The study showed young children aged 2 to 3 were much more likely to have well-balanced diets reflecting national dietary recommendations than those 4 to 8 years old.
Editor's Note: Food Pyramid Replaced
In June 2011, the USDA replaced the food pyramid with a new plate icon.
For example, although older children eat more than younger ones, the number of servings of fruit actually decreased with age. Meanwhile, the number of servings of dark-green vegetables, like spinach and broccoli, and deep-yellow vegetables, failed to increase with age.
University of Alabama researchers, including Linda Knol, Phd, RD, say the finding reflects a common tendency among older children and adolescents to abandon healthier eating habits as they become more independent and have more freedom to choose their own snack foods.
But they say small increases -- as little as a serving or two a day -- in the amount of fruits and vegetables children eat could lead to substantial improvements in the quality of children's diets.
Small Changes May Help
In the study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers measured adherence to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food guide recommendations by studying the food diaries of nearly 7,000 children aged 2 to 8.
The guide divides foods into several groups and subgroups and recommends the number of servings from all groups as children get older and their daily calorie needs increase. The recommendations are below:
| 2-3 years | 4-8 years (Boys) | 4-8 years (Girls) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total daily calories | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,200 |
| Grains(ounces/day) | 3.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Whole grains | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Other grains | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Vegetables (cups/day) | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Dark green (cups/week) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Deep yellow (cups/week) | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Starchy (cups/week) | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Other (cups/week) | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Fruits(cups/week) | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 |
| Milk(servings/day) | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Meat and beans(ounces/day) | 2.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 |