Nutrition in the CACFP

Health of Wisconsin’s Children

24% high school students are overweight or obese

19% of 8-9 year olds are overweight or obese

29.9% of children ages 2-4 are overweight or obese

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WHAT IS NUTRITION?

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What is Nutrition?

• Role of food in the maintenance of good health

• Food at work in the body• Proper nutrition can prevent

overweight and obesity, and medical problems associated with overweight and obesity

• Good nutrition helps children grow to their full potential

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What is Nutrition?

• Nutrition is a BALANCE of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water

• UNBALANCED nutrition can lead to obesity and other adverse health effects

Supply energy in the form of glucose• Body’s most important and readily available

energy source• Brain’s preferred energy source

Children need carbohydrates for energy and help with growth and development

Sources of carbohydrates• Grains (preferably whole grains)• Fruits and Vegetables• Milk

Carbohydrates

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Carbohydrates

• Simple sugars are also carbohydrates• Cakes, cookies, sugary cereals, doughnuts,

candy• These items are high in calories and low in

valuable nutrients• Too much of these are linked to obesity

• Limit foods that contain simple sugars

• Excess simple sugar consumption may result in storing it in your body as fat (UNBALANCED)

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“One serving provides you with your minimum yearly requirement of sugar.”

Carbohydrates• Fiber

– Non-digestible carbohydrate– Filling and therefore discourages

overeating – Best sources are whole grain breads

& cereals

• Whole Grains– Contain fiber, B vitamins, iron,

magnesium– It is recommended that whole grain

products are served a minimum 3 times per week

– (White flour is made from the endosperm)

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Protein

• Building new tissues, forming new cells, cell repair and oxygen transport

• Body can also use as a source of energy

• Sources of protein:• Meat• Dairy products• Legumes• Peanut butter

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Fat

Protects vital organs in the bodyDevelop brain structure and nerve tissue

• Very important for infants and toddlers up to age 2

Production of hormones and maintaining skinAids in absorption of fat-soluble vitamins

(A,D,E,K)

Children need fat for normal body development

Excess fat in a diet can lead to weight gain (UNBALANCED)

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Vitamins

• Help your body use carbohydrates, proteins and fats

• Promote growth, cell reproduction and health

• Support immune system

• Two types– Fat-Soluble– Water-Soluble

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Vitamins

• A, D, E, and K• Stored in the

body (fat cells)• Children’s

diets are often low in vitamin A– Serve foods high

in vitamin A 2-3 times/week

• C and the B vitamins

• Need to be consumed daily because they are not stored in the body

Fat-Soluble Water-Soluble

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Minerals

• Calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron

• Needed for growth of teeth and bones, muscle contraction, nerve reaction, blood clotting

• Iron– Needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen

carrying component of red blood cells (RBC). Without iron, the body cannot make RBC and cannot get oxygen to tissues and organs

• This leads to learning and behavior problems and iron deficiency anemia

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Minerals

• Infants and children especially need iron because they are in a growing stage• It is a CACFP requirement that infants

consume iron-fortified cereal until age 1, in addition to breast milk and/or iron-fortified infant formula

• Good sources of iron:• Meat, enriched grains, leafy green vegetables• TIP: Serve iron-rich foods with foods containing

vitamin C (tomatoes, broccoli, oranges and strawberries) to improve the body’s absorption of iron 15

Water

• Carries nutrients and oxygen throughout body

• Removes waste products• Regulates body temperature• Maintains blood volume• Children get busy playing and

forget to drink water so offer water to children throughout the day 16

It Is The Responsibility of Child Care Facility to Provide Nutritionally

Adequate Healthful Food

Why?• Preschool aged children consume 50-

75% of their recommended daily allowance (RDA) in a child care setting

• In an eating environment, young children are influenced by adults

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Serve a variety of meals packed with nutrients• Caregivers decide what foods to serve,

children decide what they want to eat and how much

• Only the child knows how hungry they are or if they like a particular food

Children need to experience a food 15-20 times before they decide if they like it

Kids are slow to accept new tastes and textures

What do you need to do?

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