Transcript right nutrients

CHILDHOOD
NUTRITION
Prenatal Nutrition
• Proper development during the prenatal
period depends on the right nutrients.
• This responsibility falls on the mother.
Prenatal Nutrition Cont.
• The major nutrients that a mother
needs during pregnancy are:
– Protein
– Iron
– Calcium
– Folic Acid
• Pregnant women need folic acid within the first
28 days to prevent neural tube defects, such
as spina-bifida.
Prenatal Nutrition Cont.
• Excellent food sources include foods,
such as: fish, poultry, meat, eggs, dry
beans, enriched breads and cereals,
fruits, and dark green vegetables.
Newborns to Infants
(0 to 18 months)
Feeding Newborns
• There are two choices for feeding newborn
infants:
– Breast feeding
– Bottle feeding
• The protein in breast milk is more easily
digested and absorbed than cow’s milk.
• The mother’s breast milk provides many
essential nutrients and anti-bodies which
help protect the baby from infection.
Feeding Newborns Cont.
• A woman who is breast-feeding should
eat the same kinds of foods
recommended during pregnancy and
should drink plenty of liquids.
• After the first four to six months, the
baby will be ready for “solid” food.
Warning for Infants!
• Never give honey to infants younger
than 1 year of age. Honey has a spore
that produces Botulism. Infants do not
have the enzymes in their digestive
tracts necessary to prevent growth of
this bacteria within their bodies. IT CAN
BE FATAL!
• Children have very small stomachs that
cannot hold very much food at one
time. Therefore, they need betweenmeal snacks to help supply enough
energy and nutrients. Nutrient dense
snacks could include: juice, yogurt,
milk, fruits, vegetables, cooked meat,
unsweetened cereal, whole grain
crackers
• Introduce foods one at a time, not all at
once.
Toddlers
(18 months to 4 years)
• Serve foods that vary in color, texture, shape, size and
temperature. If the food has eye appeal, children will be more
likely to eat it and to meet their nutritional needs.
• Eat meals with children. Be a role – model for good eating
habits and behavior.
• Avoid using food as a reward or punishment. It gives children
the wrong impression about the purpose of food.
• Don’t encourage children to become members of the “cleanyour-plate society.” insisting that they finish all their food, even
after their hunger is satisfied, can lead to overeating in later
years. (Eating habits and attitudes of children usually DO NOT
change in adulthood.)
• When possible, let children choose
what foods they want to eat for some
meals.
• Teach children as soon as possible,
how to prepare nutrient-rich foods by
and for themselves
• Children’s taste-buds are very
sensitive. Avoid serving extremely
spicy, sweet or sour foods.
Childhood Nutrition
(4 years to 11 years)
• Follow the Food Guide Pyramid for Kids. It
states that every child needs:
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Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Milk
Meat and Beans
• Continue to get nutrient rich foods in
your diet.
• Include 60 minutes of exercise a day.