Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

1. Encourage and support breast feeding.
2. Children need appropriate food and physical activity to grow and develop normally.
Growth should be checked regularly.
3. Eat a wide variety of nutritious foods.
4. Eat plenty of breads, cereals, vegetables (including legumes) and fruits.
5. Low fat diets are not suitable for young children: for older children, a diet low in fat and, in particular, low in saturated fat, is appropriate.
6. Encourage water as a drink. Alcohol is not recommended for children.
7. Eat only a moderate amount of sugars and foods containing added sugars.
8. Choose low-salt foods.

Specific nutrients

1. Eat foods containing calcium.
2. Eat foods containing iron.

Source: National Health and Medical Research Council. Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents.
Canberra: 1995. Australian Government Publishing Service.
Commonwealth of Australia copyright, reproduced with permission.