Meal Patterns

To meet energy needs, children and teens should eat at least three meals a day, beginning with breakfast. Studies show eating breakfast affects both cognitive and physical performance; that is, if a child eats breakfast, he or she may be more alert in school and better able to learn and to perform sports or other physical activities.

Snacks also form an integral part of meal patterns for children and teens. Young children generally cannot eat large quantities of food at one sitting and get hungry long before the next regular mealtime. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are generally advised for this age.

Fast-growing, active teens may have tremendous energy needs. Even though their regular meals can be substantial, they still may need snacks to supply energy between meals and to meet their daily nutrient needs.

Printed with permission from IFIC Foundation (International Food Information Council) www.ific.org

Nutritional Handouts from The Ellyn Satter Institute

•Helping Children Be Good Eaters
•If Your Child is Finicky
•If Your Child Doesn't Eat
•If Your Child Eats Too Much
•Solving Childhood Feeding Problems