Presentation One

Food and Eating in the Under Fives

Debbie Knight RD
Mayday Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

Good food and nutrition - 3 to remember

Pre-school children have a high energy and nutrient requirement relative to their size
They have a small stomach and a relatively under-developed gut which prevents them from consuming large quantities of food at a time and sometimes causes harmless bowel problems
They have a variable appetite, related to fluctuations in growth rate and level of physical activity

Healthy eating

Pre-school children need small frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. It is the types and variety of foods that are eaten each time that ensure that nutrient requirements are met and that the diet is nutritionally balanced. The diet needs an appropriate intake of foods from the four main food groups.

Four main food groups

Bread, potatoes and cereal
Fruit and vegetables
Milk and dairy foods
Meat, fish and alternatives

Bread, other cereals and potatoes

These provide carbohydrate, fibre, B vits and some calcium and iron
Have a mix of white and w/grain - can 'overfill' young guts and cause deficiencies if overdone!

Fruit and vegetables

These provide vit C, antioxidants, fibre, potassium
Fresh , frozen, dries, canned, juiced they all count
Establishes good habits for later life!
Aim for 5 a day!!

Any of the following would be a suitable portion for a child under 5 years:

25 ml orange or apple juice diluted with water
Small banana
Half a sliced apple or pear
Peeled satsuma
Small bowl of canned fruit in juice
Small box of raisins
40 g portion of broccoli, carrots, sweetcorn, peas, green beans or tomatoes

Milk and dairy foods

Provide calcium, protein, B vits, zinc
Choose a mixture of high fat and low fat
Semi skimmed at 2 if eating well, skimmed at 5 if eating well, not before

Meat, fish and alternatives

Provide iron, zinc, magnesium and B 12
Eat a range including meat and oily fish
Vegetarian – mixture of non meat sources to get range of nutrients i.e. beans, nuts, eggs, cheese, seeds
Problems only often with strict vegans
'Normal' kids often just don't eat 'high quality' meat i.e. pre formed meat substitutes

Foods containing fat and foods containing sugar

Sweets, chocolates, cakes, crisps, biscuits should not be everyday foods in terms of quantity
Treats should be treats not part of daily diet
Treats or Taboo foods ???? become very attractive!! Family's eating habits

Appropriate snacks can be an important part of a child's overall balanced diet

Snack foods should compliment meals to ensure a good balance from the different food groups, so there is a good intake of all nutrients. For example, if cereal and milk is eaten at breakfast, a small banana makes a good snack. If toast and jam is eaten for breakfast, a yogurt makes a good snack.

Snacks should be treated like mini meals and children should be expected to sit and eat, rather than continuing their activities with a snack in their hand.

Good snacks??

Some ideas for healthier snacks include:

Slices of apple, banana, lychees, kiwi fruit, strawberries, satsuma, grapes, raisins, baby carrots, celery sticks, scone, fruit muffin, scotch pancake, currant bun, apple cake, carrot cake, fruit yogurt or flavoured milk drink, dried fruits, raisins, pretzels, bread sticks with low fat cheese, water melon and cherry tomatoes.

Drinks??

Milk and water are the best drinks to serve between meals. Sweetened drinks, including diluted fruit juice should only be consumed with, rather than between, meals to reduce the risk of dental problems. Consumption of sugar-free fizzy drinks and fruit-based drinks should also be confined to mealtimes because the high acidity level of these drinks can cause dental erosion.

Drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners…the argument rages on.....

Anaemia... a growing problem?

2 portions a day-preferably animal source
If vegetable source, increase absorption with glass of pure fruit juice
Liver good source but very high in Vitamin A- once a month?
Cereal often fortified with iron
Oily fish, high in iron and may help brain development/concentration.

