The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) announced that August is Kids Eat Right month! In honor of this, we thought it would be a great time to share some basic information on early childhood nutrition.
Childhood is typically thought of as a time when you can eat whatever you want and get away with it. But, take a moment to think about the substantial amount of growth and development those little bodies go through. Now, think about all of the childhood eating habits you had to force yourself to break once you were older. Providing your child with optimal nutrition and creating healthy lifestyle behaviors only benefits your child–in the present, as well as the future!
Instead of having you suffer through a wordy lecture, why don’t we show you what early childhood nutrition is? Enter the beauty of an infographic!
This post was brought to you by KERF Intern Jamey, who is in school to become an RD.
Jamey says:
I have to give a shout out to my Nutrition in the Life Cycle professor Dr. Rachel Vollmer! Thank you for sharing your experience, passion, and knowledge!
Elyse says
I don’t have kids but I’m just astounded at the fact that your arteries start changing at age 8! That’s crazy. All the more evidence that you are what you eat.
Sarah says
You’re so lucky that Mazen eats such a wide variety of foods! From what you show us, he is a super un-picky toddler!
Kelsey @ SoMuchLifeToLive says
Thanks for bringing awareness to this. I think the reason that I (and so many other readers!) enjoy your “Lately” posts is that you show us what healthy eating looks like for mother/child. It’s so much more inspirational to see someone following a healthy eating listyle, rather than reading about what you’re “supposed” to do. Thanks for being such an inspiration!
eve says
This is a great chart! Can you give an example of how to read it?
So a 2 year old, in one day, should drink 2 cups milk, eat 1 cup of veggies, 1cup of fruit, 2 oz of chicken, 3 oz of pasta and about a table spoon of peanut butter?
for some reason that doesn seem like a lot (my 1 year old eats almost that much – but more milk even!)
Mandy Pierce says
Great question – I am wondering the same thing! Is the chart for daily intake? Thanks, Kath!
GMTB says
Daily Recommended Intake, so I’d think per day, yes.
Angela Gilmore says
What a great inforgraphic! I’ve noticed that I definitely have to introduce foods quite a few times to my son before he will actually enjoy them, except of course for sweets! I have luckily been able to get him to the one bite rule; he doesn’t have to eat everything but he has to have at least one bite of everything. Sometimes he is pleasantly surprised by what he tastes, but more often he has already made his mind up and makes a sour face as soon as it touches his tongue.
Erin says
What does ‘CHO’ stand for under the ‘Daily Recommended Intake’ section?
KathEats says
Carbohydrates
Tonya says
Pretty graphic! Best of luck, Jamey!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Thanks for sharing this! It’s so important!
Amanda says
Thank you for posting- I can’t wait until I need this info! 😀
Carly says
Hahaha… Take your child to the grocery store… We had to stop that around age two and even at four I still think twice 🙂 kidding aside, I learned a lot in this post. Thanks so much!
Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says
Great graphics, Kath! Just curious if you guys came across any info related to current juice recommendations. I’m currently finding high intake of juice (and gatorade- yikes) in kids.
KathEats says
The current recommendation for juice is 4 to 6 ounces per day, but in reality, children usually consume 10 to 12 ounces per day! –Intern Jamey
Sagan says
Super cute (and useful!) infographic! Looking forward to seeing more of these 🙂
Bronwyn says
Um… so I find it weird that they recommend different calorie needs for girls vs. boys at 4-5 years of age… really???? That just seems riddiculous. I like the promotion of proper eating for kids, though I’m a bigger fan of Ellyn Satter type advice vs. prescriptive calorie + nutrient needs.
Linda @ The Fitty says
Kids usually DO get away with a lot of things that Adults can’t but growing up is absolutely an important time to establish healthy habits because poor food choices lead to allergies grow up!
Sarah says
I’m interested to know where you’ve seen information about poor food choices leading to allergies later in life? I’m a pediatric nurse and have never heard that before, so if new information has come out it would be great to know about it!
Caley says
I’ve always heard it was the reverse — as in, a lot of intolerances (which isn’t the same as a true, life threatening allergic reaction) disappear as you age. “Growing out of” food intolerances isn’t an unheard of thing. That being said, you can develop a reaction/intolerance for something at basically any point in your life! Bodies are just weird that way. I’ve never heard it linked to being a picky eater as a kid though.
Jenna says
Great post, thanks so much for the info. I am always wondering if I’m giving my kids the right kinds / amounts of food. My question now is how do you best recommend using that chart in real life? Measuring out each/every food for a few days to see the breakdown? Also, let’s say you make dinner plates for your kids with 1/2 fruits and veggies, 1/4 grains, 1/4 protein – what do you recommend when the kids eat just the grains and the fruit and then ask for more of those (just as an example – could be any combo)? My husband and I struggle with this – do we tell them they have to finish the rest of their plate first? Or let them choose how much of which foods to eat as long as we are providing healthy choices? (We have toddlers, if that matters). Thanks!!
Samantha @ The Planted Vegan says
Love this! Is you intern doing her dietetic internship with you? If so, that’s awesome! I’m a senior nutrition student at Appalachian State and have begun the process of looking for internships!
KathEats says
Nope not an official DI. Good luck with yours!
Samantha @ The Planted Vegan says
Thank you!
Paula says
PINNED in a decisive manner. I’m a recovered anorexic; and while my nutrition knowledge for adults is pretty comprehensive, I worry that I’ll be a total freak with my kids’ food. Guidelines like this will be perfect reminders for me when I inevitably start worrying that they’re getting too much or too little of one thing or another!
Alexandria says
As a fellow toddler mom and RD I love this infographic! Such a great, easy to read format. Kudos to your intern!
Kelly B says
I love the infographi you made. Wonderful job!