Kids and energy

Just how many kilojoules should children eat? Visit My Doctor and use the child energy requirement calculator to find out.

A boy aged 10, who has light daily activity should consume 9300kj per day (based on height of 1.39 m and weight of 31.9 kg).

As a guide, a small Happy Meal of fries, cheeseburger and Sprite = 2717 kj, or approximately a third of their daily energy requirements.

Upsize that to a double cheeseburger and consumption of kilojoules increases to 1839 for the burger alone. Beware of the hidden kilojoules in soft drink; for example, a can of Coca Cola equals 599 kilojoules.

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Always consult your doctor if you or your child is suffering any medical complaint. Any websites referred to by Australian Family contain information moderated by government and medical institutions or organisations.

This article was first published in Australian Family Magazine, May 2007. Updated July 2009.