But, keep in mind that this is an average. A child's activity level and growth rate significantly affect the actual number of calories he or she needs.
Small stomachs can handle less at meal times, making nutritious snacks essential for most children.
If you are concerned about your son's caloric intake, see your healthcare provider. He or she can check his rate of growth, weight for age and weight for height, which are tools for assessing the caloric adequacy of a child's diet. To help ensure that your son's diet is also nutritionally adequate, rely on the USDA's new Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children. Copyright 1999 Baylor College of Medicine. All Rights Reserved.