Protein intake for kids

Hey Jordan,

I have a 5 year old that weighs 40lbs. and 2 year old that weighs 28lbs. My wife and I were discussing their protein needs recently and she was focused on giving them more than I felt necessary and I mentioned that 1.6 grams/kg of bodyweight is sufficient for most adults so it’s probably the same for them. My initial though was that my 5 year old would need about 30 grams each day and my 2 year old could use about 20. Then I realized, I have no idea if those guidelines are different for kids that are so young. What would you recommend as far as a daily protein intake guideline for them?

Thanks,

Rory

Rory,

Current guidelines for kids in this age range is ~ 20 to 30% of daily energy intake from dietary protein, which is quite similar to adults. In the 4 to 8 year old range, daily energy needs are somewhere in the 1200 to 1600 Calorie range, which would encompass 60g protein on the low end and up to 120g on the high end.

You can read more about the current guidelines here:

https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials

Whoa. More than I was expecting but it makes sense. Thanks!