Snacks & the Preschool Child

Transcription

1 Snacks & the Preschool Child Section 1: Welcome Welcome to Snacks & the Preschool Child, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service on-line training module for childcare providers and parents of preschool children. This module covers the Why, What, and How of preschool snacking. This course will be presented in a voice-narrated format that allows you to follow along with a PowerPoint slide presentation. A high-speed Internet connection is required to complete Snacking & the Young Child. Content for this module is divided into multiple sections (see menu bar on the left for the course outline), enabling you to complete and/or review content at your own pace. Printable handouts, when applicable, will be presented prior to the section in which they are referenced. In the next section, you will be directed to complete a brief, multiple-choice pre-learning assessment. Once you have completed the pre-learning assessment, you will be free to advance to the course content by checking the Next Section button at the bottom of the page. At the conclusion of this module, you will be directed to complete a post-learning assessment that will determine if you successfully pass the course. If at any time you wish to take a break from the module, simply log out and return to the course when you are ready to continue. When you sign back in to the module, you will be taken directly to the section where you left off. To review a section you have already completed, click on the desired section on the left menu bar. Section 2: Introduction and Learning Objectives SLIDE # 1: For young children, about 30% of the day s total calorie intake is eaten as snacks. Today, we ll be addressing the why, what, and how of snacking and the preschool child. In this talk, we ll be discussing children ages 2 to 5 years. Toddlers have different nutrition and food needs, as well as eating behaviors, from adults. We ll be using the word snack to describe a mid-meal eating occasion and not a specific type of food, such as potato chips, cookies, or candy. SLIDE # 2: Today, we ll address: why snacking is important, what foods should be offered at snack time, and how to get preschoolers to eat healthy snacks. SLIDE # 3: At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to: state two reasons why preschoolers need snacks between meals, discuss how portion size affects total caloric intake, list three snack items that are nutrient dense and appropriate for most healthy preschool children,

2 explain why juice should be limited to one 6-ounce serving per day, and describe how the educational tool MyPlate can help in the planning of snacks and meal. Section 3: Why Is Snacking Important? SLIDE # 4: Parents may need a better understanding of the kinds and amounts of foods to offer young children and when food should be offered. They may also need guidance on developmental eating patterns and on how to safely include children in the kitchen. Parents may think there s nothing wrong with their children s eating patterns and, therefore, see no reason to improve or change it. Often, parents offer too much food to children or may encourage children to eat beyond their appetite. Children who are healthy, growing, and have energy to play are probably eating enough food. If parents are concerned with the amount of food their children eat, they should talk with their pediatrician. SLIDE # 5: The preschool child s rate of growth is not as rapid as during the first two years of their life. However, these children are gaining in both pounds and inches throughout their preschool years. Additionally, their caloric needs are high to provide the energy needed for health, growth, and play. For example, a 2-year-old boy may need 1,000 calories a day. A typical, energetic 5-year-old may need as many as 1,600 calories per day. SLIDE # 6: This slide gives us a snapshot of the foods that preschoolers like and are eating the most. It also helps us to identify areas for improvement. Most preschool children drink 2% milk. However, lower fat milk is recommended for children over the age of 24 months. Caregivers should lower milk fat to 1% and then to non-fat milk in a stepwise fashion. French fries are the leading vegetable type for preschool children. However, because French fries are high in added fat and sodium, they should be limited and offered to children as occasional items and in small amounts. Fruit intake is usually not a concern for young children. However, as children age, they are less likely to eat as much fruit. Therefore, we want to keep this habit going into the later school-age and teen years. Sweetened beverages are a big concern. Sweetened beverages can account for many calories that are not contributing nutrients to the eating plan. By limiting sweetened beverages, it may be easier to maintain a healthful weight throughout life. Children should be offered milk, water, and 100% fruit juice during meals and snacks and when they are thirsty. SLIDE # 7: As you can see on this figure, the rate of obesity for children has increased significantly over the years. Today, about 1 in 10 preschool children is obese. Obesity is defined by the Centers of Disease Control. Child obesity is based on a child s weight, height, age, and gender. It is alarming that 10% of preschool children are obese when you consider the obesity rate for preschool children was only 5% in 1980.

