The$early$years$of$life$are$aperiod$of$ … · 2018-04-26 · Nutrient( Recommendations((!Reasons!...

The early years of life are a period of rapid growth and a healthy diet is cri2cal for normal

development. During this 2me children establish their ea1ng

behaviours and food preferences

Ensure suitability for 2-‐5 year olds

Ruth Charles RD Oct 2015

Challenges facing 2-‐5 year olds


Normal growth


Hse.ie

What’s normal growth ?


BMI is a beKer indicator of overweight or underweight

BMI = weight (kg) height (m) x height (m)


•  The link between diet and health has long been established, and the behaviour of children during the crucial years of development is key to establishing healthy ea2ng prac2ces for life.


What does growth tell us?

•  A good indicator of well being. •  Sensi2ve indicator of health •  Early detec2on of abnormal growth allows appropriate nutri2onal or social interven2ons.

•  Normal growth can only occur if a child is healthy, adequately nourished and emo2onally secure.


Human engines need…


Nurtured growth •  Improvements in concentra2on, aKen2on, school aKendance, physical ac2vity and lesson grades have been aKributed to beKer nutri2on. (McPherson et al 1995)

•  Children who came to school without breakfast had the poorest aKen2on span and concentra2on levels in the classroom. (Neumark-‐Sztainer et al 1999).

•  Obesity epidemic


Ea2ng behaviour & food preference

•  Op2mum growth and development starts pre-‐ concep2on. (The first 1000 days concept).

•  Children are dependent on others for the provision of food and nourishment as well as guidance on health and wellbeing.

•  Parents are the gatekeepers of nutri2on •  Bribing, coaxing or forcing a child to eat is never recommended, nor is the use of food as reward or punishment.


Healthpromo2on.ie


Feeding prac2ces that aKempt to control the child’s intake limit opportuni2es for the child to exert self-‐control (Birch & Fisher, 1998).

The caregiver decides when and what, the child decides what and how much. This way the child learns to respond to their own hunger and sa2ety cues


Lead by example


•  Ea2ng behaviour of people in their environment serves as a model as the child grows older.

•  Stable ea2ng environment: –  Research indicates that it is beKer for children, when families eat together at the table

–  no distrac2ons (TV, radio) –  enables a social learning of food preferences including rituals of meal prepara2on and learning about healthy ea2ng (Westenhoefer, 2001).

Ea2ng behaviour & food preference


Barriers to change

– Making healthy food more available and convenient

– Limi2ng the availability of unhealthy op2ons

– Changing social norms to make it "cool" to eat healthily (Neumark-‐Sztainer et al 1999).

–  Led by example –  Limi2ng the availability of unhealthy op2ons

– Making healthful food taste and look beKer

–  Teaching children good ea2ng habits at an early age

–  Teaching children to cook and prepare food •  Parents knowledge and skills


•  The media is powerful in influencing food selec2on and health behaviours (Goldberg and Hellwig, 1997, in DoHC, 2005).

•  Encourage parents to be aware of the

adver2sing messages rela2ng to food and ac2vity or sedentary behaviour that their child/ren may be exposed to.

•  Screen 2me (TV, computers) is not

recommended for under 2s and no more than 1 hour/day for pre-‐schoolers.

•  Increasing 2me spent in ac2vity


Nutrient( Recommendations(( ! Reasons!Calcium( Fortified!milk!

Block!cheese.!Natural!yogurt!Unsalted!raw!nuts!Pulses!

Bone!and!dental!health!!

Vitamin(D( Fortified!milk.!Try!including!egg,!oily!fish,!liver!regularly!

Bone!health!&!Immune!function!!

Iron( Red!meat!beef,!lamb,!pork!3(times!a!week.!Portion!the!size!and!thickness!of!his!palm!!Fortified!breakfast!cereal!Dark!green!leafy!vegetables!!

Healthy!blood,!prevents!anaemia!

Omega(fats(( Oily!fish:!tuna,!mackerel,!salmon,!trout!3!times!a!week.!!

Heart!health,!brain!development,!immunity!!

Wholegrains( Wholegrain!no!added!sugar!cereals,!breads!and!grains! Bowel,!heart,!metabolic!health!Fluids( Water!and!milk!are!best.!

!Hydration!and!dental!health.!!

Processed(foods((&(treats(

Avoid! Too!high!in!salt/sugar/saturated!fat/additives.!Affects!dental!health,!reduces!appetite!fornourishing!food,!promotes!sweet!tooth.!!

!

Key nutrients for 2-‐5 year olds


Rough 'me Aim

7-‐8am Main meal Breakfast

10am Snack

1230pm Main meal Lunch

2.30pm Snack

5pm Main meal Dinner

7pm Supper snack

Snacks -‐provide extra nutrients in a small amount of food Wholegrain breads and cereals Hummus, tahini, nut buKer Cooked or raw vegetable chunks Fresh or dried fruit Block cheese Egg: hardboiled or in homemade pancake Natural yogurt


Iron deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency worldwide, with women and children

being the most suscep2ble.

•  Causes •  Effects •  Nutri2onal needs •  Menu planning


•  Anaemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. •  Reduc2on in oxygen-‐carrying ability •  haemoglobin concentra'on < 11g/dl (WHO)


Causes

reduced produc2on and/or

increased loss and/or

lack of produc2on materials iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid


Higher risk of anaemia with Prematurity and low birth weight -‐ higher need Possible gastrointes2nal diseases: Coeliac-‐increased losses Exclusive breast-‐feeding beyond six months-‐ low iron content Cow's milk as the main drink before 12 months –low iron content High intake of cow’s milk > 1000ml a day-‐ displaces food Poor diet. Teenage girls: menstrua2on with poor diet Pregnancy: increased demand Older women: caused by losing blood faster (menstrua2on) than the body can remake it (poor diet/extreme training) .


How much is enough?

Food safety authority of Ireland (1999): Recommended dietary allowances for Ireland. Food safety authority of Ireland; Dublin Ruth Charles RD Oct 2015

Effects in children

Behavioural problems Repeated infec2ons Loss of appe2te Lethargy Breathlessness Increased swea2ng Strange cravings (pica) Growth faltering


Adults


Preven2ng anaemia

•  Regular food sources of –  Iron, Vitamin C, Folate, Vitamin B12

•  Cau2on with bran and tea and coffee •  Vegetarian and vegan-‐special aKen2on


Iron


Iron deficiency Anaemia

Infants & children: Include red meat in the weaning diet from 6 months onwards Avoid giving tea Avoid too much formula/milk (>6oomls reduces appe2te for other food) Red meat 3-‐5 2mes a week

Growing up milk

Pregnancy-‐supplementa2on may be needed


Raw green vegetables, oranges, wholegrain cereals, some for2fied foods such as breakfast cereals and bread.

Supplementa2on before and during pregnancy


How much does enough look like?


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The$early$years$of$life$are$aperiod$of$ … · 2018-04-26 · Nutrient( Recommendations((!Reasons!...

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