Young Children Release No. To help improve the diets of young children two to six years old, USDA has developed the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children.
Young children have unique food patterns and needs in comparison to older children and adults.
Also, many young children are not eating healthful diets, and nutritionists know that early food experiences are crucial to food preferences and patterns throughout life. The graphic shows foods that are commonly eaten by young children, drawn in a realistic style, and shown in single serving sizes when possible. The food group names have been shortened to simplify them, and the number of servings recommended is a single number rather than a range. The key message in the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children is that eating a variety of foods is healthy. The Pyramid is surrounded with illustrations of children engaged in active pursuits, to show the importance of physical activity.