3 Section 4: Why Is Snacking Important? - Trends SLIDE # 8: What are some factors that may have led to the doubling of the rate of obesity among preschool children during the last 3 decades? Americans are eating differently than we did in the 1980s. So, what s new? People are snacking more often throughout the day. Portion sizes have increased. People are eating foods that are higher in calories. Overall, people are taking in more calories each day. And, lastly, people are eating out more than ever. These changes have also been observed in the eating patterns of children. We ll discuss each change in more detail. SLIDE # 9: Young children need about 2 snacks a day, in addition to their three meals. They need the snacks because their tummies are small and can t hold enough food to meet their high energy needs. The child s planned snack time shouldn t interfere with their meals. Snack time should be planned so it s midway between meals. When children know they ll be offered food throughout the day, they feel more secure. Having planned snacks helps to prevent children from eating when they re bored or during sedentary activities, such as watching television. Children shouldn t be allowed to graze or eat throughout the day whenever they want. When children refuse to eat or they eat very little, they should be reminded when the next meal or snack time will be and that it may be hours away. SLIDE # 10: Young children eat according to their appetite. This is good because children s energy needs differ widely from week to week and even from day to day. Children s energy needs are dependent upon their age, gender, physical activity level, and if they are having a growth spurt. As children age, they eat more in response to external cues, such as parental pressure to eat more, larger portions being served, and because they like the food being served. This can lead to overeating, which is a habit that can last a lifetime and may lead to unwanted weight gain. Research has shown that when children are offered large portions of food, they tend to eat more. By the way, this is true of adults as well. Therefore, it s better to offer children small, ageappropriate servings of food and tell them that they can have second helpings if they are still hungry. SLIDE # 11: Energy density is a way of describing and comparing foods based on the number of calories a food item has compared to its size or weight. For example, on an ounce-per-ounce comparison, fat has twice as many calories as protein or carbohydrate. Which has fewer calories, a three ounce serving of French fries or mashed potatoes?

4 This is why snacking on fruits and vegetables is recommended. In general, fruits and vegetables don t contain fat, provided they aren t fried or have added dressing. Fruits and vegetables are high in water, which has no calories. This is why a cup of applesauce has a lower energy density than a cup of pudding. SLIDE # 12: We used to eat more of our food at home than we do now. We are eating out more than ever. Most of the daily calories consumed by preschoolers are in the home, where parents have a direct control. Packed lunches for daycare and meals away from home are other times when parents can exert influence over what their preschooler eats. Fast food meals need to be strategic. Children should understand which fast food items they will be allowed to eat before arriving at the restaurant. Section 5: What Foods Should Be Offered at Snack Time? SLIDE # 13: So, how do we describe a healthy eating plan? The Dietary Guidelines are revised every five years so they can reflect recent scientific discoveries on nutrition. They were last updated in What are the Dietary Guidelines telling us now? Too many adults and children weigh too much. We need to manage a healthful weight by balancing calories, not by using supplements or fad eating plans. The number of calories children need varies day to day, and it depends on their age, gender, and physical activity level. You may have noticed that children will eat hardly a thing and then all of a sudden, they eat everything in sight. This may be because they are starting a growth spurt or are more physically active than usual. The Dietary Guidelines have also identified some components that we need to reduce in our diet. They are solid fats, added sugars, and sodium. What components do we need to increase in our diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines? Increase your intake of whole grains over refined or enriched grain choices, vegetables, fruits, and seafood. By increasing these foods and making other healthful eating choices, we can increase our intakes of potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin D. This may sound all well and good, but how do we eat a healthy diet? What does it look like? That s where MyPlate comes into play. SLIDE # 14: We don t need to make every plate and every snack look like MyPlate. However, MyPlate should be a general guideline of the types of foods and the proportions of foods that should be offered to children throughout the day. Children should be offered vegetables and fruits, whole grains, a variety of lean protein, and low-fat dairy foods every day. SLIDE # 15: The overall eating plan for a preschool child should approximate MyPlate proportions. This means: ½ of the plate has vegetables and fruits; ¼ of the plate has grains; ¼ of the plate has protein foods; and

5 there is a serving of dairy. o Children who are 2-3 years old need two servings of dairy each day. o Children who are 4-8 years old need 2-½ servings of dairy each day. SLIDE # 16: As a reminder before we proceed, choking is always a concern with young children. Some foods listed here may not be appropriate, depending on a child s age and eating skills. Also, children must always be supervised when eating. With that being said, here are some general food group snack ideas for children. Keeping washed and ready-to-go fruits and vegetables will help promote healthy snacking. Put child-sized portions in small plastic containers or baggies, and store them in the refrigerator. Children won t snack on vegetables and fruits if they aren t readily assessable. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that juice offerings to children be limited to one 6-ounce serving of 100% fruit juice each day. That s ¾ cup per day. This is because some children tend to fill up on juice and then aren t hungry for other foods. Also, drinking juice throughout the day can lead to dental caries and may increase the risk for obesity. With grains, try to offer children whole grains more often than refined grains. Good choices are whole grain cereals such as oat rings, whole wheat crackers such as thin wheats, and even whole wheat toast with a thin spread of peanut butter and/or jelly. These foods would make a good snack for a young child. Protein foods don t need to be meat or hotdogs all the time. Protein foods such as peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, and tuna fish are good choices. It s best for caregivers to get into the habit of including a serving of dairy at each meal. The dairy serving doesn t always need to be milk. Other dairy choices are cheese, yogurt, milk-based desserts such as pudding, and calcium fortified soy milk. Include food choices from two or more food groups when you re planning snacks. Section 6: How can We Get Preschoolers to Eat? SLIDE # 17: Young children should let their appetite determine how much food to eat. Avoid encouraging children to eat when they aren t hungry. Instead, set up regular snack and meal times. When children don t eat or they eat very little, remind them that the next meal or snack is hours away, and then stick to the routine. Don t allow children to graze, or eat small amounts of food, all day long. They may not be hungry at mealtime. Children need to learn to enjoy meals as a family. Avoid preparing a meal just for your picky eater. They should be offered the same food as everyone else in the family. Try to include at least one food that you know your child will like. Encourage children to enjoy food by welcoming little helpers into the kitchen. Preschool children can help wash fruits and vegetables, can throw things into the trash, stir batter, and help to set the table. SLIDE # 18: Adults should never put a child on a weight-loss diet unless under the direction and supervision of a physician. Children should not be given weight-loss herbs, tonics, or supplements.

