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Similar to Nutrition for-young-children-workshop-powerpoint-updated-dec-2011
Nutrition for-young-children-workshop-powerpoint-updated-dec-2011
- 1. Eat Right, GrowStrongEat Right, Grow Strong Nutrition for Young ChildrenNutrition for Young Children
- 2. ObjectivesObjectives At the endof this workshop participants will be able to… Describe why good nutrition is so important to young children. Explain in detail the components of a child care environment that promote healthy eating. Describe the role of child care staff in helping shape children’s eating behaviors. List some things staff can do in their classroom to help children develop healthy eating behaviors.
- 3. Let’s ReviewLet’s Review Morethan 1 in 4 preschoolers are overweight or obese Being overweight is a risk to physical and mental health Poor nutrition contributes to weight gain Child care providers can help keep children healthy
- 4. NutritionNutrition Young children needto eat nutritious foods because their bodies are growing rapidly. Children may receive between 50% and 75% of their daily calories at the child care facility. Children learn healthy (or unhealthy) eating habits at a very young age.
- 5. DiscussionDiscussion What have younoticed about the eating habits of children in your center? Have they changed over time?
- 6. What does allthis mean forWhat does all this mean for Child Care Providers?Child Care Providers? Providers have an important influence on children’s eating habits: The development of early eating habits and attitudes Children look up to their teachers and often “model” their own eating habits based on watching others. Providers can make changes to create a better “food environment” so it’s easier for children and staff to make healthier choices.
- 7. Nutrition ActivityNutrition Activity Childcare providers are role models for healthy eating. How can you be a good role model for the children?
- 9. Fruits and VegetablesFruitsand Vegetables A variety of fruits and vegetables give children vitamins and minerals that keep them healthy and help them grow. Fruits and vegetables are “nutrient dense” – lots of nutrients but few calories, unless too much butter, cheese, or meat fat is added. 100% fruit and vegetable juices are good but less nutritious and filling than the foods themselves.
- 10.
- 11. Make eating fruitsand vegetables fun!Make eating fruits and vegetables fun! Ways to get kids to LOVE their fruits and vegetables (or at least try them!)… Serve them creatively. Have a party for your senses. Incorporate them into lessons by trying fruits and vegetables from different places around the world. Set a good example.
- 12. Liz’s Childcare Liz Hamilton(Owner) Tooele County, Utah (435) 882-1813
- 13. Lisa’s Daycare Lisa Schaeffer(Owner) Tooele County, Utah (435) 830-6469
- 14. Meats and FatsMeatsand Fats Most sausage, bacon, and hot dogs have a lot of fat, sodium, and calories, so consuming too much can lead to future health problems. Look for lower fat baked options and serve the high fat versions less often. French fries and chicken nuggets are also high in saturated fat and calories. Kids will also enjoy lower fat foods like baked potatoes and baked chicken. Consider occasionally replacing meat with beans for a low fat option with lots of fiber and protein.
- 15. Ready, Set, GrowChildcare and Preschool Debbie Reid (Owner) Tooele County, Utah (435) 840-8006
- 16. Building Blocks forLife, Inc. Danielle Camp (teacher) Tooele County, Utah (435) 882-4038
- 17. Grains and SugarsGrainsand Sugars Fiber aids digestion and helps children feel full. Try and incorporate high-fiber whole grain foods at least once every day. Sugary and salty foods have a lot of “empty” calories— they are often high in fat and calories but have little nutritional value. Serve these only occasionally. No added sugars in infant foods or beverages.
- 18. Building Blocks forLife, Inc. Rachel Phillips (teacher) Tooele County, Utah (435) 882-4038
- 19. Liz’s Childcare Liz Hamilton(Owner) Tooele County, Utah (435) 882-1813
- 20. Lisa’s Daycare Lisa Schaeffer(Owner) Tooele County, Utah (435) 830-6469
- 21. DiscussionDiscussion Muffins Frosted flakes Breakfast cerealbar Cookies Poptart Chips How would you makeover these breakfast and snack items to incorporate whole grains?
- 22. BeveragesBeverages Water is thebest choice for thirsty children. Model good habits for the children by choosing water first. Soda and fruit drinks are full of sugar and “empty calories” (few nutrients, many calories). Serving low fat milk with meals and snacks provides calcium but doesn’t add many calories.
