Summary
This report provides a summary of existing food and nutrition data relating to children and adolescents, based on the dietary guidelines for children and adolescents in Australia (Box 1; NHMRC 2003) and incorporating recommendations from the new nutrient reference values (NHMRC 2006). It brings together the most recent national nutrition-related data for children and adolescents, and in doing so creates a baseline from which to assess the outcomes of the Kids Eat, Kids Play (KEKP) survey which, at time of writing, were due for release in December 2007.
Preliminary material (155KB PDF): Abbreviations; Symbols; Acknowledgements; Highlights
Introduction
- Background
- Dietary recommendations for Australians
- Australian data
Nutritional status of children and adolescents
- Encourage and support breastfeeding
- Children and adolescents need sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally
- Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits
- Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
- Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
- Include milks, yoghurts, cheese and/or alternatives
- Choose water as a drink
- Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake (low fat diets are not suitable for infants)
- Choose foods low in salt
- Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars
- Care for your child's food: prepare and store it safely
Discussion
Appendixes
Appendix 1 - Data sources
Appendix 2 - Adjusting the National Nutrition Survey data
Appendix 3 - Additional tables
End matter (152KB PDF): Glossary; References