planning nutritious meals and snacks 1...planning nutritious meals and snacks teaching children...
TRANSCRIPT
PlanningNutritiousMealsandSnacks
Inthisclassroom,childrenlearnaboutnutritionbothdirectlyandindirectly.Forinstance,thevarietyoffoodsservedandtheteacher'scommentsaboutthefoodaredirectlearningexperiences.Childrenlearnaboutmanytypesoffoodandthatmealtimeisapleasanttime.Thepositiveattitudesandpleasingsurroundingsofthelunchroomareindirectlearningexperiences.
1Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
PlanningNutritiousMealsandSnacks
Bywatchingfriendsandteachers,childrendevelophabitsandattitudesaboutfood.Manyoftheirfoodattitudesandbehaviorswilllastintoadulthood.Hopefully,theywillestablishalifelongpatternofeatinganutritiousdiet.
2Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
PlanningNutritiousMealsandSnacks
Teachingchildrenaboutnutritionwillbeanimportantresponsibilityforyouasachildcareprofessional.
Propernutritionisneededforchildren'shealth,growth,anddevelopment.Behaviorandlearningabilityisrelatedtonutrition.
3
Somestudiessuggestthatyoungchildrenwhohavelearnedhealthfulfoodchoicesmayexperiencelifelonghealthbenefits.
Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
PlanningNutritiousMealsandSnacks
Nutritionisthemostimportantpartofawell-plannedmenu.
However,manyotherfactorsalsocontributetoawell-plannedmenu.Forinstance,scaleservingsizestothechildren'sappetites.Childrenmanagebestwithsmallservings.Theirappetitesoftenvaryfromdaytoday.
4Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabits
Besensitivetochildren’sneeds:
• Trytounderstandeachchild’spersonalityandreactionstofood.
• Serveage-appropriateportions.Dishoutchildportionsinsteadofadultportions.
• Usechild-sizedtables,chairs,dishes,glasses,silverware,andservingutensilsthatyoungchildrencanhandle.
5Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabits
Helpchildrenfeelreadytoeat:
• Provideashorttransitiontimebetweenactivitiesandmealtimes.
• Tellchildrenafewminutesaheadoftimethatitwillsoonbetimetoeat.Thishelpsthemslowdownandgetready.
6Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabits
Providesomeactivitiesthatwillhelpthemslowdown,suchas:
• coloringordrawing• playingwithblocks• listeningtosoftmusic• readingastory• talkingaboutthemeal
7Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabitsGetchildreninterestedandinvolved:
• Encouragechildrentoparticipateinmealtime.Withyourcarefulsupervision,invitethemtohelpwith:ü settingthetableü bringingfoodtothetableü clearingandcleaningthetableaftereating
• Beforethechildrensitdownatthetable,discussthefoodsthatwillbeserved.• Encouragechildrentodoasmuchaspossibleforthemselves.Firsteffortsarean
importantsteptowardgrowth.• Initiatenutritioneducationactivities.
8Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabitsMakeeatingapleasure:
• Servemealsinabrightandattractiveroom.• Selectandarrangefoodonplatesinwaysthatmakemealsinterestingandattractive.• Tomakemealsinteresting,includeavarietyofcolors,flavors,textures,andshapes.• Differencesintemperaturecanalsoaddinterest—forexample,crisp,cool,raw
vegetablescanbeanicecontrasttoawarmsoup.• Setagoodexample.Eatatthetablewiththechildrenandencourageconversation.• Encouragethechildrentotalkabouttheirfoodexperiences;howthefoodtastesand
smells.
9Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
EncouragingFavorableFoodAttitudesandGoodEatingHabits
Fosterpositivefeelings:
• Allowchildrentoleavefoodontheirplates.Theymaylearntoovereatiftheyaretoldtofinishtheirmealsorcleantheirplates.
• Planplentyoftimetoallowchildrentoeatwithoutfeelingrushed.
• Avoidallowingchildrentousefoodtogainspecialattention.
• Neverusefoodasarewardorpunishment.
10Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
Beverages
Beveragesaretheliquidswedrink.
Today,thereisawidevarietyoffluidchoices.Ifnotselectedcarefully,beveragescanaddsignificantcaloriestochildren’sdietswithoutaddingnutrients.
11Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
Beverages
Wateristhebestbeveragechoiceforchildrenbetweenmeals,includingatsnacktime.Watersatisfiesthirstwithoutaddingcaloriesthatcouldleadtoweightgain.Italsohelpspreventdentalcariesbydecreasingtheamountofacidinthemouth.