- 23. Beverage MythsBeverage Myths Myth1: Whole milk is best for all kids Under 1: breast milk or formula 1 to 2: Whole milk ; continue breastmilk at parent request Over 2: 1% or skim milk
- 24. Beverage MythsBeverage Myths Myth2: Juice is always the best option Whole fruits have more nutrients Under 6: 4-6 oz. a day of 100% juice No juice for infants under 6 months; less than 4 oz/day from 6-12 months – in cup only Not a good choice to quench thirst
- 25. Menus and VarietyMenusand Variety Serving a variety of foods helps to meet a child’s nutrition needs. Cycle menus of 3 weeks or longer may help provide variety. Children may need to see a new food at least 10 times before they’ll actually try it. Don’t give up! Including food in your menus from a variety of cultures can make meals more fun and interesting for children.
- 26. Feeding PracticesFeeding Practices Gentlyencourage, but don’t force children to try a bite of a new food. Forcing children to clean their plates can lead to overeating and weight problems. Offer healthy foods to children and then let them decide if and how much to eat.
- 27. Feeding PracticesFeeding Practices Makemeal and snack time as stress free as possible and try to provide enough time to eat. Try to avoid using food to reward good behavior or make a child feel better about something.
- 28. DiscussionDiscussion These recommendations aregreat but how can we put them into practice? Let’s go over some possible scenarios. How can we help children avoid developing unhealthy habits?
- 29. Foods Offered Outsideof RegularFoods Offered Outside of Regular Meals and SnacksMeals and Snacks Ask parents to help celebrate birthdays, and holidays with healthier options than candy, cake, and ice cream. Healthier sweets like fruit, popsicles, and low-fat muffins are great alternatives. If your facility has fundraisers, consider campaigns that involve healthier foods or non-food items. This sends a message that you care about good health.
- 30. Supporting Healthy EatingSupportingHealthy Eating If possible, serve meals family-style where teachers join the children at the table. Teachers can show that healthy eating is fun by modeling healthy choices and helping to create a pleasant social environment around the table. Soda machines in your facility send the message that soda is OK, and make it harder for staff and children to choose healthier options
- 31. Things to RememberThingsto Remember Children will eat! They are capable of regulating their food intake. They generally react negatively to new foods, but will usually accept them with time and experience. Caregivers can either support or disrupt children’s food acceptance and regulation.
- 32. Nutrition Education forStaff,Nutrition Education for Staff, Children, and ParentsChildren, and Parents If children hear the same health messages from parents and from child care providers, they’re more likely to listen. There are several curricula available to help staff incorporate nutrition education into lesson plans Look for opportunities to provide nutrition education for staff and earn continuing education credits at the same time.
- 33. Nutrition education activitiesNutritioneducation activities for childrenfor children What they can do Measure, stir, beat Peel, cut, grate Hot vs. cold Compare quantities Set the table What they can learn Fine motor skills Follow directions Observing Enhance social skills Sorting, classifying skills Preschoolers can cook and learn!!
- 34. Nutrition PolicyNutrition Policy Awritten policy on food and nutrition: Tells parents and staff that these are important issues and that you care about the health of the children in your facility. Helps guide decisions and choices your facility makes every day. Makes it easier to explain your approach to parents and staff.
- 35. Guidelines may beconfusing Talk to your CACFP representative A variety of foods meet guidelines, both healthy and unhealthy choices Food Program guidelinesFood Program guidelines
- 36. How to Makea Healthy LunchHow to Make a Healthy Lunch Healthy Baked, skinless chicken breast Steamed carrots Fresh strawberries Whole wheat dinner roll Skim milk Unhealthy Chicken nuggets Tator tots Canned fruit cocktail in heavy syrup Slice of white bread Whole milk What is the difference?
- 37. Nutrition ActivityNutrition Activity Whatchanges can you make in your classroom?
