Childhood Nutrition Facts

At a glance

  • Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence promotes growth and development.
  • Healthy eating habits can prevent a number of harmful health conditions.
  • Healthy eating can help people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Schools are in a position to offer students the right information to practice healthy eating behaviors.
Students in the cafeteria line at an elementary school.

Healthy eating guidelines

Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development—and to prevent various health conditions.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 recommend that people aged 2 years or older follow a healthy eating pattern that includes the following:

  • A variety of fruits and vegetables.
  • Whole grains.
  • Fat-free and low-fat dairy products.
  • A variety of protein foods.
  • Oils.

These guidelines also recommend that people:

  • Limit solid fats (major sources of saturated and trans fatty acids).
  • Limit added sugars.
  • Reduce sodium intake.

Unfortunately, most children and adolescents do not follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Benefits of healthy eating

Healthy eating can help people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, consume key nutrients, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as:

  • High blood pressure.
  • Heart disease.
  • Type 2 diabetes.
  • Cancer.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Iron deficiency.
  • Dental cavities.

Tips for healthy eating

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides healthy eating plans through MyPlate.gov.

A healthy plate example divided by color sections for fruits, grains, vegetables, and protein, with a circle for dairy.
Choose MyPlate is a simple visual reminder to select a variety of foods throughout the day and week.

What schools can do

Schools are in a unique position to help students learn about and practice healthy eating behaviors, such as:

  • Eating a healthy breakfast. This is associated with improved cognitive function (especially memory), reduced absenteeism, and improved mood.
  • Drinking enough water. This may improve cognitive function in children and adolescents, which is important for learning.

Eating behaviors of young people

  • Between 2001 and 2010, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among children and adolescents decreased. But still accounts for 10% of total calories.
  • Between 2003 and 2010, total fruit intake and whole fruit intake among children and adolescents increased.
  • Most youth still do not meet fruit and vegetable recommendations.
  • Most young people do not drink the recommended amount of water.

Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats total 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents 2–18 years of age. About half of these empty calories come from six sources:

  • Soda
  • Fuit drinks
  • Dairy desserts
  • Grain desserts
  • Pizza
  • Whole milk

Resources

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Content Source:
Division of Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
  • Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2015.
  • US Department of Health and Human Services. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th ed. 2015. Accessed September 4, 2024. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.
  • Krebs-Smith SM, Guenther PM, Subar AF, Kirkpatrick SI, Dodd KW. Americans do not meet federal dietary recommendations. J Nutr. 2010;140(10):1832–1838.
  • Reedy J, Krebs-Smith SM. Dietary sources of energy, solid fats, and added sugars among children and adolescents in the United States. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(10):1477–1484.
  • Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth, Koplan JP, Liverman CT, Kraak VI, eds. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. National Academies Press; 2005.
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  • Kim SA, Moore LV, Galuska D, et al. Vital Signs: fruit and vegetable intake among children—United States, 2003–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(31):671–676.
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  • US Department of Agriculture. MyPlate. Accessed September 4, 2024. https://www.myplate.gov/
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School health guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011;60(RR–5):1–76.
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  • Edmonds CJ, Jeffes B. Does having a drink help you think? 6–7-year-old children show improvements in cognitive performance from baseline to test after having a drink of water. Appetite. 2009;53(3):469–472.
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