| A common mistake is to think that decaffeinated | | | | caffeine may be replacing nutrient-dense foods |
| coffee is caffeine-free. The decaffeination process | | | | such as milk. A child may also eat less because |
| removes about 97% of the caffeine, so that | | | | caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant. Since it |
| makes your cup of decaf coffee contain about | | | | has no nutritional value to a growing child, its |
| 2-5 mg, an equivalent to the caffeine content of a | | | | consumption should be restricted in diet of children |
| cup of chocolate milk or two tablespoons of | | | | of all ages. |
| chocolate syrup (see table below), while a regular | | | | Below, find a table with caffeine content of foods. |
| coffee contains 40-150 mg of caffeine. | | | | Caffeine Content of Foods |
| Moderate caffeine consumption has not been | | | | Item Caffeine (milligrams)* |
| shown to be harmful to adults or children. Studies | | | | Espresso, 2 oz. 40-170 |
| have shown that moderate amounts of caffeine | | | | Coffee, brewed by drip method, 5 oz. 60-180 |
| do not cause hyperactivity, or increase the risk of | | | | Coffee, instant, 5 oz 30-120 |
| cancer, osteoporosis, or cardiovascular disease. | | | | Decaffeinated coffee, 5 oz. 2-5 |
| Although in some cultures (i.e. Guatemala), coffee | | | | Iced tea, 12 oz. 67-76 |
| is introduced to children from a very early age, a | | | | Brewed teas, 5 oz. 20-90 |
| child's caffeine consumption should be closely | | | | Decaffeinated or herbal teas, 5 oz. 0-1 |
| monitored. | | | | Some dark carbonated beverages, 12 oz. can |
| Caffeine is a known mild stimulant that affects | | | | 30-46 |
| the central nervous system. Therefore, moderate | | | | Citrus flavored carbonated beverages, 12 oz. 0-65 |
| intake may make children nervous, anxious, | | | | Decaffeinated carbonated beverage, 12 oz. 0 |
| fidgety, frustrated, and quicker to anger. Caffeine | | | | Cocoa beverages, 5 oz. 2-20 |
| is also a diuretic, which means it increases | | | | Chocolate milk, 8 oz. 2-7 |
| urination. This may pose a potential problem, | | | | Milk chocolate, 1 oz. 1-15 |
| especially in hot weather, as excessive urination | | | | Chocolate syrup, 2 tbs. 4 |
| may lead to dehydration when the lost fluid is not | | | | Semi-sweet chocolate, 1 oz. 5-35 |
| replaced by water. | | | | Baking chocolate, 1 oz. 26 |
| Although a small amount of caffeine appears to | | | | *Source: FDA Consumer, December 1987 |
| be safe, moderate amounts of beverages with | | | | January 1988. |