Editor's Notes
- #2 Welcome to the Eat Right, Grow Strong, Nutrition for Young Children workshop! This is the second workshop in the TOP Star online training series about preventing childhood overweight. This workshop was developed by University of North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the NAP SACC Program. NAPP SACC is an acronym for The Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care. This workshop was revised by the Utah Department of Health in which national data was updated and Utah-specific data included for the purpose of the Top Star program. The set of revised workshops is referred to as the TOP Star training and is approved for professional development credit, 10 hours of Career Ladder Credit in levels 1 health and safety or levels 5-8. While you listen to this presentation, you may want to boost your metabolism while learning by getting up out of your chair and stretching or doing some strength training exercises such as crunches, squats, tricep dips and/or modified push ups. This workshop focuses on preventing childhood overweight through promoting healthy eating in child care.
- #3 Workshop objectives: At the end of this workshop participants will be able to… Describe why good nutrition is so important to young children. Explain in detail the components of a child care environment that promote healthy eating. Describe the role of child care staff in helping shape children’s eating behaviors. List some things staff can do in their classroom to help children develop healthy eating behaviors.
- #4 To review, more than 1 in 4 preschoolers is overweight or obese. Being overweight puts the childs physical and mental health at risk. As we talked about in workshop #1, there are many factors involved in how much we weigh. One of those factors is poor nutrition, which is what we will discuss today. Some reasons why obesity in young children is on the rise is because of limited intake of fruits and vegetables, too much intake of sugary beverages and fast food, predominance of convenience foods, lack of family meals. Child care providers can help keep children healthy. What percentage of daily calories do most children eat a child care? PAUSE
- #5 Children may receive between 50-75% of their daily calories at child care. Therefore, it is important that the foods served are nutritious. Also, it is very important for young children to eat nutritious food because their bodies are growing rapidly. We need to help children develop healthy eating habits at a very young age! It’s harder to break a bad habit than to develop a good one from the beginning.
- #6 What have you noticed about the eating habits of children in your facility? How much do the children seem to know about good nutrition? PAUSE What misconceptions do they have? PAUSE Do you think parents are paying more or less attention to healthy eating than they used to? PAUSE How willing are children to eat vegetables and fruits? PAUSE
- #7 Parents and families have the major responsibility for a child’s eating habits, but providers can influence habits and attitudes. Children are often more likely to try new foods and eat a variety of foods when they are AWAY from home. Children look up to their teacher s and often model their own eating habits based on watching others. Day care facilities can be examples of a better food environment compared to what the child is given at home. Its easier to make healthy choices when those are the only options!
- #8 Activity: See “Are you a good role model?” handout. Complete and then discuss.
- #9 Take a minute to fill out this handout to help you determine ways you can be a role model in the classroom. We will be discussing these topics in detail in this presentation.
- #10 Fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense, which means that they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals but few calories to prevent weight gain, unless too much butter, cheese or meat fat is added Fruits and vegetables that are dark and/or bright in color have the most nutrients in them, or are the most “nutrient dense.” Such as oranges, red peppers, pumpkin, berries, dark green lettuce, etc. Each color contains different vitamins and minerals so when serving fruits and vegetables throughout the day try to include every color of the rainbow white/brown, orange/yellow, red, purple, green to ensure you get all types of vitamins and minerals. If you make stir fry or salad, try to include all the colors in the dish and then talk to the kids about eating from the rainbow. Try serving fruits and vegetables without adding ranch dressing, butter, lard, sugar, or other sauces. These not only add calories and fat, but also mask the taste of the fruit/vegetable so the child never learns what it should taste like by itself. It is easy to “drink” a lot of calories without knowing it. 100% juice contains vitamins but the whole fruit has even more and also tends to be more filling due to the fiber in the whole fruit.
- #11 Doesn’t this poster from learning zone express make fruits and vegetables look delicious? Strive to offer all the colors from the rainbow!
- #12 What are ways to get kids to LOVE to eat their fruits and vegetables (or at least try them)? Most of us grew up thinking of fruits and vegetables as the green things on our plate that we had to eat before we got dessert. Lets break this thinking pattern by making fruits and vegetables more appealing to children. Serve them creatively. Let kids make their own “ants on a log” for snacks by spreading a thin layer of peanut butter on celery and putting raisins on it. Make it a game. See how many colors you can eat in one meal. Make faces with cut up cucumbers and zucchini (eyes, nose), carrots (hair), and apple slices (mouths) on a plate or have them decorate a face on PB toast. Try serving a platter of vegetables family style for lunch, cut the veggies with a crinkle cutter knife or cookie cutters, give the kids toothpicks to make their own veggie kabobs. Have a party for your senses. Let kids use all of their senses to discover and sample different fruits and vegetables. Together, look at, smell, touch, listen to the crunch, and taste different fruits and vegetables. Try new and unusual fruits from different places. (mangos, starfruit, papaya, kiwi) Eat fruits and vegetables in front of the children and comment about how good they taste. Kids learn eating habits by example! Remember that some children need to be introduced to a food at least 10 times before they will try it! Don’t give up! On the following two slides you will hear day care providers share ideas on how they have incorporated more fruits and vegetables into their day care menu.
