Nutritional Practices Handout
The nutrition of infants and toddlers is of key importance in forming a healthy and disease-resistant organism. Although parents’ role in this issue is undeniable, it should be recognized that family meals do not always have a positive effect on a child’s health (Verhage et al., 2018). Children from an early age usually attend childcare centers and kindergartens, where care tutors and teachers provide care, which means that taste preferences, food choices, and potential allergies known to parents may not be in the staff’s attention.
(Tips to help children, 2020) Such a problem needs to be addressed, and it should be recognized that modern methods of feeding children outside the home are highly tolerant, courteous, and personalized. According to Sisson et al. (2017), a child gets more useful food in kindergartens than at home. The teachers understand the responsibility they take and do their best to ensure that the child gets a nutritious meal that is appropriate for his or her individual needs. It should be noted that the number of methods of nutrition is quite large, and each nutritionist can promote their development. Nevertheless, in the context of the whole state, local health authorities, and child protection structures make recommendations, following which will significantly increase the chances of a child’s healthy functional development. Such methodologies and support for children with eating disorders will be discussed in this handout.
Develop Taste Preferences for Infants
The main idea of this method is to ensure that the child gets a variety of food from an early age. According to Healthy Eating Research (2017), every person is born with innate taste preferences, but because of the poverty of the food diet, a baby may not know what they really like. For example, every child must eat at least two tablespoons of vegetables a day (USDA, 2020). Thus, a baby may not like the taste of broccoli, and then they will think that all vegetables are not good. To avoid this situation, Healthy Eating Research recommends offering a child a variety of foods and ways to serve them. For instance, mashed potatoes can be crushed or with lumps; broccoli can be boiled or fresh; fish can be served with rice or beans. Ultimately, this approach ensures that the child will get used to nutritional diversity and that they will be able to develop his or her food preferences from an early age.
Teaching Toddlers the Culture of Nutrition
Creating balanced meals for toddlers, 2020) When a child is old enough to choose food, it is crucial to convey to them that some foods may be dangerous to their health. The CDC reports that the number of obese children has been growing steadily in recent decades, and the problem is justified by the low nutritional culture among children (“Tips to help,” 2020). Children under five years of age should be aware of the rules of a nutritious diet, the elimination of fatty and salty foods, and the abandonment of carbonated beverages (USDA, 2020). Specific steps may include conducting training programs at the childcare center, including visiting Californian farmers’ markets to explore various healthy foods (Johannessen et al., 2018). Undoubtedly, A child who has received enough information about nutrition culture at this age is guaranteed to grow up to be a healthier and more responsible citizen.
Supporting Nutritional Violations
For children whose bodies cannot tolerate certain foods or whose physical capacities are limited, it is recommended to use the following notes.
- It is essential that educators, parents, and the child participate actively together.
- Tell children about unfamiliar food, so they do not be afraid;
- Learn about the child’s medical contraindications so that they do not provoke allergies;
- Carefully study the food composition before cooking;
- Offer nutritional supplements for the child if he or she refuses to take fruits or vegetables;
- If the child needs some particular device to eat, install it.
- Arrange themed days that only eat specific foods, such as fish.
References
Creating balanced meals for toddlers. (2020).
Healthy Eating Research. (2017). Feeding guidelines for infants and young toddlers: A responsive parenting approach [PDF document].
Johannessen, B., Helland, S. H., Bere, E., Øverby, N. C., & Fegran, L. (2018). “A bumpy road”: Kindergarten staff’s experiences with an intervention to promote healthy diets in toddlers. Appetite, 127, 37-43.
Sisson, S. B., Kiger, A. C., Anundson, K. C., Rasbold, A. H., Krampe, M., Campbell, J.,… & Hoffman, L. (2017). Differences in preschool-age children’s dietary intake between meals consumed at childcare and at home. Preventive Medicine Reports, 6, 33-37.
Tips to help children maintain a healthy weight. (2020). Web.
USDA. (2020). Child meal pattern [PDF document]. Web.
USDA. (2020). Infant meal pattern [PDF document]. Web.
Verhage, C. L., Gillebaart, M., van der Veek, S. M., & Vereijken, C. M. (2018). The relation between family meals and health of infants and toddlers: A review. Appetite, 127, 97-109.