Trends in the Nutrition of Children

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey put out a report on the energy intake for children and aged 2-19 from 1999-2000 through 2009-2010.  The report, Trends in Intake of Energy and Macronutrients in Children and adolescents From 1999-2000 Through 2009-2010, highlights trends in energy and macronutrients among U.S. children presented by sex, age group, and race and ethnicity.

Key findings from the report:

• Caloric intakes for most of the age groups decreased between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010.
• The percentage of total kilocalories from protein generally increased for children and adolescents except for non-Hispanic black girls.
• The percentage of total kilocalories from carbohydrate decreased for non-Hispanic white boys and girls and for non-Hispanic black boys.
• The percentage of total kilocalories from total fat or saturated fat for children and adolescents changed very little.