Nutritional Needs Throughout the Lifespan

Question 1

How and why do nutritional needs change throughout a person’s life?

Answer 1

Different stages of life require different nutrients.

Question 2

Which fish should pregnant women avoid? Why?

Answer 2

j

Question 3

What is listeria? Where is it most commonly found?

Answer 3

j

Question 4

How should pregnant women make leftovers safe to eat?

Answer 4

j

Question 5

Why should you not eat raw cookie dough while pregnant?

Answer 5

j

Question 6

What are the four nutrients that need to be increased when pregnant? Why are they important?

Answer 6

j

Question 7

What foods can these four nutrients be found in?

Answer 7

j

Question 8

What are the four nutrients women are not getting enough of?

Answer 8

j

Question 9

Why is folic acid important for pregnant women?

Answer 9

Also known as folate, folic acid is critical for preventing a neural tube defect, which can result in a number of complications including abnormalities of the brain or stillbirth. The neural tube is what eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord of the baby.

Question 10

Why is iron important for pregnant women?

Answer 10

1. Oxygen needs to be delivered to the placenta and fetus.

2. The fetus needs to build its own blood-cell stores.

Question 11

Why is food safety important during pregnancy?

Answer 11

Foodborne illness is especially dangerous during pregnancy because the mother has a weakened immune system and the baby does not yet have a developed immune system.

Question 12

Why is breastfeeding important for babies?

Answer 12

Whenever possible, breastfeeding should be the primary source of food for infants. Breast milk contains antibodies and white blood cells. It changes over time to suit the baby’s needs, help the baby grow and feel full.

Question 13

Why do mothers sometimes not breastfeed and use formula instead?

Answer 13

Sometimes breastfeeding is difficult. In some cases mothers experience physical difficulties breastfeeding. In other cases mothers believe formula is more nutritious or they stop breastfeeding to return to work. Additionally, many people argue that women are made to feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public which has resulted in popularity of the #normalizebreastfeeding hashtag.

Question 14

At what age do infants start to eat solid foods?

Answer 14

Children begin to eat solid foods, while still on breast milk or formula, at around six months of age.

Question 15

How should parents determine if an infant is sensitive to food?

Answer 15

In order to determine whether an infant is sensitive to a food, it is recommended parents begin to introduce one single food at a time. Scientific studies are finding that feeding babies foods like eggs and peanut (which are common allergens) may reduce the risk of developing an allergy to those foods.

Question 16

What food is encouraged for infants to eat?

Answer 16

The consumption of full fat dairy products is encouraged because fat is necessary for growth and development.

Question 17

Why is it important to feed children healthy food?

Answer 17

This is the stage of life where food preferences may strongly influence food choices later in life, and poor choices may increase the risk of becoming obese or developing other diseases like heart disease. It is important to promote healthy food choices and physical activity to children at this stage.

Question 18

What food is encouraged for children to eat?

Answer 18

Children should eat lots of protein due to rapid growth.

Question 19

What often influences adolescent food choices?

Answer 19

Social media, advertising and influencers.

Question 20

How can an unhealthy diet affect adolescents?

Answer 20

Studies have linked poor diet to later onset of puberty and the choice of less nutrient dense foods in adolescence puts them at risk of obesity later in life.

Question 21

What do adolescent girls often develop?

Answer 21

Adolescent girls often develop iron-deficiency anemia due to rapid growth and loss of iron in the blood during menstruation.

Question 22

What foods are encouraged for older adults to eat?

Answer 22

Nutrient dense foods and foods rich in Vitamin D and calcium to help prevent falls by strengthening bones.

Question 23

What happens to the digestion of older adults?

Answer 23

Their digestion and metabolism slows down, especially if they are not physically active.