FOOD STORAGE AND CHILDREN
Ensign article, Kay Franz
March 1998
Determining the appropriate quantities for food storage can be challenging
for families with children of various ages. Because children are still
growing, they need more food in proportion to their size than do adults.
It’s helpful to add two years to a child’s current age when calculating
adequate food storage amounts. Then, by knowing the number of children
in a family and their ages, parents can estimate food needs as a percentage
of an adult portion.
|
Age
|
Percentage of Adult Portion
|
|
3 and under
|
50 %
|
|
4 to 6
|
70 %
|
|
7 to 10
|
90 %
|
|
11 and up
|
100 %
|
Infants who are nursing share in their mother’s portion. Keep in mind
that young children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, need more
milk than other family members (see "Update on Milk Storage" Ensign,
March 1997, p. 70)
Food storage needs for large families probably should be re-assessed
yearly.