Chapter 5 Flashcards
What milk do babies require?
Babies require only breast milk or formula milk for the first few months of life.
If possible babies should be breastfed for the first six months because:
• Breast milk is free
• Breast milk is sterile and the correct temperature
• Breast milk contains the nutrients a baby needs in the correct proportions.
Some women are unable to breastfeed and other choose not to for a variety of reasons. These parents can use formula milk to feed their babies
If formula milk is being used, it is vital that all equipment is sterile and that the manufacturers instructions are followed exactly. If this is not done, babies can become ill
What is weaning?
Babies can be introduced to solid foods when they are six months old. This is called weaning
What are some guidelines for weaning?
• Babies are born with enough iron to last six months. Introduce iron-rich foods eg: puréed broccoli
• Give babies (over six months) vitamin C by serving sieved or puréed fruit and vegetables. Or give them diluted unsweetened fruit juice in a baby cup or off a spoon – never from a bottle as this rots their teeth
• Babies are generally not exposed to sunlight, an important source of vitamin D which is needed to build strong bones and teeth. The Irish health service executive (HSE) recommends that babies are given vitamin D supplements from birth until they are one year old
• Introduce one food at a time so that any food intolerances can be recognised
• Do not add sugar or salt as sugar will give babies a taste for sugary foods and salt can damage their small kidneys
• By age one, babies should be eating the same foods as the rest of the family. When cooking for their family remove the baby’s portion before seasoning
What are the eating guidelines for children and young teenagers?
• Children should eat a variety of healthy foods in the daily serving amount given in the food pyramid
• Certain nutrients are particularly important in the diets of children and young teenagers
• Protein: high biological value (HBV) protein foods are required due to rapid growth
• Carbohydrates: Children should be active, which means they need a good supply of carbohydrate-rich foods for energy. Choose foods that are high in fibre and low in sugar
• Calcium; include calcium-rich foods so that bones and teeth grow hard and strong
• Iron: iron is needed for healthy body supply
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is needed for good general health and the efficient absorption of iron
• Vitamin D; Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium
• Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt should be limited, so that children do not get a taste for them
• Food should be attractively presented and portions should be child-sized
• Fussy eating habits can be discouraged by involving children in meal preparation and encouraging them to try new foods. Adults should provide a good example by eating healthy foods
What are the eating guidelines for teenagers?
• teenager should eat a variety of healthy foods in the daily serving amounts given in the food pyramid
• Certain nutrients are particularly important in the diets of teenagers
• Protein: HBV protein is particularly needed during these years because of rapid growth rates and hormone production
• Carbohydrates: teenagers need 3-7 servings per day, depending on their gender and active levels
• Calcium: calcium-rich foods should be included to help bones and teeth develop and harden
• Iron: iron-rich foods are vital during the teenage years due to increased blood supply. Vegetarians need to make sure they are getting enough iron by eating leafy green vegetables. Anaemia is common in teenager girls due to menstruation
• Vitamin C: vitamin C is needed for good general health and the absorption of iron
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium
• Avoid foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt as these have few nutritional benefits and can cause weight gain
• Drink at least eight glasses of fluids particularly water per day. This can help to keep the skin clear
• Always eat breakfast. This can improve alertness and increase concentration. Avoid breakfast cereals with a high salt and/or sugar content
• Choose healthy snacks eg; fruit and yoghurt
What are the eating guidelines for adults?
• Adults should eat a variety of healthy foods in the daily serving amounts given in the food pyramid
• Certain nutrients are particularly important in the diets of adults
– Protein: HBV protein is needed for the repair and renewal of body cells
– Carbohydrates: the amount of carbohydrates that should be eaten depends on activity levels. Foods that are high in fibre such as brown bread should be eaten to prevent constipation and other bowel conditions
– Calcium: Calcium-rich foods are needed to help prevent osteoporosis in later life. Women should be particularly careful to meet their daily intake, as they are more prone to osteoporosis than men
– Iron: iron-rich foods are needed to prevent anaemia
– Vitamin C: vitamin C is needed for good general health and the absorption of iron
– Vitamin D: Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium
• Vegetables salad and fruit can help adults to maintain a healthy weight, as they are bulky but low in kilocalories
• Avoid foods and drinks high in fat and sugar as these can contribute to obesity and coronary heart disease
• Do not consumer more than 6g of salt per day. Excess salt can contribute to obesity and coronary heart disease
• If alcohol is consumed, adults should limit their intake to 11 standard drinks per week for women and 17 standard drinks per week for men
What are the eating guidelines for pregnancy and breastfeeding?
