PROVIDING GOOD NUTRITION

Chapter 10

Practical Considerations in Planning Nutritious Meals

• Cost

• Convenience

• Facilities

• Culture

• Children’s preferences

• Nutritional needs specific to each age group in care (infant/toddler/preschooler)

INFANTS

• Grow faster than at any other time in life• Breastfeeding is nutritionally preferable

– Milk can be refrigerated or frozen– See Table 10.2

• Breastfeeding limitations:– If mother has a communicable disease– If mother is taking meds that can harm infant– If mother is substance abuser

INFANTS, cont’d

• Bottle feeding– See Table 10.3

• Introducing solids– 4 - 6 months– Introduce small amounts of 1 food at a time and

wait about a week to see if allergies develop– See Table 10.4

INFANTS, cont’d

• Introduce iron-fortified rice cereal, mixed with formula, as first “solid” food

• Then introduce pureed vegetables

• Then introduce pureed fruit

• Infants can eat egg yolks, but not whites

• See Tables 10.5 and 10.6

TODDLERS

• Child’s search for autonomy affects eating

• Ellyn Satter’s guidelines:– 1. Adult controls what food comes into the

house and how it is prepared and presented– 2. Adult makes sure child comes to meals and

behaves. Adult controls times of meals & snacks.

– 3. Child controls whether & how much is eaten

Toddlers, cont’d

• See Tables 10.8 & 9

• Toddlers are erratic eaters

• Choking foods must be avoided

• Milk: toddlers should not drink non-fat milk• Milk should be limited to 24 oz/day to avoid

“milk anemia”

PRESCHOOLERS

• Prefer familiar foods

• Are influenced by media and friends– 50% of advertised foods are high-fat, high-

sugar, empty calorie snack foods

• Are also influenced by parents and teachers– Role mode– Help with selection and preparation

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

• Many special needs children have nutritional needs that can be met in an inclusive daycare setting

• The Americans with Disabilities Act says we cannot deny special needs children if we can reasonably accommodate their needs

EXERCISE

• Exercise is an important part of diet, and is included in the new US nutritional pyramid.

Children need adequate time for gross motor play each day

IMPLICATIONS

• Nutritional education for staff and parents

• Role modeling for kids, staff, and parents

• Advocacy to help get low-income parents and staff into food programs (WIC)

• Cultural and economic sensitivity are important for influencing others