Healthy Food and Nutrition

Section 4: Healthy Food and Nutrition     

                                                 

        

Infants

Good nutrition and eating habits are so important to children in all age groups. Infants need proper nutrition for development and growth.

Infants have rapid growth, so it is important to have the correct food, to supply energy for the rapid growth.

“The growth and development of infants is directly related to nutrition.”

 Infants get a lot of what they need from breast milk and formulas. “Infancy is a critical time for forming healthy patterns to meet the nutritional needs of children.”

“Teachers play an important role in helping infants. This role is to establish good nutrition and    groundwork for good feeding behaviors.”

It is important for infants to get the appropriate nutrition for health, growth and development.

Toddlers

Toddlers need to sustain good nourishment. Good nutrition allows toddlers to grow, learn, and play.

It is important for toddlers to drink enough milk. This should be no more than 24 ounces in a day.

“The challenge for this period is to maintain good nutrition while helping the children establishes good food habits with their independence intact.”

Preschoolers

Preschoolers also need good quality food.  Good nutrition is essential for preschoolers to grow and develop.

Quality nutrition will help preschoolers do well in school.

Proper food for preschoolers is important to prevent eating disorders, obesity, dental cavities and iron-deficiency anemia.

School-aged children need proper nutrition. It is important for School-aged children to have quality nutrition because they are still growing.

“Growth requirements combined with physical activity play a role in determining a child's nutritional needs. Genetic background, gender, body size and shape are other factors. The nutrients needed by school-aged children are the same needed by adults, but the amounts vary.”
“Good eating habits are one of the greatest contributors to good health, for all age groups.”
                                                  Eating habits
Adults should help children with their eating habits “From a very young age children learn. They are capable of learning eating habits through practice and observation. Children are strongly influenced by what they see and hear. Families and teachers are sources of behavior and information that children model and remember.”
“Proper nutrition needs to be taught and reinforced at all levels.”

Thus, adults should help children with healthy eating habits. Adults also have more knowledge of the proper foods.
One way to achieve this is to model healthy eating. Another way to accomplish this is with education.
Display posters of healthy foods. Read books about healthy eating habits. Show DVDs about healthy eating.
Keep healthy foods in classroom. Do art projects with healthy foods. Play games with healthy food.
Make sure food is easy to eat. Never force children to eat.
“Another strategy for helping a child develop good eating habits is to make mealtimes significant for the child.”
Display different foods and have children pick which food would be the best choice for healthy eating.
Plant a garden with the children. Let children help prepare food.
                                                                   Recipes
Here are three recipes that family members can prepare with preschoolers.
“First is Green eggs and ham.

1 Tablespoon chopped green onions (optional)              
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Tablespoons chopped green peppers (optional)
¼ cup chopped ham, 4 eggs

1 Tablespoon low fat milk

¼ cup chopped spinach

Salt and pepper to taste
Heat the oil, use a skillet. Add green onions, green peppers and ham, Beat eggs and milk together and add to the vegetables mixture.
Stir in spinach. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir all of the mixture do this constantly. This will make 4 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 120 calories, 9 g fat, 215 mg cholesterol, 200 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate.”

This recipe offers food from most of the food groups.
Next recipe is pyramid tortilla. “This is a fun snack or lunch for kids to make with family.
For each tortilla you will need:      

                                        

1 8-inch tortilla

1-2 ounces thin sliced turkey or ham

2 Tablespoons shredded cheese

¼ cup shredded lettuce

1 Tablespoon raisins

Low fat mayonnaise

Cream cheese or margarine
Give each child a tortilla then spread with mayonnaise, margarine or cream cheese.
Then, layer on the turkey or ham, lettuce and raisins. Roll your tortilla up and enjoy!”
The nutrition information on this recipe is it has food from all of the food groups. The recipe is not high in fat. The tortilla is low in calories.
The last recipe is Pocket sandwiches. “A good no-cook summer lunch that the kids and family can make.
For each pocket you will need:
1 large pita bread round (whole wheat)

Low fat Mayonnaise or mustard

4 thin slices of ham

1/4 cup of low fat shredded cheese, any kind

Shredded lettuce, sliced onions, tomato slices and/or sprouts, as you like.

Cut the bread in half; open halves to make pockets. Spread the inside with mayonnaise and/or mustard.

Fill halves with meat, cheese, and vegetables.”   

              

Nutrition information on this pocket sandwich is it is low in calories and low fat. The pocket also contains most of the food groups.

“Here are some ways to enjoy cooking together. The mealtime needs to be positive. Do focus on each other and not the food. 

Save discipline for another time. Allow children to eat until they are full without forcing “one more bite “or a clean plate

Do not forget to make it fun, laugh together and share funny stories.”