Agenda:  What is a Special Diet?  What is a Disability?  Allergies vs. Food Intolerances  Disabilities and Special Dietary Needs  Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder  Diabetes Mellitus  Vegetarian Diets  Resources

 What is considered a Special Diet?  What is considered a Disability? ◦ DPI Guidance Memorandum 12 C: CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements  Pages 6-8

There are 12 categories. Some examples include:  autism,  Deafness or other hearing impairments,  visual impairment,  learning disabilities, and  acute health problems (e.g. asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, leukemia, heart condition)

 Allergies: protein in foods (i.e., milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, & soybeans) trigger abnormal immune response  Food Intolerances: due to inability of the body to digest or metabolize a food component

 All personnel know allergies of all children  Allergies must be posted in a conspicuous but confidential manner  Instructions from parent and physician must at all times be kept with the teacher supervising the child  Staff must be trained in emergency procedures for responding to allergies

 Emergency equipment, EpiPens must be readily available and secured from children’s reach  If a child is severely allergic to a particular food, it should not be served anywhere in the entire setting  Parents should be sent regular reminders to let staff members know about allergies

 Children may be hyperactive, impulsive, inattentive  Causes can be genetic (inherited) factors; brain injury; exposure to toxic substances: lead, alcohol & tobacco; premature birth  Nutrition Consideration: eliminate food dyes and increase foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, walnuts, canola oil, flax) ◦ Sugar and synthetic sweeteners?

 Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder which prevents the body from using food properly, causing a glucose intolerance, or hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar).

 Type I Diabetes  Type II Diabetes  Impaired Glucose Intolerance (IGT)  Secondary Diabetes

A diabetic diet is a healthy balanced diet, eliminating excessive concentrated sweets, based on the person’s usual food intake and activity patterns  2-3 year old children need the same numbers of servings as 4-6 year old children but they need smaller portions.  General rule of thumb: 1 Tablespoon of food per year of age

 Three types: ◦ Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian ◦ Lacto-Vegetarian ◦ Vegan Vegetarian  Vegan= plant-based foods and NO animal products including honey and products made with animal by-products such as gelatin  Lacto = milk and milk products  Ovo = eggs

Benefits:  lowers blood cholesterol,  lowers blood pressure,  lowers body mass index,  reduces risk of heart disease and stroke, and  reduces risk of type 2 diabetes

 Protein  N-3 fatty acids  Iron  Zinc  Iodine  Calcium  Vitamin D  Vitamin B-12

 DPI Community Nutrition Child and Adult Care Food Program: ◦  Dietary Guidelines for Americans: ◦

 Book Child Care Rethinking Nutrition: Connecting Science and Practice in Early Childhood Settings ◦ by Susan Nitzke, PhD, RD; Dave Riley, PhD; Ann Ramminger, MS; Georgine Jacobs MS  Internet Diabetes  National Diabetes Education Program –

Internet: Food allergies USDA oddler.pdf oddler.pdf Baby and Kid Allergies –