health
• Feeding Your Child Athlete Nemours Foundation
• Healthy Breakfasts for Kids: It’s All about Balance Food and Drug Administration
• Healthy Snacks: Quick Tips for Parents Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• How to Make a Healthy Snack Nemours Foundation
• Nutrition Facts — Read the Label: Tips for Parents Food and Drug Administration

Statistics and Research

• Beverage Consumption Among Youth in the United States, 2013-2016 National Center for Health Statistics

Specifics

• Caffeine (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Calcium and Your Child Nemours Foundation
• Carbohydrates, Sugar, and Your Child Nemours Foundation
• Cholesterol and Your Child Nemours Foundation
• Fats and Your Child Nemours Foundation
• Fiber and Your Child Nemours Foundation
• Iron Nemours Foundation
• Life Stages: Preschoolers Department of Agriculture
• Protein Foods for Your Vegetarian Child Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Vitamin D Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Nutrition National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Nutrition Disorders National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Cow’s milk and children Medical Encyclopedia
• Food jags Medical Encyclopedia
• Kwashiorkor Medical Encyclopedia

Reference Desk

• Definitions of Health Terms: Nutrition National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• Eating extra calories when you are sick – children Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find a Nutrition Expert Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Food and Nutrition Service Programs Contacts by State Food and Nutrition Service
• KidsHealth Nemours Foundation

Teenagers

• Figuring Out Fat and Calories Nemours Foundation
• Guide to Eating for Sports Nemours Foundation
• MyPlate Food Guide Nemours Foundation
• Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• From the Label to the Table! National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• Why Drinking Water Is the Way to Go Nemours Foundation

Start Here

• Healthy Eating Nemours Foundation
• Healthy Eating for Families Department of Agriculture
• Helping Your Child: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Nutrition Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Nutrition for Kids: Guidelines for a Healthy Diet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Games

• Healthy Eating for Kids Department of Agriculture

Diagnosis and Tests

• Prealbumin Blood Test National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Child nutrition