PediaSmart® is designed to be used in place of milk in a child’s diet in conjunction with nutritious snacks and meals.
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that children between the ages of 2 and 8 years of age consume 2 to 2 ½ cup equivalents of Dairy foods per day, which would be 2 to 2 ½ cups of cow's milk.(1) If PediaSmart® is being used in place of cow’s milk as the source of Dairy in a child's diet, then the recommendation would be 2 to 2 ½ cups. If being used as a supplement to overall daily nutritional intake where milk is being used, then the amount per day would depend on the child’s nutritional status.
For example, if the child is underweight and needs supplementation, the amount to be fed per day would depend on the child’s overall caloric needs to achieve weight gain and it would be best to consult with a registered dietitian to determine overall daily requirements. There would be no harm in feeding PediaSmart® once or twice a day as a supplemental source of nutrition, depending upon the child’s overall nutritional intake. The one aspect to be considered is overfeeding and not causing overweight or obesity. For more personalized recommendations, please check with your child's healthcare provider to determine how much PediaSmart® should be fed.
Reference:
1.) Table 3-1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.
Rev 1-30-2023