ns325 nutrition across the life cycle
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NS325 Nutrition Across the Life Cycle. Nancy R. Mears, MS, CHES, PAPHS. Unit 4 Seminar. Food Acceptance In Children. Food Development. The transition from the dependent to independent self feeding occurs over the first two years of life; Shifts from a single to multiple food sources; - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NANCY R. MEARS, MS, CHES, PAPHS
NS325Nutrition Across the Life Cycle
Unit 4 Seminar
Food Acceptance In Children
Food Development
The transition from the dependent to independent self feeding occurs over the first two years of life;
Shifts from a single to multiple food sources;
There are increased opportunities for the self-regulation of food intake;
There are new social influences for eating with peers and adult caretakers.
Preferences & Aversions
Prefer to eat foods that are familiar.
Born with preference for sweet taste.
Adverse responses to sour and bitter tastes.
Flavor, texture, color, temperature are all important to a foods perceived palatability.
Shaping Food Acceptance Patterns
Factors with greatest impact on shaping food acceptance patterns:
Opportunities for repeated exposure to new food
Social context of meals
Associative learning
Repeated Exposure
Initial rejection of foods is normal, but parents believe child is a “picky eater”.
Increase the food’s familiarity to learn to accept new foods.
Offer new foods in positive, patient manner.
Repeat foods: At least 8-10 times
Social Context
By watching what others eat and don’t eat, children learn which foods are acceptable or not acceptable.
Routine mealtime experiences teach children which food combinations their culture finds acceptable & which are not.
Learn which foods are eaten at which meals.
Associative Learning
The pairing of something in the environment with something else, resulting in a new response. Ex - Conditioned aversion- eat something that makes
you sick
Common feeding practices can create conditioned dislikes for healthy foods. Ex - Use sweet rewards to get kids to eat veggies
increase preference for the “reward” food
Passing Down Eating Patterns
How parents handle their own food intake has profound impact on their children’s food acceptance, preference and intake patterns.
Children’s food preferences influence not only types of foods that children will consume, but overall quality of diet.
Appetite regulatory mechanism can be turned off by parental practices that focus attention away from internal satiety cues. Eating all food on plate; portions; when to eat
Parents Can Shape Healthy Eating
What strategies would you recommend to parents to develop healthy eating patterns in kids?
Practical Suggestions to Healthy Eating Patterns
Offer repeated exposure to variety of healthy foods.Be patient; repeat foods 8-10 timesStart early. Make tasting new foods a pleasant routine.Parents need to be role models.Don’t use food as a reward as it will only increase their
dislike for the food.Respect children’s ability to regulate their energy
intake.Do not severely restrict children’s access to
sweets/desserts/unhealthier items as restriction may make these “forbidden” foods even more attractive to children.
Mealtime with Toddlers
Mealtime with Toddlers
As toddlers continue to advance their feeding skills, it is crucial to provide a healthy feeding and eating environment.
Structure at meals can have a significant influence on a child’s eating patterns.
Avoid the philosophy of “clean plate club”
Mealtime with Toddlers
Introduce one food at a time in order to avoid confusion or overwhelming the child.
10 exposures to each new food recommended
Develop positive healthy relationship with all foods.
Offer a variety of healthy foods
Promoting Vegetable & Fruit Intake
Add fruit purees to mixes (pancakes, waffles, muffins)
Add fruit purees to yogurt and puddingsAdd dried fruits to cereal and trail mixesMix vegetable purees in soups and saucesTake the child to the grocery store to select
new fruits and vegetables to try
Choking Prevention
Some children may not develop the skill of chewing with a grinding motion until 4 years of age
Cut food into small pieces
Child needs to remain seated when eating
Encourage child to take small bites and avoid overfilling mouth
Foods to Avoid to Prevent Choking
Hot dog slicesCarrot ringsWhole grapesNutsPopcornHard candiesLarge beans
Questions??
Common Food Issues
Picky Eating
Can be common in toddlers, and may continue throughout childhood
May be their attempt at independence
Avoid punishment or rewards for eating food
Avoid making “special meals” for the picky eater
Common Food Issues
Grazing
Growing children may not want to stop what they are doing for a meal and can end up grazing
May produce a constant feeling of fullness and cause the child to never eat an appropriate amount at meal, therefore not expanding the stomach size
If a child asks for food or liquids more frequently than 2 to 3 hours, encourage them to wait until the next meal or snack time
Health Issues
Failure to Thrive
Inadequate physical growth diagnosed by observation of growth over time using a standard growth chart.
Factors inability to meet calorie needs due to medical
conditions Malabsorption increased metabolism with specific disease
states food shortage incorrect mixing of formula neglect
Health Issues
Lactose Intolerance
inability or insufficient ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products
Uncommon in healthy infantsSymptoms: stomach pain, flatulence, and loose
stoolsMany are able to tolerate small amountsSolid cheese and yogurt are better toleratedMany lactose-free and low-lactose products
available
Health Issues
Excessive Weight Gain
10% children 2-5 years old are obese20% children 6 – 11 years old are obeseNot just one factor, but a combination of
physical inactivity, exaggerated portion sizes, sugar-sweetened beverages, lack of fruits and vegetables, and too much screen time
What can be done??
Questions??
Role of Parents in Promoting Healthy Nutrition in Early Childhood
Eating is a learned behavior of flavor and food preferences.
Parents are a child’s first teachersModeling – children develop preferences for
the foods they see others eatingSelf regulation – the ability to regulate
volume of food intake is believed to be a normal human inborn error
Talking Points
Feeding Routine – When and where does your child eat?
Your child should have a regular feeding routine including time and location
Television should be off during meals
Talking Points
Dietary Variety – What kinds of foods does your child like to eat?
Offer soft veggies, fruits, meats, pasta, etc… so your child can practice picking up and chewing
Limit juice to 4 ounces per day – fruit is a healthier option than juice
Talking Points
Pleasant Mealtimes – Does your child enjoy mealtimes?
Mealtime should be pleasant and positive eating experience for child and parent/caregiver
Talking Points
Competing Foods – Does your child receive fatty or sweetened foods and drinks?
If a young child is offered foods such as french fries, chips, donuts, desserts, and soft drinks, they will learn to like and expect these foods instead of healthier foods
References
Edelstein, S. & Sharlin, J. (2009). Life Cycle Nutrition: An Evidence Based Approach. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Questions??