A checklist for being healthy

Eat breakfast every day
Eat fruit and vegetables daily
Choose snacks that will provide nutrients to compliment what is eaten during meals
Avoid snacks and drinks with a high sugar content between meals
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated
Be physically active every day
Brush teeth twice a day and visit your dentist regularly

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Tuesday, 6 January, 2009



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Printer Friendly Page Business Community Information History Learning and Skills Leisure Links Living Visiting Croydon Search About the Site			Living Adult Services Advice Services Borough Map Children/Young People Elections Environment Conservation Giveaway Health Services Housing Religion Police Consultation Group Public Services Safer Croydon What's On Presentation One Food and Eating in the Under Fives Debbie Knight RD Mayday Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Good food and nutrition - 3 to remember Pre-school children have a high energy and nutrient requirement relative to their size They have a small stomach and a relatively under-developed gut which prevents them from consuming large quantities of food at a time and sometimes causes harmless bowel problems They have a variable appetite, related to fluctuations in growth rate and level of physical activity Healthy eating Pre-school children need small frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. It is the types and variety of foods that are eaten each time that ensure that nutrient requirements are met and that the diet is nutritionally balanced. The diet needs an appropriate intake of foods from the four main food groups. Four main food groups Bread, potatoes and cereal Fruit and vegetables Milk and dairy foods Meat, fish and alternatives Bread, other cereals and potatoes These provide carbohydrate, fibre, B vits and some calcium and iron Have a mix of white and w/grain - can 'overfill' young guts and cause deficiencies if overdone! Fruit and vegetables These provide vit C, antioxidants, fibre, potassium Fresh , frozen, dries, canned, juiced they all count Establishes good habits for later life! Aim for 5 a day!! Any of the following would be a suitable portion for a child under 5 years: 25 ml orange or apple juice diluted with water Small banana Half a sliced apple or pear Peeled satsuma Small bowl of canned fruit in juice Small box of raisins 40 g portion of broccoli, carrots, sweetcorn, peas, green beans or tomatoes Milk and dairy foods Provide calcium, protein, B vits, zinc Choose a mixture of high fat and low fat Semi skimmed at 2 if eating well, skimmed at 5 if eating well, not before Meat, fish and alternatives Provide iron, zinc, magnesium and B 12 Eat a range including meat and oily fish Vegetarian – mixture of non meat sources to get range of nutrients i.e. beans, nuts, eggs, cheese, seeds Problems only often with strict vegans 'Normal' kids often just don't eat 'high quality' meat i.e. pre formed meat substitutes Foods containing fat and foods containing sugar Sweets, chocolates, cakes, crisps, biscuits should not be everyday foods in terms of quantity Treats should be treats not part of daily diet Treats or Taboo foods ???? become very attractive!! Family's eating habits Appropriate snacks can be an important part of a child's overall balanced diet Snack foods should compliment meals to ensure a good balance from the different food groups, so there is a good intake of all nutrients. For example, if cereal and milk is eaten at breakfast, a small banana makes a good snack. If toast and jam is eaten for breakfast, a yogurt makes a good snack. Snacks should be treated like mini meals and children should be expected to sit and eat, rather than continuing their activities with a snack in their hand. Good snacks?? Some ideas for healthier snacks include: Slices of apple, banana, lychees, kiwi fruit, strawberries, satsuma, grapes, raisins, baby carrots, celery sticks, scone, fruit muffin, scotch pancake, currant bun, apple cake, carrot cake, fruit yogurt or flavoured milk drink, dried fruits, raisins, pretzels, bread sticks with low fat cheese, water melon and cherry tomatoes. Drinks?? Milk and water are the best drinks to serve between meals. Sweetened drinks, including diluted fruit juice should only be consumed with, rather than between, meals to reduce the risk of dental problems. Consumption of sugar-free fizzy drinks and fruit-based drinks should also be confined to mealtimes because the high acidity level of these drinks can cause dental erosion. Drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners…the argument rages on..... Anaemia... a growing problem? 2 portions a day-preferably animal source If vegetable source, increase absorption with glass of pure fruit juice Liver good source but very high in Vitamin A- once a month? Cereal often fortified with iron Oily fish, high in iron and may help brain development/concentration. A checklist for being healthy Eat breakfast every day Eat fruit and vegetables daily Choose snacks that will provide nutrients to compliment what is eaten during meals Avoid snacks and drinks with a high sugar content between meals Drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated Be physically active every day Brush teeth twice a day and visit your dentist regularly Back to Recipes and Presentations


			Tuesday, 6 January, 2009
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