Childhood fat consumption
The fat content of children’s diets should gradually decrease from a relatively high content in the first year of life to about 25 per cent of total dietary energy intake by the onset of adolescence*. Recent recommendations have decreased the age at which total dietary fat intake can be lowered and the current recommendations are listed below.
Full-fat dairy products are still an important part of child diets in the early years. They can be gradually replaced by low-fat dairy alternatives once a more varied diet that contains a variety of healthy fat-containing foods is being consumed. This usually occurs in the 3 to 4 year age group.
The first year of life
- Breast feeding is the best source of nutrients, including fats, for babies and where possible should continue for at least 6 months.
- Preterm infants (babies born early) can be at risk from low omega-3 fatty acid consumption. All preterm formulas available in Australia contain supplements of DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) to overcome this problem.
Toddlers (1 to 2 year olds)
- These children need a higher fat content in their diet to ensure they receive enough energy to provide adequately for this rapid growth phase. Fats should provide about 30 to 35 per cent of their daily energy needs.
- It is important that a wide variety of fats, including polyunsaturated fats, is included and this means encouraging a wide variety of foods. Whole nuts should be avoided as they can cause choking.
- Full fat milk is recommended in this group as it is their major source of fat.
- There is no evidence that altering childhood fat intake from foods in any way will alter the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Similarly, there is little evidence to support supplementing children’s diets with omega-3 fats to reduce the incidence or prevent the occurrence of asthma.
Preschoolers (3 to 4 year olds)
- Both appetite and the amount of food being eaten increase in this age group and it is therefore reasonable to reduce the fat content of the diet. A lower fat diet that contributes about 30 per cent of dietary energy needs is appropriate.
- Full-fat milk can be replaced by low-fat alternatives in this age group as the diet becomes more varied.
- Sources of saturated fats should be reduced, especially takeaway foods, chips, chocolates, cake, pastries, biscuits etc.
- Whole nuts should be avoided as they can cause choking. (Try using nuts that have been well-groundin ‘meals’.)
Primary School Children
- This is a period where children are at risk of developing obesity and excessive fat intake is a factor that contributes to this problem. (Excessive fat is an important source of excess energy in child diets.)
- Fat should contribute a maximum of 30 per cent of dietary energy intake.
- Saturated fat in the diet should represent no more than a third of total fat intake. (See notes above.)
- Minimising the use of spreads will help reduce overall fat intake. (Butter should be used sparingly as it is an important source of saturated fats.)
Adolescence (and adults)
- Once a child has reached adolescence they should be consuming a normal adult low-fat diet.
- Dietary energy intake from fat should be about 25 to 30 per cent of total energy intake.
- A healthy mixture of fats is needed. In Australian diets this usually means reducing saturated fats and increasing Omega-3 fats.
*Dietary fat intake is usually expressed as a percentage of total dietary energy intake. For example, when a diet is said to contain 30 per cent fat, it means that the energy supplied by the fat consumed in the diet makes up 30 per cent of energy supplied by all the foods in the diet.
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