- #13 I'm Liz Hamilton and I am the owner and operator of Liz ' s Childcare in Tooele, Utah. I have recently participated in the Top Star program and one of the goals that I worked on and still use in my childcare is bringing in and serving more fruits and veggies to the kids. I have achieved this goal by making sure I have canned and fresh fruits and veggies in storage at all times. I also make sure I buy fresh, dried, or canned fruits and veggies every weekend and I watch for Wal-Mart to have new and exciting fruits that we haven't tried before. If I find some, I will talk about the new food, who eats it, and where it originates from. The kids love to learn about food! Another way I have found that the kids eat their fruits and veggies better is by making their food fun. I make raw veggie plates look like silly faces, place berries and milk in bright bowls to make it look attractive, read a book associated with the fruit or veggie being served, and talk about what kind of animals eat the food being served and let them make believe they are that animal. In addition to the fun stuff, I have found that as I have continued to serve the fruits and veggies, after time, they have accepted it more and have learned to like them! It took time, but it was well worth the complaints as they are in good habits now!
- #14 My name is Lisa Schaeffer, I am the owner/ preschool teacher of Lisa’s Daycare in Tooele County. Things I have done to increase fruit and vegetable consumption at my facility are Put plates of veggies out just before meal time. Allow children to much on them just prior to setting out the rest of the meal. Putting these fresh fruits and veggies out when children’s hunger is at a peak allows children to make good healthy choices when they are most likely to eat. It can also allow them to be happy about waiting the last 3 minutes before lunch is done because they get a great snack first. Use a colored ranch dressing that has a little food coloring added to it and allow children to choose what color they would like to paint their veggies today. This particular idea allows children to have two important components 1 choice, and 2 creativity. They love to paint and create and if they get to choose the color they feel important and a part of meal prep. Allow children to use toothpicks or chop sticks to pick up or jab at pieces of fruit. This gives children a fun alternative to the same old thing. They think it is fun to have a new challenge and break from the same old thing. They also are able to practice that small muscle coordination that they are all working so hard on.
- #15 Some “kid friendly” meats are high in fat and calories such as bologna and hot dogs. To reduce the fat and calories but provide equal nutrients try using a lean ham or turkey lunchmeat or turkey hot dogs instead of beef. Fried foods like chicken nuggets and french fries are usually big favorites with kids. Try to find lower fat baked versions of these foods, serve them less often or make your own. Another approach to provide the nutrients but reduce the fat and calories is to replace some of the meat in recipes with whole or mashed up beans. This will provide the kids with added fiber as well as protein. Try adding beans to mac and cheese. What are methods of preparation that your facility can use that are healthier than frying? PAUSE(baking, broiling, steaming, etc) What are some other foods that your facility could start serving that might be healthier than those served now? PAUSE What are some barriers/benefits that you see in making these changes? PAUSE REMEMBER some children need to be introduced to a new food 10 times before accepting it! On the following two slides you will hear day care providers share ideas on how they have incorporated more lowfat meats and beans into their day care menu.
- #16 My name is Debbie Reid. I am the owner of Ready, Set, Grow Childcare and Preschool in Tooele County. I decided to sit down and review my menu to incorporate more low fat meats and beans into my program. After reviewing my menu with the Top Star Program, I realized that I was feeding the children too many fatty foods. So I immediately decided to replace the chicken nuggets, fish sticks and sandwiches with low fat alternatives. I changed to low fat sandwich meats and started making my own chicken nuggets which I bake instead of fry. I also added different kinds of beans to my menu. I love to see the children try different foods. There are so many different kinds of beans that it is not hard to find some favorites. I have found that they also enjoy the homemade chicken nuggets over the store bought ones. Another positive aspect of this plan is that I am not throwing out near as much food because they eat so much better now. So, all in all the children are getting much better nutrition and I feel very good about that.
