Ask the Expert - Nutrition Needs of a 4 Year Old

Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.

This week, Registered Dietitian Liz Marr offers a few tips for ensuring a complete nutrition of a 4 year old child.

Liz Marr

Education: Master of Science, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Colorado State University
Experience: over 20 years as a food & nutrition educator
Expertise: food, nutrition, family nutrition, food safety
Website: http://www.lizonfood.com
Twitter: @lizmarrmsrd
LinkedIn Profile
Contact: via via Web form on www.lizmarr.com (but I don’t address consumer questions directly)

Question: How much fat and protein is my 4 year old supposed to get? If he doesn’t get enough, should he be taking a vitamin?

Answer:

Despite concerns of many parents, it’s natural for preschoolers’ appetites to decline and for them to hyperfocus on specific foods to the exclusion of others (food jags). That’s because their growth rate slows compared to infancy and they are testing their independence through foods. As long as a variety of nutritious foods are presented to children and the child is otherwise healthy, most parents need not worry about whether a child is obtaining too little or too much nutrition. Following MyPyramid will help ensure that children eat appropriate amounts of protein and fat as well as balance intake of other important nutrients. Here is a quick guideline that will help you gauge your 4-year-old’s food intake compared to recommendations:

Another way to evaluate children’s longer-range nutritional status (versus day-to-day eating) is through height and weight measurements and growth charts used by pediatricians. These growth charts are very closely correlated with nutritional status. Therefore, if your child is considered within a normal range for height and weight, particularly as it tracks over time, it’s likely their nutritional intake is not compromised.
As far as vitamin and mineral supplements go, major scientific groups, such as the American Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, indicated that vitamin and mineral supplements are generally unnecessary for healthy children and that it’s better to emphasize healthy eating patterns.

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Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.

Food Group   Key Nutrients   # of Servings   Serving Sizes
Grains   Fiber, B vitamins, carbohydrates   3-5   1 slice of bread, ½ hamburger or hotdog bun, 1 ounce cereal, 1 ounce cooked rice or pasta
Vegetables   Fiber, vitamins, minerals   1.5 cups   ½ cup serving
Fruits   Fiber, vitamins, minerals   1.5 cups   ½ cup serving; 1 small piece of fruit
Milk   Calcium, vitamin D, protein   2   1 cup milk; 1 ounce cheese; 1 cup yogurt
Meat, eggs, beans, nuts   Protein, iron   3   1 ounce serving, 1 egg, 1 T peanut butter

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