New Interactive Healthy Eating Calculator

Finding customized information about what and how much to feed your child is just a click away, thanks to the CNRC's new Interactive Healthy Eating Plan Calculator.

The calculator is available on the web at www.kidsnutrition.org/HealthyEating_calculator.htm

"By entering a child's sex, age, weight, height, and physical activity level, parents can obtain a general eating plan that provides all the nutrition and energy their child needs to grow and be active without excessive weight gains," said Joan Carter, an instructor in the department of pediatrics and CNRC dietitian who developed the calculator.

The plans generated by the calculator are based on the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Institute of Medicine 's nutritional recommendations for children ages 4 and older. In addition to suggesting amounts of the basic food groups, including fruits, vegetables, grains, milk products, lean meats and beans, and oils to be consumed each day, the calculator gives guidelines for the consumption of discretionary calories.

"Discretionary calories are the calories 'left over' in an eating plan after the recommended amounts of nutrient-dense foods are consumed," Carter explained. In other words, the number of calories a child can 'spend' consuming solid fats, treats and sweets, or more food from the basic food groups without gaining too much weight.

According to Carter, taking a close look at a child's discretionary calorie budget and the tables that list the fat, calories and sugar content of popular foods that accompany the calculator may be a real eye-opener for some parents.

"When kids are relatively inactive, their discretionary calorie allowance is quite small," she said.

Yet, Carter also believes that this information can help parents better appreciate the value of physical activity and help them make better decisions about managing low-nutrition, high-calorie foods.

"All foods really can fit into a healthy diet for children. It's just a matter of how much and how often," she said. "The diets of active kids have room for a bit more -- and a bit more often."

Because the calculator is designed as an educational tool, the recommendations provided are for normal weight children between the ages of four and 18.

"Overweight children need almost the identical laundry-list of nutrients as their slimmer counterparts, but there is less room in their diets for discretionary calories," she explained. "This is also why increasing physical activity is the main recommendation given to parents with children prone to weight problems."

Carter notes that in addition to limiting discretionary calories, the calculator's healthy eating plan, like the new dietary guidelines, promotes high-fiber foods, including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

"The calculator's plans may seem a far cry from how many kids are eating today," Carter said. "But, that's part of the problem, isn't it?"