A5LisaWelch

Foods to Grow On: 

Foods to Grow On Feeding Your Toddler and Preschooler Lisa Welch RD Community Nutritionist November 6, 2006

Outline: 

Outline Characteristics of Toddlers and Preschoolers About Your Eating Feeding Relationship Nutrition Guidelines Food Demonstration Feeding Issues Case Examples Questions

Slide3: 

“Eating is more than deciding what and when to eat. Feeding is more than choosing food and getting it into a child. Eating and Feeding reflect people’s histories, their relationships with themselves and with others. Feeding a child is about the connection between parent and child, about trusting or controlling, about providing or neglecting, about accepting or rejecting. Eating is about the connection with our bodies and with life itself. Eating can be joyful, full of zest and vitality or it can be fearful, bound by control and avoidance. My mission is to help children and adults be joyful and capable with eating.” Ellyn Satter

Characteristics of Toddlers : 

Characteristics of Toddlers Wants to do things him/herself Learning she/he is a separate person from you Say “No” a lot More interested in playing than eating Likes food one day and dislikes it the next Increased independence Control

Characteristics of Preschoolers: 

Characteristics of Preschoolers Wants to get better at what he/she does, including eating Increased independence Needs to please Needs approval

Approach to Eating: 

Approach to Eating A natural curiosity Striving for independence A need for security Limited attention span but growing sense of purpose Imitate people around them

For Toddlers and Preschoolers, Healthy Eating is…: 

For Toddlers and Preschoolers, Healthy Eating is… Being curious about new foods and ways of eating them Examining the chicken sandwich before they eat it Accepting toast only if it is cut in triangles Trying only a bite of squash today – maybe more tomorrow

Healthy Eating Continued…: 

Healthy Eating Continued… Drinking milk out of a certain glass/cup Loving carrots on Tuesday, refusing them on Wednesday Insisting the apple be whole – not in slices Wanting a peanut butter sandwich for lunch every day for a week

Healthy Eating continued…: 

Healthy Eating continued… Eating cookies fresh from the oven they helped prepare Preferring foods they recognize Drinking soup from a coffee mug just like mom’s

The Feeding Relationship: 

The Feeding Relationship Division of Responsibility The parent is responsible for the WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE of feeding The child is responsible for the HOW MUCH and WHETHER of eating Eating Attitudes and Behaviors *About Your Eating

Feeding Your Toddler/Preschooler: 

Feeding Your Toddler/Preschooler Set structure and limits Regular meals and snacks Don’t be a short order cook Be role models Eat as a family Continue to expose to new foods even if foods are initially refused Let him/her eat his way: fast or slow, much or little, 1 or 2 foods Do not pressure or force feed

Feeding continued…: 

Feeding continued… Limit Distractions Variety of foods New foods with familiar foods Be patient Do not use food as rewards Children know when they are hungry and full; Put a small amount of food on the plate and seconds if desired

Feeding Guidelines: 

Feeding Guidelines Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating Grain Products Fruits and Vegetables Milk and Milk Products Meats and Alternatives Child Size Servings Variety of Foods Nutrient Dense

Child Size Servings: 

Child Size Servings Toddlers 1/3 – 1 adult serving Preschoolers ½ - 1 adult serving *See “Feeding Your Toddler” and “Preschool Nutrition Guide for serving guidelines

Canada’s Food Guide: 

Canada’s Food Guide Grain Products High fibre Age plus 5 Variety Fruits/Vegetables Color Variety New foods Milk Products Higher fat dairy Whole milk until age 2 Meats and Alternatives Meats, fish poultry, eggs Peanut Butter, Tofu, Legumes

Safe vs. Dangerous Foods: 

Safe vs. Dangerous Foods Limit foods that potential for choking Hard Candies Gum Nuts/Seeds Popcorn Hotdogs Grapes

Foods to Limit: 

Foods to Limit Juice – ½ cup per day High fat snack foods potato chips, fried foods, chocolate bars High sugar snack foods candy, pop, fruit roll ups High salt foods Caffeine

Dental Health: 

Dental Health Brush teeth twice per day, morning and evening 1st Dentist visit is after age 1 *Consult with Dentist to determine appropriate age for 1st check up

Healthy Snacks: 

Healthy Snacks Mini Muffins Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Yogurt Minigo Milk (white or chocolate) Milk Pudding Mini sandwiches Cheese and crackers Vegetables and Dip Fruit Meats Legumes Tofu Alphabet Pancakes

Food Demonstration: 

Food Demonstration Peanut Butter Banana Roll Ups

Feeding Issues: 

Feeding Issues The Poor Eater The Picky Eater The Overweight Child What do I do if my child won’t eat vegetables? How do I deal with dessert?

Poor/Picky Eaters: 

Poor/Picky Eaters Meals and Snacks Do not pressure Limit between meal snack foods and beverages Be patient and supportive Offer favorite foods with other foods Do not short order cook Eat as a family Keep track of growth with health care provider

The Overweight Child: 

The Overweight Child Provide a variety of foods Do not restrict Follow Canada’s Food Guide for Toddlers and Preschoolers Regular Physical Activity Children grow at different rates

What do I do if my child won’t eat vegetables?: 

What do I do if my child won’t eat vegetables? Do not pressure Variety of foods at meals and snacks Let the child decide to eat or not to eat No rewards Don’t get discouraged Don’t bargain

Dessert: 

Dessert Serve dessert with the meal Avoid telling your child “eat your vegetables or you get no dessert” Let your child choose when to eat dessert No seconds

Halloween Candy: 

Halloween Candy Learning opportunity for your child to manage his/her sweets 1st day: Sort and eat some candy and put away Meals and Snacks with milk If they follow the rules, they keep control of the candy. If not, you take control. Maintain structure of meals and sit down snacks with parents choosing the rest of the food that goes on the table This structure won’t spoil a child’s appetite

Sample Menu: 

Sample Menu Breakfast 1/4 – ½ cup Omelet with Cheese and Green Pepper, 1/3-1/2 Orange, ½ cup Milk Snack ½ - 1 Raisin Bran Muffin, ½ cup yogurt, water Lunch ½ cup Split Pea Soup, ¼ - ½ bagel, 1-2 tbsp cream cheese, 4 small pieces watermelon, ½ cup milk

Sample Menu continued…: 

Sample Menu continued… Snack ½ muffin, ½ milkshake Supper ¼ - ½ cup Lasagna, 4 small pieces Cantaloupe, ½ cup milk Snack ¼ - 1/3 cup ready-to-eat cereal with milk, ¼ cup strawberries, water

Allergies: 

Allergies Signs of allergy: Hives Rash Vomiting Tingling in mouth Throat Swelling Consult with Health Care Provider

Case Examples: 

Case Examples Oscar Mary Halloween Martha

Resources: 

Resources Children’s Nutrition Websites Children’s Nutrition Resource Books for Parents Lisa Welch RD lwelch@youville.ca www.ellynsatter.com www.hc-sc.gc.ca Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family Ellyn Satter, (1999). Madison, WI: Kelsey Press.

Questions?: 

Questions?