The American Heart Association recommends the following dietary guidelines for all healthy children and adolescents over 2 years of age. This eating plan supports a child’s normal growth and development. It provides enough total energy and meets or exceeds the recommended daily allowances of all nutrients required by children and adolescents.

Adequate nutrition should be achieved by eating a wide variety of foods from the following food groups:

• Vegetables and fruits, fruit juices and vegetable juices - 4 or more servings 
• Breads, cereals and starchy foods - 4 or more servings 
• Milk and cheese - 3 or more servings 
• Meat, poultry, seafood, dried beans and peas, eggs - no more than 2 servings daily 
• Unsaturated fats and oils - 4 to 6 servings 
• Other foods to meet energy needs - low fat, low cholesterol foods or increase portions of above foods 

Saturated fat -- 7-10 percent of total calories

Total fat -- an average of no more than 30 percent of total calories

Dietary cholesterol -- less than 300 milligrams per day

Each of these numbers refers to an average of nutrient intake over several days.

• Eat foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat.
• Choose a variety of foods to get enough carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients.
• Eat only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight for your height and build.
• This eating pattern supports a child's normal growth and development. It provides enough total energy and meets or exceeds the recommended daily allowances for all nutrients for children and adolescents, including iron and calcium.

Growth charts are an important way to monitor your child's growth.  There are many factors in monitoring children's development, and these are just one tool.  Keep in mind that many factors, including genetic potential, medical problems, and nutritional status affect children's growth.  Charts are one way of providing additional information.

 http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/growthcharts/
 To calculate height potential based on genetics

Across America an increasing number of children are obese, and if no intervention is made, 80% of them will stay overweight as adults.  This can put them at risk for medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea.  Obesity is also a big factor in an individual's self esteem.

An important way to help your child to maintain a normal weight and develop healthy habits is to encourage play and regular physical activity. Is your child exercising enough?  Take this fitness quiz to help determine this healthy habit.   http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/treatmentguides/exercise.html