- #17 My name is Danielle Camp. I am an employee at Building Blocks for Life childcare center in Tooele County. I will share some of the ways we have started incorporating more low-fat meats in our meals. In our spaghetti and in our tacos we now use ground turkey instead of ground beef. The children do not notice, they eat it all the same. We also started using beans to make bean and cheese burritos. The children were so excited it was new to them. To help the children learn more about nutrition I started to incorporate more in our daily activity and our circle time. I made matching games of all the different foods. We made cookies the other day and I included beans in them. When we made them I got weird looks and “I won’t eat those teacher, they have gross beans in them”. But, after they were cooked they could not see them and my kids loved them. I try to do a food sensory thing at least twice a month. I like to do different things with new food they have never seen or touched or tasted before. Some of the children like the new foods and some just don’t. But we make a game of it so all of them love to play. We also read books on food and nutrition.
- #18 Fiber aids in digestion and helps keep kids full. Try to add in more high-fiber whole grain foods into your menu. Foods considered high in fiber contain at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Foods considered good sources of fiber have at least 2.5 grams of fiber per serving. Sugary and salty foods have a lot of “empty” calories, they are high in fat and calories but have little nutritional value. Try to limit serving sugary and salty foods. Breakfast and snacks are often where providers could serve more whole grains. These are often the meals where high sugar items are served as well. Look at the ingredients list to see if any of the grains listed contain the whole grain not just refined or enriched grains. Some ingredients you should look for are, whole wheat , oatmeal, graham flour, brown or wild rice etc. Some examples of incorporating more whole grains into your menu are: Whole wheat bread or one side of the sandwich white and the other side wheat. Try different brands of whole wheat bread, some are smooth and moist and more “kid friendly” than others. Brown rice or a mixture of white and brown Whole wheat pasta or a mixture of whole wheat and white Cereals – Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Wheat Chex, Shredded Wheat, Bran Flakes, low-fat granola Crackers- new varieties made with whole grains which are a better choice than regular crackers. High sugar/fat breakfast and snack examples: Cereals-try mixing a low sugar cereal with a high sugar cereal to reduce the sugar, kix and trix Muffins/biscuits Cereal/breakfast bars Poptarts/Honey Buns Cookies Foods and beverages with added sugars are not to be provided to infants. This includes fruit drinks, kool-aide, soda, cake, cookies, ice cream and desserts. On the following three slides you will hear day care providers share ideas on how they have incorporated more whole grains into their day care menu.
- #19 My name is Rachel Phillips. I am the Assistant Director of Building Blocks for Life daycare in Tooele County. Things I have done to incorporate more whole grains into our menu is purchasing cereals that contain whole grains such as Cherrios and Lucky Charms. We started using whole grain pasta for spaghetti. The kids didn’t notice when we made the change, they still love it! For sandwiches we use whole grain breads. The change the children enjoy the most is using whole grain tortillas for tacos and bean burritos. I had a parent come ask me how we made our tacos. Her child had told her that she was making tacos wrong and that they wanted tacos like the ones at daycare. She was surprised that the differences were whole grain tortillas and ground turkey!
- #20 I'm Liz Hamilton and I am the owner and operator of Liz ' s Childcare in Tooele, Utah. I have recently participated in the Top Star program and one of the goals that I worked on and still use in my childcare Is bringing in and serving more whole grains to the kids. I have achieved this goal by switching their main grain staples, which are pasta, bread, crackers, and cereal, to the whole grain versions. I made sure to read the label on these items that they are made with 100% whole grains and then bought one or two to try before adding it to the menu. The kids have had a positive reaction to the whole grain waffles, crackers, and bread, but are still working on the pasta. I feel that grains are a favorite of most people, so the switch wasn't too hard for them because they are happy with their toast, sandwiches, cereal, and crackers. The other way I brought in whole grains, is to serve hot cereal for breakfast two times a week. We rotate between oatmeal, cream of wheat, and steel cut oats. The kids love the hot cereal with fresh blueberries or bananas in it!
