The nutritional status and level of physical activity of Australian children is an important public health issue. Although most Australian children have access to an adequate food supply and the opportunity to be physically active, there are concerns about the balance and adequacy of their dietary intake and physical activity levels. Overall, the nutrients consumed increased with age, with boys generally consuming more than girls. The results of the NNS show that calcium intake needs to be higher to meet the needs of skeletal growth.
Iron intake in girls also needs to be increased.
To meet nutrient requirements, children need regular meals and snacks. Snacks provide a half to a third of the energy intake for most children. Snacking has been shown to improve attention, recall, even arithmetic problem solving, in some studies. Athletic children have high energy and carbohydrate requirements. Meeting these needs is also important for enhancing sports performance.