6 Everyone in the family should have the same choices in food selection. If potatoes with sour cream are offered, it should be offered to all. Therefore, try healthful options from which the whole family can benefit, such as potatoes and Greek yogurt. Enjoy family recreational activities. They may be as simple as taking a walk or visiting a park. Don t bring highly caloric food choices, such as potato chips, into the house. This is a better approach than telling an overweight child that they can t have any. Serve small portions, and allow for seconds. People are more likely to overeat when they re served larger portions. Reinforce good behavior with a non-food reward. Instead of saying after we visit so-and-so, we ll go by the fast food restaurant for lunch, offer a quick picnic and walk in the park. Keep to regular snack and meal times when possible. If children know they ll receive a snack offering at 3:00 and then no food until dinner at 6:00, they ll feel more secure and will be less likely to overeat when food is offered to them at irregular times. Be a good role model. SLIDE # 19: Role modeling is so important. Children are more likely to eat a food item when they helped in its preparation. Also, when they see others eat a food and enjoy it, they re more likely to try it. Demonstrate balance. Some occasional choices are just for fun, such as birthday cakes. Research shows that when parents are too restrictive, children will eat more of that item when they have the first opportunity. This can result in a habit of eating in the absence of hunger. Respect the child s appetite. Young children know how hungry they are and how much to eat. Prompting children to eat more than they want can set up a habit of eating in the absence of hunger, and it can lead to obesity. Respect the child s stage of development. Picky eating behavior is common around 2-3 years of age. Be patient with young children. It may take 10 exposures to a food item before they will try the new food. This isn t uncommon for preschoolers. Keep offering the food item even though they may have refused it in the past. Children will often come around as they grow and develop and will outgrow their pickiness. Use positive reinforcement when children are making positive eating choices. For example, you could say, Pears are good for you; they help your tummy to feel good. Plan snacks when you re planning meals and grocery shopping. That way, poor choices are less likely to be made. Plan to buy apples and peanut butter etc. Snacks should be simple, healthy food choices. Servings should be kept small, with the understanding that a child can have more if he or she is still hungry. Section 7: Conclusion SLIDE # 20: Listed on this slide are recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. They reinforce what we ve talked about in today s presentation. SLIDE # 21: Parent friendly handouts are available that can be used to help provide ideas for bulletin boards and newsletters. The handouts are available in either English or Spanish from the ChooseMyPlate website.

7 Section 8: References & Additional Resources American Academy of Pediatrics, (2006). Dietary recommendations for children and adolescents: A guide for practitioners. Pediatrics, 117: American Academy of Pediatrics. (2009). Pediatric Nutrition Handbook, 6th edition. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, (2011). Available at: Fox MK, Condon E, Briefel RR, & Reidy KC. (2010). Food consumption patterns of young preschoolers: Are they starting off on the right path? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110:s52-s59. Kourlaba G, Kondaki K, Grammatikaki E, Roma-Giannikou E, & Manios Y. (2009). Diet quality of preschool children and maternal perceptions/misperceptions: the GENESES study. Public Health, 123: Looney SM & Raynor HA. (2011). Impact of portion size and energy density on snack intake in preschool-aged children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111: MyPlate. (2011). Available at: Ogden C & Carroll M. (2010). Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents: United States, trends through NCHS Health E-Stats. Piernas C & Popkin BM. (2011). Food portion patterns and trends among US children and the relationships to total eating occasion size, Journal of Nutrition, 141: Poti JM & Popkin BM. (2011). Trends in energy intake among US children by eating location and food source, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111: This module was developed by: Sharon Francey Robinson, PhD, RD, LD Associate Professor and Nutrition Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Service The Texas A&M System 2012 Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating