MELANIE SNYDER Healthy Habits Build Healthy Children

Overview Food choices in children  Developing preferences  Outside influences Encouraging healthy habits  Positive & negative consequences of habits developed  Growth and development needs  Quality of children diets Engaging children in meal preparation  Hands-on activities  Benefits of family meals

Definition of a healthy diet according to Mypyramid.gov

How do children learn to enjoy the foods they eat?

Food Preference in Children Children like foods that taste good  Energy-dense foods taste best Preference can change as children are exposed to more foods  Infants prefer sweet  At 6 months, preference diverge from sweetness with exposure to other foods Introducing new foods to children can help increase foods preferences other than energy-dense foods Role of Parents

Parental Influence Dietary habits develop from their surroundings  Parents  Family members  Other influential people Preference of foods increase when children witness parents enjoying food Parents are the role model for their children’s dietary habits Home Food Availability

Parental Influence Children can acquire similar habits of their parents  Eating out  Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, …etc Younger children are more easily influenced by parent’s dietary habits than adolescents  Adolescents have already developed their eating habits Role of Parents, Fast Food, Home Food Availability

Food Available in the Home As children grow up they become more independent  More responsibility transferred to children Increasing the availability of fruits, vegetables, and dairy in the home will increase consumption Availability of energy-dense foods will decrease the consumption of healthy foods in the home Home food environment and adolescent intakes (pg 2)

What are some negative consequences for a child if parents do not encourage healthy dietary habits?

Outcomes Lack of encouragement  Not understanding the importance of eating healthy foods  Risk of childhood obesity  Risk of obesity as an adult  Increased risk of cancer  Lifelong health risks Positive encouragement  Awareness of healthy food options  Consuming healthy food options  More likely to met recommended daily intakes  Healthy habits which can carry over into adulthood

Childhood Obesity Behavioral Factors  Excess energy intake  Sedentary behavior Environmental Factors  Home  Child care  Schools  Community Genetic Factors

Health Complications of Childhood Obesity As a child  Type 2 diabetes  High cholesterol & high blood pressure  Asthma and other breathing problems  Sleep disorders As an adult  Cardiovascular Disease  Heart attacks  High blood pressure  Metabolic Disease  Diabetes  Cancer Mayoclinic.com

Reduce Cancer Risk Study found low cancer association in adulthood with high fruit consumption during childhood Antioxidants thought to prevent cancer cells  Antioxidants help slow or prevent oxidation in cells. Oxidation of cells can lead to poor immune function, health diseases, and cancers. Fruit, Vegetable, and cancer (pg. 8) and

Recommended Servings for Children ADA’s Nutrition Guidance for Healthy Children

Adequate Energy and Nutrients Meeting recommended servings is critical for growth and development  Growth Retardation  Anemia from iron-deficiency  Poor retention in school  Developing chronic diseases during adulthood Government fortification and enrichment of certain foods increases intake of key nutrients Child/Adolescent Nutrition Assistance Program

Healthy Eating Index Assessment tool to measures quality of children’s diet Divided into 12 different food groups Every food group is given a maximum score which meets 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Higher individual score reflects a score close to guidelines High score means:  High intake for fruits, vegetables, grains, meat & beans, milk, and oils  Low intake for saturated fats, sodium, and extra calories

Quality of Children’s Diets

Nutritional Education Knowledge alone does not cause a lifestyle change in children Education creates awareness  Variety of fruits and vegetables  Sources of whole grains  Nutritional benefits Comprehension doesn’t mean enjoyment  Consequences for their decisions are too far away for children to care  Choose the foods which taste best to them no matter what the nutritional value is After-School Project and School Garden

At home, how can children be actively involved in meal planning and preparation?

Hands-On Activities Grocery shopping Meal planning Food preparation Growing a garden Involving children will create ownership in their food

Activities for Ages 4-6 Grocery Shopping  Identify different colors of produce  Ask names of different produce  Counting produce Food Preparation  Gathering ingredients  Adding pre-measured ingredients  Stirring batters  Help setting the table  Grease pans  Open packages

Activities for 7-11 year olds Grocery Shopping  Help find grocery list items  Try out different grocery markets such as co-ops, ethnic markets, farmers market Meal Planning  Pick main dishes and side dishes which the children enjoy  Plan weekly or special meals Food Preparation  Start by introducing utensils like vegetable peeler, can opener, dull knife and measuring ingredients  Allow increasingly more independent food preparation

Activities for 12+ year old Meal Planning  Child’s responsibility to develop at least one meal a week  Encourage trying new recipes  Understand how different ingredients interact together to create different flavors  Encourage creativity and make adjustments to old recipes Food Preparation  Develop cooking and knife skills  Prepare parts of dinner before parents get home Grow a garden

Family Meals Meal patterns in adolescent years carry over into adulthood Nutrition improves with the number of meals children eat at home  Foods – more fruit, vegetables, and less soft drinks  Nutrients - calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fiber At 7+ family meals a week  Dietary Guidelines were not met in  Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and calcium-rich foods  Daily Reference Intake (DRI) for nutrients were not met for  Calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and fiber Family Meal During Adolescences

Summary Parents eating habits will be mimicked by their children Start encouraging healthy habits in young children because eating habits become more permanent as children grow up Actively engage children through grocery shopping, meal planning, food preparation, growing a garden