Nutrition during Preschool

Nutrient Needs
1-3 years 4-6 years
Energy/Nutrient
PDRI PDRI
Energy, kcal 1070 1410
Protein, g 28 38
Vitamin A, RE 400 400
Vitamin C, mg 30 30
Thiamin, mg 0.5 0.6
Riboflavin, mg 0.5 0.6
Niacin, NE 6 7
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 Nutrient Needs
1-3 years 4-6 years
Energy/Nutrient
PDRI PDRI
Folate, ug 160 200
Calcium, mg 500 550
Iron, mg 8 9
Iodine, ug 90 90

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 Energy
≈ The energy requirements for individual
children are determined by Resting Energy
Expenditure (REE), rate of growth, and
activity.
≈ The contribution of physical activity to total
energy expenditure is quite variable among
children and in individual children from day to
day.
≈ During periods of catch-up growth, daily
intakes of 150 to 250 kcal/kg/day of body
weight have been recommended.
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 Protein
≈ The protein needs of children include those for
maintenance of tissue, for changes in body
composition, and for synthesis of new tissue.
≈ An evaluation of a child’s protein intake must
be based on: 1) the adequacy of growth rate, 2)
the quality of protein in the foods eaten, 3)
combinations of foods that provide
complementary amino acids when consumed
together, and 4) the adequacy of the intake of
vitamins, minerals, and energy.

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 Calcium
≈ Calcium is essential for bone growth and mineralization.
≈ More than 98% of body calcium is bone.
≈ Lactose increases absorption, binders such as phytic
acid and oxalic acid reduce absorption, and the level of
dietary protein affects the urinary excretion of calcium.
≈ As levels of protein intake increase levels of urinary
calcium increase.
≈ Recommendations for children are set at 800 mg/day,
since growing children may need two to four times as
much calcium per unit of body weight as adults require.

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 Zinc & Iron
Zinc
≈ For normal protein synthesis and growth.
Iron
≈ Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency.
≈ It may result from inadequate iron intake, impaired absorption, a
large hemorrhage, or repeated small blood losses.
≈ IDA is a preschool child causes delayed mental and physical
development and decreased resistance to infection.
≈ Iron requirements of individual children vary with rates of
growth and increasing total iron mass, iron stores,
variations in menstrual losses of iron in adolescent females,
and the timing of the growth spurt of adolescents.

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 Vitamin A
≈ For maintenance of normal vision
≈ Promotes the differentiation of the epithelial
cells of the body’s skin and linings of all tissues
from invasive microorganisms and other
harmful particles
≈ Promotes growth
≈ Promotes immunity by maintaining the
integrity of the epithelial tissues
≈ Influences the expression of over 300 genes
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