Mealsshouldinclude1%orskimmilkforchildrenoverage2,withwateror100%juiceservedatsnacks.
12Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
BeveragesDrinkingwatershouldbeavailableatalltimesforself-serve,bothindoorsandoutdoors.
Childrenplayhardandneedenoughfluidtostaywellhydrated.Whenwaterisavailablewithineasyreach,itwillbelookedtofirsttosatisfythirst.Childrenoftendonotknowwhentheyarethirstyandshouldbeencouragedtodrinkthroughouttheday.Encouragingsipsofwaterbetweenmealshelpstoreducethirst.Childrenarethenabletofocusonfoodsatmealtimes,ratherthanfillinguponmilkbeforeeatingtheirmeal.
13Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
BeverageTips• Findcreativewaystohavewaterwithinreachtochildren.• Trychild-sizewatercoolersorkeeppitchersoficewaterand
smallpapercupsinclassrooms.• Encouragechildrentodrinkwaterwhencominginsidefrom
theplayground,beforeorafteractivitiesorusingthebathroom,andbetweenmealsorwhenachildisstillthirsty.
• Avoidspillsbyfillingwaterpitchersonlypartway,byusingpitcherswithlids,andbyhelpingyoungerchildrentopourwater.
14Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
BeverageTips
• Routinelyofferwater.• Encourageallchildrenoveroneyearofagetodrinkatleastonecupofwatereach
day.• Showchildrenthatadultsinthefacilityliketodrinkwatertoo.• Makeitmorefun.Givechildrenfunstrawstodrinkwater.• Addlemon,limeororangeslicestowatertomakeittastierforchildren.• Letparentsknowthatyourfacilityuseswaterasthefirstchoiceforthirst.• Encourageparentstoofferwaterathome.
15Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
Juice100%juiceshouldbeofferednomorethanthreetimesaweek.
TheAmericanAcademyofPediatricsrecommendsthatpreschoolagechildrendrinknomorethan4to6ouncesof100%fruitjuiceeachday.Insmallamounts,juiceisahealthychoiceforchildren,buttheytendtodrinkitinplaceofwater.Ifconsumedinexcess,childrentendtofilluponjuiceandmayeatlessofmorenutritiousfoodsduringmealsandsnacks.Toomuchjuicemayalsoprovidemorecaloriesthanneededandexposechildren’steethtoalotofsugar.
16Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
MilkOnlyskimor1%milkshouldbeservedtochildrenage2andolder.
17
Milkisanexcellentsourceofcalcium,proteinandothernutrients,essentialtothehealthygrowthanddevelopmentofchildren.TheAmericanAcademyofPediatricssupportsdrinkingoflow-fatandskimmilkbychildrenages2yearsandolder.ThesemilkchoiceshaveasmuchcalciumandvitaminDaswholeor2%milkwithouttheextrafat,cholesterolandcalories.
Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
Onlypasteurizedmilkorpasteurizedmilkproductscanbeservedtochildreninyourcare.
18
Nondairymilksubstitutesmaybeservedonlywithwrittenpermissionofthechild'sparentforchildrenovertheageoftwelvemonths.
Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
Theamountofrequiredmilkfatinthemilkproductisdeterminedbythechild'sage:
Iftheageofthechildisunder12months:
Fullstrengthformulaorfullstrengthbreastmilkunlesstherearespecificwritteninstructionsfromalicensedhealthcareprovider.
19Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
Theamountofrequiredmilkfatinthemilkproductisdeterminedbythechild'sage:
Iftheageofthechildisbetween12and24months:
Fullstrengthwholemilkorbreastmilkunlesstherearespecificwritteninstructionsfromalicensedhealthcareprovider.
20Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
Theamountofrequiredmilkfatinthemilkproductisdeterminedbythechild'sage:
Iftheageofthechildover24months:
Withorwithoutfatcontentofprovider'sorparent'schoice.
21Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
Cow'smilkisasignificantsourceofnutrientsthatareimportantforgrowthinchildrenovertwelvemonthsofage.Milksubstitutesforchildrenovertwelvemonthsmaybeservedwithparentpermission.
22
Childrenbetweentwelveandtwenty-fourmonthsofageshouldconsumewholemilkandchildrenovertheageoftwenty-four
monthscanconsumewholemilkorlowerfatmilk.
Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
RegulationsRegardingServingMilk
BecausethetypicalAmericandiethasahighfatcontent,itisusuallyrecommendedthatchildrenovertheageoftwenty-fourmonthsconsumelowerfatmilkssuchas1%(lowfat)milkornon-fatmilkasameanstolowerthetotalfatcontentofthediet.
23Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness
24Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness