By the age of 6, a child can tell you pretty clearly what she likes and what she might be hungry for. You should continue to instill good eating habits while trying to accommodate your child's tastes as much as possible. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 10 require about 1,800 to 2,400 calories each day. This number rises considerably as children head into puberty. Girls begin to require about 200 calories per day more between the ages of 10 and 12.
Older children grow steadily and have a natural increase in appetite.
Children at this age learn about where food comes from and how it is prepared. Most enjoy helping to prepare food. This is especially useful with new foods - children are more likely to eat foods they have helped prepare. If a child stays with you for at least two hours after school, offer him a snack. If he stays with you longer than that, you may also need to offer him another snack or a meal.