Where the daily targets come from
The label compares a serving against a whole day, and the day depends on who is eating. Requirements take the highest figure in the age band, so a meal works for everyone in the room; limits take the lowest; fat and carbohydrate are published as ranges, so they take the middle.
| Nutrient | Elementary school | Middle school | High school | Adult |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 1,600kcal | 2,100kcal | 2,400kcal | 2,000kcal |
| Total Fat | 53g | 70g | 80g | 61g |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 23g | 27g | 22g |
| Cholesterol | 300mg | 300mg | 300mg | 300mg |
| Sodium | 1,500mg | 1,800mg | 2,300mg | 2,300mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 220g | 290g | 330g | 275g |
| Dietary Fiber | 31g | 31g | 38g | 38g |
| Protein | 34g | 34g | 52g | 56g |
| Calcium | 1,300mg | 1,300mg | 1,300mg | 1,000mg |
| Iron | 10mg | 8mg | 15mg | 18mg |
| Potassium | 2,500mg | 2,500mg | 3,000mg | 3,400mg |
- Calories
- Estimated Energy Requirement for a moderately active child at the middle age of the band, averaged across boys and girls. The adult profile instead uses the FDA's 2,000-calorie reference day. DRI calorie table · FDA Daily Values
- Total Fat
- Middle of the acceptable range - 30% of calories for ages 4-18, 27.5% for adults - divided by 9 calories per gram. DRI macronutrients
- Saturated Fat
- Under 10% of calories, the limit that applies from age 2 up, divided by 9 calories per gram. Dietary Guidelines
- Cholesterol
- 300 mg at every age, the long-standing Daily Value. FDA Daily Values · DRI macronutrients
- Sodium
- Chronic Disease Risk Reduction limit: 1,500 mg for ages 4-8, 1,800 mg for 9-13, 2,300 mg from 14 up. Grades K-5 span the 1,500 and 1,800 mg limits. The lower limit is used in this instance. DRI sodium and potassium
- Total Carbohydrate
- Middle of the acceptable range, 55% of calories, divided by 4 calories per gram - the same basis behind the FDA's 275 g Daily Value. DRI macronutrients · FDA Daily Values
- Dietary Fiber
- Highest Adequate Intake in the band: 25 g for ages 4-8, 31 g for boys 9-13, 38 g for boys 14-18 and men 19-30. DRI macronutrients · FDA Daily Values
- Protein
- Highest RDA in the band: 34 g for ages 9-13, 52 g for boys 14-18, 56 g for men 19-30. DRI macronutrients
- Calcium
- Highest RDA in the band: 1,300 mg for ages 9-18, 1,000 mg for ages 4-8 and adults. DRI elements
- Iron
- Highest RDA in the band: 10 mg for ages 4-8, 8 mg for 9-13, 15 mg for girls 14-18, 18 mg for women 19-50. Menstruating girls and women need roughly twice what boys and men the same age do. DRI elements
- Potassium
- Highest Adequate Intake in the band under the 2019 revision: 2,500 mg for boys 9-13, 3,000 mg for boys 14-18, 3,400 mg for men 19 and up. DRI sodium and potassium · FDA Daily Values
These are reference values for healthy populations, published so meals can be planned and labels compared. They are not a prescription for any one student, and a student with a medical diet should follow it over anything here.