What are energy requirements?

Energy requirements are the amount of energy something needs to do what it does every day.

Imagine you're a toy car. You need energy, like from a battery, so you can zoom around on the floor. If your battery is too small, you won’t go far before you stop. That’s like having low energy requirements, you don’t need much to keep going. But if you’re a big robot that walks and talks and even dances, you might need a bigger battery, because you have higher energy requirements.

Think of your body as a toy car too! When you run around, play games, or even sit still in class, you use energy. The more you do, the more energy you need. That’s why kids who run all day might feel tired, their bodies used up a lot of energy!

Your body gets its energy from food, like snacks and meals. So if your energy requirements are high, because you’re growing fast or playing a lot, you’ll need to eat more to stay powered up!