Good nutrition is a very important part of a child’s life. Good nutrition aids with the growth and physical development of a child. It also helps to ensure that children have a healthy and productive life. According to Robertson adequate nutrition during childhood is necessary to maintain overall health and to provide for growth (Robertson, 2007).
Children of different ages require good nutrition and eating habits because each age group requires different nutrients to help the body develop properly and grow. Infants are required to drink enriched milk for meals. The milk that infants’ drink provides all the essential nutrients required for infant to develop into health babies. Feeding babies sugary, sweet juices and other liquids not given by pediatrician can be permanently damaging to a young babies life. Similarly, Roberts states that the growth and development of an infant is directly related to nutrition (Roberts, 2007). It is also important for older infants to be introduced to solid foods at the right time. This is important because introduction to solid foods to early can make the infant have food allergies or intolerances.
Toddlers need foods from each food group to ensure that the child is healthy. Some toddlers may challenge the adult by not eating certain foods. It is important to introduce the toddler to a variety of foods. Introducing these foods will make it easier to develop a variety of foods that the child will be familiarize with and likely to eat more of. Toddlers need to be introduced to finger foods slowly. Food jags are just one type of picky eating that toddlers may display (Tessmer, 2004).
During the preschool age children have become more verbal and aware of the types of foods that the child likes to eat. At this age good nutritional eating habits are important because food fuels the brain and give it the energy to function properly. Children may see different types of foods on television and they may want the foods just because they look fun on television. These foods may not be healthy for the children at all. Children at this age are easily influenced by television advertisings of foods that are poor nutritional choices (Hinden et al., 2004).
Adults should actively help children develop healthy eating habits because they can help educate children to understand the importance of healthy eating habits. Adults can help educate the children to understand the consequences of bad eating habits. This can give children the opportunity to learn about the proper ways to keep themselves healthy as children and even continue into adulthood. The ways that I believe that adults can help develop healthy eating habits in children are positive role modeling, educating and constant supervision.
Cooking can be a fun learning experience for children and adults. This can be an educational time as well as family time that is spent with adults and children. Invite children into the kitchen to prepare the food that they will be eating. This is a great strategy to get children into the habit of eating healthy foods that they helped prepare. Another strategy is to eat as a family with the children. This is a great strategy to get children to eat the same foods as the adults. If the adults model good healthy food habits this will hopefully rub off on the child.
These are three easy fruit recipes that the adult and children can create together. Each of these recipes has fruit items from the food pyramid that helps children fully develop. Each recipe has a high nutritional value that is provided by the variety of fruits that are used. Each recipe is loaded with Vitamin C, calcium, folic acid/ vitamin B9 and fiber. These recipes create a healthy snack for the children and parents to create together.
1. FRUIT POPCICLES:Ice tray Pop cycle sticks One can of your child's favorite fruit Open the can of fruit and take the juice from the can of fruit and add it to the ice tray. Use a Popsicles stick or tooth pick and stick it in the juice and freeze.
2. BANANA SMOOTHIE
Make up your own variations using other fruits and juices.1 small frozen banana, cut into chunks1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt1/4 cup orange juicePut all ingredients into the blender and whirl until smooth. These arefairly thick. Add more liquid if you want them thinner. Makes 2 servings,each having 125 calories, 213 mg calcium, 10 mg vitamin C, 7 grams protein,and 160 mg sodium.See Simple Snacks for Kids for reference
3. Festive Fruit Salad Serves: 8
1 16-ounce can pineapple tidbits or chunks
1 pint strawberries
2 ripe peaches or nectarines
2 ripe kiwifruit
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
¼ cup orange juice
1. Open canned pineapple and drain juice; pour fruit into large mixing bowl.
2. Rinse and dry the peaches, kiwi and strawberries.
3. Cut green stems off strawberries, then cut each strawberry into slices.
4. Cut the peach in half; twist the pit until it comes out.
5. Cut peach halves into slices. Cut slices into smaller pieces, if desired.
6. Cut kiwi into coins, then cut each coin in half.
7. Add strawberries, peaches and kiwi to pineapple; stir to mix fruit.
8. Gently stir in blueberries and raspberries.
9. Pour orange juice over mixed fruit.
10. Refrigerate until ready to serve
References:
Hinden, T., Contento,I., & Gussow, J. (2004). A media literature nutrition education curriculum for Head Start parents about the effects of television advertising on their children’s food request. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104(2), 192-198.
Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, Nutrition, & Health in Early Education. Thomson Delamar Learning. New YorkTessmer, K. (2004) Food jags. Discovery Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011, from http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/illnesses.html?article=1905
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