Healthy Kids Diet Guidelines

Make healthy shopping and cooking changes now—our simple nutrition guidelines get you started.

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Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and foods.

A little sugar, particularly if it’s in a food that provides other important nutrients, is fine. For example, a tiny bit of added sugar on whole-grain cereal can enhance the taste and encourage kids to eat it. But the average teen consumes about twice as much sugar as recommended and sugary foods and beverages tend to be high in calories and low in nutrients. Instead of giving your child sugar-sweetened foods, offer healthier choices, such as fruit, which is naturally sweet. Sodas and other sweetened drinks, including fruit juices, also contribute significantly to total caloric intake and should be limited to an occasional treat. For kids of all ages, water and milk are the best drink choices.

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