People in this age group needs some more meals per day as they may not eat a sufficient amount at each meal. They need fewer calories because energy requirement declines with increasing age particularly if physical activity is restricted, however; the amount of protein and other nutrients requirement is similar to that of younger people.

Person	Age category / status	Number of meal /day
children	Babies < 6 months	Only Breast milk, 8 – 10 times
	Babies 6 - 12months	Breast milk, 8 – 10 times or more Small meals, 3 – 5 times
	Children 1-5 years	Breast milk eight times till two years of age At least three mixed meals plus two snacks
	School age children	3 mixed meals plus two snacks
Adolescent	10 – 19 years	3 mixed meals plus some snacks
Women	Pregnant	3 mixed meals plus some snacks
	Lactating	3 mixed meals plus some snacks
Elderly		3 or more meals (fewer calories)

Table 11: summary of the number of meal required by age category and physiologic state.

Note

The average yield of calories per meal for common Ethiopian food (One "Enjera" with "shiro wot") is 770Kcal.