How many calories does my 3 year old need a day?

Question
My 3 year old (37 months) is 39" and weighs 42 pounds. I am not concerned about her loosing any weight, but I would like to maintain her weight as she grows into the weight she has until she meets healthy standards. So along with my focusing on her portion sizes (1 tablespoon per year of age) and food choices, I'd like to keep track of her caloric intake per day. My question is: what number should I be aiming for as far as how many calories she should be getting per day?

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Depending on her activities, she should consumes anywhere between 1000-1400 calories.

Physical Activity:
Less than 30 min: 1000 calories
30-60 minutes: 1200 calories
More than 60 minutes: 1400 calories

For more details about food choices, you can find them here:
http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/samples.html

Best wishes,
Linda Yo
Certified Weight Consultant
Author of Asian Slim Secrets  

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