• Certain nutrients are particularly important during pregnancy
– Protein: HBV protein is essential for the baby’s growth
– carbohydrates: many pregnant women experience constipation. To avoid this, plenty of fibre-rich foods should be consumed
– Calcium: calcium is needed for the baby to develop healthy bones and teeth
– Iron: eat iron-rich foods to avoid anaemia
– Folic acid: Taking folic acid supplements for 12 weeks prior to pregnancy and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy reduces the risk of a serious neural tube defect by two third. Some foods such as breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and are therefore also useful in the diet during pregnancy
– Phosphorus: Phosphorus works with calcium to help the baby develop healthy bones and teeth
• Avoid gaining too much weight as it can cause complications such as high blood pressure
• Vitamin C: vitamin C is needed for good general health and the efficient absorption of iron
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium. It is found in cod liver oil and oily fish. It is also made by the body in the presence of sunshine, so pregnant women should try to exercise in daylight
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol
• Avoid lightly cooked eggs, unpasteurised cheeses, shellfish and cook-chill foods because of the risk of food poisoning
What are some reasons older people find it difficult to follow a healthy diet?
• Many older people live on low incomes which can affect the quality of food they buy
• Older people who live alone can lose interest in cooking meals for one
• Issues such as arthritis (painful swelling and stiffening of the joints), reduced mobility, poor eyesight and dental problems can make shopping, preparing and eating food more difficult.
These factors can cause some older people to rely on convenience foods such as bread and canned goods. This can lead to malnutrition – a lack of proper nutrition caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right foods
What are the eating guidelines for older people?
• Older people should eat a variety of healthy foods in the daily serving amounts given in the food pyramid
• Certain nutrients are particularly important in the diets of older people
– Protein: Protein is vital to replace and repair worn-out body cells. Older people should choose low-fat, low-cholesterol options such as: white fish and chicken
– Carbohydrates: older people may be less active, so should reduce their intake of carbohydrates to avoid weight gain. Older people can be prone to constipation if they are less active. Fibre-rich foods should be eaten to help prevent this
– Calcium: calcium is needed to maintain good bone density making bones strong and resistant to fracturing
– Iron: iron-rich foods should be eaten to prevent anaemia as this condition is common in older people
– Vitamin C: vitamin C is vital for healing, iron absorption (preventing anaemia) and general good health
– Vitamin D: vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium
What are people with long-term illnesses and convalescents?
Both people with long term illnesses and convalescents (people who are recovering from illness) need a nourishing diet to help restore them to good health
What are eating guidelines for people with long term illnesses and convalescents?
• It is important that foods served contain high concentrations of vital nutrients. This is because the patients appetite may be poor and they will not want to eat big, bulky meals
– Protein: Low-fat protein foods should be served to repair cells and tissues damaged during illness
– Carbohydrates: High-fibre foods should be served to prevent constipation which is more likely due to inactivity
– Iron: iron-rich foods are important to prevent the patient from becoming anaemic or run-down particularly if there has been blood loss eg: through surgery
– Vitamin C: vitamin C is needed to aid iron absorption. It also helps the body to return to health and boosts the immune system to prevent further infection
• Follow the doctors advice
• Serve small, attractive portions
• Choose foods that are easy to digest and not too spicy or heavily seasoned
• Choose low-fat methods of cooking such as steaming, baking or grilling, instead of frying
• Meals should be prepared and served under the strictest hygiene conditions. The patients weakened immune system can make them prone to food poisoning
• Serve plenty of fluids, especially fresh, cool water particularly if the person has lost fluids though fever
