No foods should be forbidden in a child's diet. The key to achieving low to moderate fat levels is offering appropriate choices, balancing high fat choices with low fat choices, and providing a variety of foods. Summary Nutrition for school-aged children should promote growth and meet energy and nutrient needs without promoting overfatness. During the school years, children will experience increased opportunities to make choices about their food intakes. Parents can assist their children in making positive food choices by planning family meal times, keeping a variety of foods in supply, and setting positive examples.
Habits formed in childhood are likely to carry into the adult years.
Intake and food sources of dietary fat among schoolchildren in The Woodlands, Texas. The National Cholesterol Education Program. Report of the Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents . Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232. Preparing Foods and Planning Menus Using the Dietary Guidelines .