- #21 My name is Lisa Schaeffer, I am the owner/ preschool teacher of Lisa’s Daycare in Tooele County. This is how I have incorporated more whole grains into my day care menu. One of the best ways that I get kids to eat whole grains is by allowing them to play with the dough and help mold the breadsticks or small loaves of bread. They can also assist with whole grain muffins or even spraying some spray butter on store bought bread that is whole wheat. If they have a part of it then they are much more willing to try it. I have also asked them if they could be a helper and tell everyone at the table why it is important to eat healthy foods like this whole wheat bread that we are having today. When they are the “teacher of nutrition” then they are important and will help me lead their friends at daycare in a positive direction. Never underestimate the power of peer pressure. Even if there is one child that will try a new thing, then the other kids will be much more willing to try. I play on this a lot by really complimenting children that make healthy choices. A simple “wow you are great at taking care of your body by eating good foods like apples and bananas”, will be enough to really encourage other children to give it a try.
- #22 See if you can think of a good whole-grain, high fiber replacement for each of these high sugar/high fat breakfast foods. Instead of muffins PAUSE– whole wheat English muffin, whole wheat toast, whole wheat mini-bagel, all with PB or low-fat cream cheese Instead of sugary cereal PAUSE- Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Wheat Chex, Shredded Wheat, Bran Flakes, low-fat granola, oatmeal, how about mixing two cereals that look similar but may not contain the same amount of nutrients Instead of a breakfast bar PAUSE– tortilla roll-up (spread cream cheese or PB and jelly on a tortilla and roll it up), low-fat/high fiber granola bar Cookies PAUSE– graham crackers, whole wheat crackers Poptarts PAUSE– whole grain waffle or pancake, Chips PAUSE– homemade chex mix with pretzels, wheat chex, cheerios…, a whole grain tortilla with a bean dip spread
- #23 One of the best things you can do for a child’s nutritional health is to help them get used to the idea that water is the best thirst quencher and a great beverage. Studies show that children who drink more soft drinks are more likely to be overweight. Soda and fruit drinks are full of sugar and “empty” calories, few nutrients and many calories Be a good role model and show children that you enjoy drinking water because it is refreshing. 1% and skim milk have much lower amounts of fat and almost half the calories of whole milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 1% and skim milk for all children over age 2. CACFP will reimburse ANY type of fluid milk for children over 2 Let’s go over some myths about beverages and children.
- #25 As was mentioned before, the whole fruit contains more vitamins and is more filling due to the fiber. If juice is given to children, it should be 100% juice without added sugars. Infants under 6 months should not be given any juice, infants 6-12 months should drink less than 4 oz/day in a cup only and children 1-6 should not have more than 4-6 oz/day.
- #26 Variety may be the spice of life, but children don’t always agree. It is important to provide menus with variety to ensure that the children are received all kinds of vitamins and minerals. If you let them, some children will eat the same foods every day. On the other hand, they can’t learn to eat new foods unless they have the opportunity. You’d be surprised how children will suddenly try something after refusing it in the past. Keep trying and remember that some kids need to be exposed to a new food at least 10 times before they’ll try it. Sometimes kids are more willing to try a new food if it comes from another culture and is presented as something new and exciting. Perhaps the child of the week could present the new food to the other children, tell a little bit about it, hold it and serve it. Any time kids can become involved in the preparing or presenting of the food, chances are higher that they will eat if if they’ve been involved in the process. It is important to remember to offer foods in your menu that you as the provider don’t like. It is easy to eliminate some foods from the child care menu just because the person putting the menus together has an aversion to a certain food. Be positive about all healthy foods and let the children make their own opinions. What is the variety of meals and snacks like at your center? Are there any easy ways to offer unique or new foods?
- #27 Be positive about all healthy food, your attitude will hopefully rub off on the children so that they will at least try new foods presented. Have you ever eaten until you were stuffed? Have you ever eaten when you weren’t hungry? This is something that we do when we’re adults, but research shows that children don’t do this without being forced. Babies are born with a sense to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Young children also have this internal regulation (signal). We need to encourage children to listen to their bodies internal regulation system and tell us what their body is feeling if it is hungry or full. Losing or over riding this signal can lead to overeating and weight problems. It is hard not to pressure a child who isn’t eating much to eat more, but it is important to let kids listen to their own bodies. CHILDREN WILL EAT IF THEY ARE HUNGRY! It is also really important not to force children to eat or “clean their plates.” Even encouraging children to make a “happy plate” or praising children who do, can teach children to override those signals of hunger and fullness, possibly leading to overeating and weight problems later in life. Offer children healthy foods and limit unhealthy ones. By offering only healthy foods, we are guaranteeing that the children make healthy choices in what they eat. It’s the child’s job to decide what and how much to eat!
