A 7-year-old uses a 1,600-kcal pattern. What changes?
Within this USDA/HHS 2020–2025 reference pattern, use the 1,600-kcal column but retain the age-four-to-eight dairy override of 2½ cup-equivalents per day.
- Food-group totals are daily; vegetable and protein subgroup allocations are weekly.
- The calorie column is a reference estimate, so growth, activity, and nutrition needs still require individual assessment.