Good Nutrition and Eating Habits

Abstract

Good nutrition and eating habits are important for the growth of a child. It is what a child eats now that affects their bodies for the rest of their life. Having adequate nutrition can prevent heart disease, diabetes, childhood obesity and adult obesity, hypertension, stroke, osteoporosis, and many forms of cancers.




Infants

Good nutrition starts as early as infancy. The best nutrition for infants is breast milk if possible. Breast milk provides sugars, fats, protein and vitamins that are just right for infants. If breast milk is not possible, infant formula is used to provide adequate nutrition. The FDA makes sure that infant formula has all the nutrients that an infant will need to grow strong healthy teeth and bones. As the infant grows, they will need more than just formula or breast milk. Starting infants on nutritious food such as, Iron-fortified, single-grain baby cereal, strained/pureed vegetables and fruit, strained meats/poultry, soft prepared baby foods, egg yolk, yogurt, and cottage cheese, all will help the infant develop into a healthy toddler.
Toddlers

Toddlers need about 1000-1400 calories a day. The Food Guide pyramid is a good resource to use in providing what children need on a daily bases. Toddlers should have daily servings of grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat or beans for proper nutrition. Toddlers should have seven milligrams of iron each day. Iron can be found in red meat, dark poultry, tuna, salmon, eggs, enriched grains, and iron-fortified breakfast cereals. Adequate nutrition in the toddler stage will help them develop into a healthy preschooler.

Preschooler

Preschoolers should have the recommended daily amount of food from each food group. This age group of children should have 1 to 11/2 cups of fruit and vegetables, 3-5 oz of grains, 2-4 oz of meats and beans, and 2 cups of dairy or dairy products.
If children do not have the recommended daily amounts of food or adequate nutrition, the children can suffer from things like an iron deficiency. They are also very active at this stage and need good nutrient ion in order to think and play.


Developing Healthy Eating Habits
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“Teacher and parents have a great influence on what children learn to eat. Modeling healthy eating to children of all ages can help children develop healthy eating habits themselves” (Robertson p313, 2007). If healthy food choices are presented to a child the child will have a positive perspective on what healthy foods are. Because children are “influenced by what they see and hear” (Robertson p313, 2007), teachers should take the opportunity to teach and review the Food Pyramid guide to their children. Educational materials can be used to teach children about healthy eating habits by having circle time, watching educational videos on nutrition, and cooking projects. Another way to provide positive food and healthy eating is when it is snack or meal time the teacher can sit down with the students and talk about the food they are eating.


Making cooking fun is one way to involve children in learning about healthy eating. It is fun for the whole family or class. Letting children be apart of things will keep and hold their attention. Here are some recipes that the whole class or families can do together.

Funny Face Pizza

Ingredients:
English muffins
Pizza sauce
Grated mozzarella cheese
Blanch broccoli spears
Sliced cooked sausage or pepperoni
Slice mushrooms
Roasted peppers
Black olives

Preheat oven to 500 degrees
2. Place English muffins on cookie sheet pan
3. Spoon 3 table spoons of pizza sauce and spread over English muffin. Sprinkle small amount of grated mozzarella cheese. Arrange pizza toppers to make a funny face: Broccoli or sausage for hair, mushrooms for a nose, pepperoni eyes, and black olives for pupils. Add more cheese on top to help secure the toppings.
4. Place cookie sheet in oven and back until bubbly; 7 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and enjoy. Serve with apple sauce
The nutritional value of this recipe includes grains, dairy, vegetables, meats and fruit.
This recipe was found at www.familyfun.com



Banana Dog

Ingredients
Whole-grain hot dog bun
Peanut butter
Wheat germ or sunflower seeds
Banana
Jam
Milk

1. Spread a whole-grain hot dog bun with peanut butter, sprinkle with wheat germ or sunflower seeds and top a whole peeled banana and squiggle of jam. Add a side of milk to make a healthy snack.
This recipe follows the nutritional guidelines. It provides grain, meat dairy and a fruit.
I found this recipe at http://www.familyfun.com/


Sandwich on a Stick

Ingredients:
Bread
Cheese
Lunch meat (1/2 inch thick)
Grape tomatoes
Lettuces
Pickles
Olives
1. Cut up cubes of bread, cheese, and lunch meat.

2. Slide the cube of bread onto a skewer with the other ingredients followed by another cube of bread.
3. Set out a side of mayo, mustard, or another type of dipping sause
Serve with a fruit cup
This recipe is fun to make and fun to eat. It meet all the nutritional needs for a nutritious meal. It has a serving of fruits , grains, dairy, meats, and vegetables
I found recipe at http://www.familyfun.com/

References

Robertson C, (2007). Thomson Delmar Learning, Safety, Nutrition, & Health in Early Education

http://www.familyfun.com