- #28 What are meal times like at your facility? Are they rushed? Do you have time to sit and talk with the children? It is very tempting to reward children for good behavior or help them feel better about a hurt or disappointment by giving them a food they consider to be a treat. This might “work” for the short term, but it encourages habits that are very hard to break later in life, where we eat to reward ourselves or “soothe” our hurts. Try using stickers, pencils, or compliments as a reward instead of food.
- #29 Let’s discuss some scenerios. Scenario 1: You notice that Jose is pushing his food around on his plate, but isn’t really eating anything. What do you do? PAUSE (Possible answer: Ask Jose what his tummy is saying, f he feels full but don’t pressure him into eating) Scenario 2: Maya has already had 2 servings of bread and asks for another one. What do you do? PAUSE (Possible answer: Ask Maya what her tummy is saying. If she is still hungry, she can have more. This will help her assess if she is eating out of hunger or habit.) Scenario 3: Steven quickly eats his French fries and asks for some more before having eaten any of the other food on his plate. What do you do? (Possible answer: Encourage Steven to try the other foods on his plate before giving him more French fries, but don’t refuse him more French fries even if he doesn’t want anything else.) Remember that adults decide which foods to OFFER to children, and children decide which foods to eat and how much.
- #30 It takes one small step at a time to change the way we think about food. It may seem like a small step, but if we could all get used to the idea that celebration foods can also be healthy foods, we’d be moving in the right direction. Don’t tempt the staff and parents by selling candy or cookies. Try selling wrapping paper, fruit, or coupon books for fundraisers instead. Scenario 4: It’s Jimmy’s birthday and his mom asks if she can bring in cupcakes. What do you tell her? PAUSE (Possible answer: Encourage Jimmy’s mother to bring in a healthier birthday snack. Examples: 100 calorie pack cookies, fruit with low fat dip or melted chocolate; Encourage parents to bring in hats and fun plates or maybe do a craft with the children to celebrate)
- #31 Family style meals are a good way for children to begin to learn table manners and how to serve themselves, which encourages development of certain fine motor skills. It may be difficult to sit and talk with the children at each meal. Even just one day a week try to make the meals a family type environment with a table cloth/centerpiece where you and the kids sit and eat like a traditional family meal. This can be a great time to just talk with the children about life and also for you to model healthy eating and talk about the foods offered and what the nutrients will do for the body. Who knows, for some kids it may be the only time that week they will experience a traditional family style meal. If you have a soda machine at your center, consider stocking it with healthier options like juice or water. Having a soda machine may bring in extra money for your center, but it is not helping you promote good health. You can negotiate with your vendor to include healthier options. Let’s brainstorm: What are some ways that you can interact with children to model healthy eating at the facility? Staff try all foods and talk about how they like them and how everyone likes different foods. Staff talk about the different colors and textures on the plate Try to avoid eating unhealthy food in front of the children.
- #33 Many adults would like to learn more about nutrition and your facility is a great place for parents to learn! Parents may be more supportive if they understand that you are working hard to create a healthy environment for their children. If children hear the same health messages from parents and from child care providers, they’re more likely to listen.
- #34 Introduce foods in a fun and educational way! If at all possible, let the children be involved this helps develop many skills, not just healthy behaviors.
- #35 There is a lot of interest in nutrition these days, especially with the epidemic of childhood overweight. Parents who are deciding on the best child care environment for their child may be very interested to learn that your facility has a specific policy on food and nutrition. By sharing your policy with parents in advance, they will be less likely to complain about why “Johnny doesn’t get french fries more often!”
- #36 If your facility is participating in the CACFP program and you have questions about what foods can and can not be given, talk with your CACFP representative.
- #37 These are examples of lunches and snack foods. The healthier foods contain less Calories Fat Sugar The color (which equals nutrients) More Fiber
- #38 As a concluding activity, brainstorm 3 things you can change in immediately at your facility in the area of nutrition. The following slide is a worksheet that you can fill out.