Position of The American Dietetic Association: Child and Adolescent Food and Nutrition Programs

Abstract

Our children are our future. In light of that, The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recognizes the importance of nutrition, nutrition education, and physical activity to the growth and development of the nation's children ( (1) Derelian D. President's page children — a small audience only in stature. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95: 1167 Google Scholar ). Food and nutrition programs for children and adolescents, whether school food programs or programs targeting at-risk populations, are an important way to ensure that US children will continue to have access to a healthful diet that follows the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans ( (2) Nutrition and Your Health. 4th ed. US Depts of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, Washington, DC1995 Google Scholar ): eat a healthful, varied diet, as outlined in the Food Guide Pyramid ( (3) The Food Guide Pyramid. US Dept of Agriculture, Washington, DC1992 Google Scholar ), and balance energy intake with physical activity. Children who do not have access to an adequate diet are at risk for a variety of conditions. For example, research has established that malnutrition in early life can limit long-term intellectual development, and that learning capabilities are affected by how recently one has eaten ( (4) Brown J.L. Pollitt E. Malnutrition, poverty and intellectual development. Scientific American. 1996; 274: 38-43 Google Scholar ).