unit 2 - nutrition through life Flashcards
how quick is infant growth during the first year?
rapid!!!
what nutrients are needed by infants and what are their nutrient needs?
Nutrient needs are very high
Iodine, vitamins A,D, & C are needed in especially high quantities.
water requirements for infants
Water requirements - breast milk and formulas contain plenty. No need for other fluids except during episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.
when are infants ready for solid food?
Are 4 to 6 months old Can hold head up Sit well in highchair Make chewing motions Show interest in food Can close mouth around a spoon Are teething (teeth are beginning to develop)
how much/how should infants be fed? especially starting off
Begin with a teaspoon at first.
Wait a few days (allergic reactions)
Eventually build to a 1-2 tablespoons
Don’t force feed a baby- they eat according to their growth pattern
recommended first foods for infants
Fortified cereals
- rice (first), oat, wheat (last - possible allergen)
Pureed vegetables – carrots, peas, squash, beans -introduced one at a time (with about a week in between each new food) to check for allergies.
Pureed vegetables should be introduced one at a time
helps child develop a taste for veggies which have less sugar
Pureed fruit- cooked apples, bananas, pears, plums, peaches
Foods should be introduced one-at-a-time
The baby gets the true taste of each vegetable or fruit….not a mixture
Allergies are easier to detect
when do infants need to drink water?
fluids - Increased need with the introduction of solid food.
Water is best
what are common infant allergies?
wheat, egg, soy, peanuts, cow’s milk, citrus fruits, seafood
Strawberries, nuts
why can’t we feed infants honey within the first 18 months?
** DON’T feed infants honey before 18 months (including processed foods with honey)
it can contain naturally occurring Clostridium botulinum bacterial spores that cause infant botulism (could have lasting impacts on the brain and nervous system)
what are things that 8-12 month olds can eat, how can they eat?
Can pick up some foods
Chewing improves
Serve finger foods like small pieces of banana, cooked vegetables, cheese & small crackers
what are good eating habits for the first year of life?
1st year
Model and teach good eating habits
(not table manners)
Do not use food as a reward or to stop crying; do not withdraw food as punishment.
Do not use a bottle as a pacifier – leads to dental problems,
Do not underfeed or overfeed-let the child be your guide
Buy lots of bibs & stain remover
growth habits for toddlers
Leg and arm muscles develop
Bones get stronger to support increasing weight
Bone growth in (length) slows
how much do toddlers need to eat, especially compared to other age groups
Same variety of nutrients as adults, but in greater amounts proportional to their body size
what age are toddlers?
1-3
how old are infants?
newborn- 1st bday
what are good foods for toddlers?
Small “bite-sized” (for a toddler) pieces to prevent choking
Finger food (foods they can easily handle)
Colorful foods with soft textures
how many servings of each type of food should toddlers be getting
2 cups of milk per day
High protein foods suitable for toddlers:
eggs, soft meats, peanut butter, beans, chickpeas
Minimum of 2 servings of fruits and 3 servings of vegetables
6 serving of grains per day
3 balanced meals, as well as healthy snacks
what makes it tricky for toddlers to eat?
Allow toddlers to feed themselves
Lack of teeth causes chewing to be difficult and may cause choking
Messy eating habits are actually an important method of learning (cause & reaction, Laws of Gravity, textures, )
Short attention span, easily distracted from eating
Particular eating preferences
Appetite can vary during growth spurts or illness for example
feeding strategies for toddlers
Offer smaller “meals” and nutrient rich snacks
Don’t force the child to eat
Pleasant, happy eating conditions to promote good feelings around food
Parents, siblings & caregivers are a toddler’s biggest influence
Show a positive attitude towards nutrient rich food to set an example
how old are ‘children’?
3 to 8 years
what affects child growth patterns?
Factors affecting growth patterns: Illness Emotional stress Eating habits Genetics
how quickly do children grow?
Childhood is the slowest stage of life in terms of growth
what should parents encourage in childhood?
Parents should encourage children to be as active as possible
helps the children grow strong muscles and bones
nutrient needs during childhood?
Because of their size, the diet of children should include more calories than toddlers and infants
(Toddlers) Ages 1-3: Around 1200 calories per day
Ages 3-8: Around 1700 calories per day
Ages 9-13: Around 2300 calories for boys, 21 calories for girls
Protein, vitamins, and minerals must increase for ages 4+ to promote growth and healthy tissue production
Variety is important for nutrients & eating patterns
Carbs (cereal, bread, pasta) are very important to “spare” proteins to build tissue
what should children’s meals and eating habits look like?
Eat small meals throughout the day
Breakfast should never be skipped
Should contain protein, carbs and small amount of fat
Should provide at least 25% of daily carbs and protein
Helps children focus and excel
Eating a lunch full of nutrients will maintain the focus needed for the rest of the day
Healthy snacks between meals will help attain nutrient needs
Yogurt, veggie sticks, fruits, milk, nut butter & whole grain crackers
Quantity of snacks will affect regular meals (not always a problem if the snacks are nutritious)
Offering lots of good food choices helps children learn to make wise food choices and develop a taste for whole foods.
good life and food habits for kids
Include children in grocery shopping so they can see and choose various foods
Include children in actual food preparation so they feel some “ownership” in the food.
Make sure color, appearance, texture, and flavour are interesting.
Serve portions appropriate for the child’s age.
Present new food at the beginning of a meal when the child is hungry.
Never make an issue of accepting a new food; try again another time.
-it can take 4-6 “tries” for children to accept new foods.
how old are ‘adolescents’?
9 to 18 years old
what is adolescence?
Transition period from childhood to adulthood
Body undergoes many physical changes
Mind under goes cognitive changes
growth patterns in adolescence
Puberty - developing of sexual maturity (typically age 10-12 for girls, 12-14 for boys)
Growth spurt - period of rapid physical growth
commonly seen in adolescence
changes in body composition adolescents
Typically puberty is associated with an increase in height for all adolescents - the amount of increase and exact timing varies
Increase of height, usually leads to an increase in body weight which influences nutrition needs
Sex-specific
Females typically develop layer of fatty tissue that remains throughout life (influenced by increase in estrogen hormone levels)
Evolutionary purpose: energy stores to sustain life, and have babies
Males typically increase in lean body mass/muscle (influenced by increase in testosterone hormone levels)
Evolutionary purpose: provide as a hunter/gatherer
nutrient needs for adolescents
Higher caloric needs than late childhood,
needs vary with growth rate, gender, and activity level
Females : 2200 calories/day
Males : 2800 calories/day
More or less needed according to activity level
Needs for most nutrients increase significantly from childhood
teens have needs equal to or greater than needs of adults for most nutrients.
Teens must consume adequate calories & nutrients to fulfill growth potential
meals for adolescents
The body functions best when getting nutrients at regular intervals throughout the day.
Irregular eating patterns affect overall wellness
Meal skippers have:
- difficulty concentrating
- are tired and irritable
- suffer from more headaches and frequent illness
Breakfast should provide about 1/4 of your daily nutrients & calories needs.
Breakfast replenishes energy supplies after a night of sleep
Eating more nutritious foods helps teens not want to always eat “junk food”
Choose unhealthy foods that teens love occasionally & in small sizes.
nutrition problems for ados
Teens have a reputation for poor eating habits, however surveys suggest many adolescents do receive enough of most nutrients, with some exceptions…
Anemia: deficiency disease that often occurs in the teen years.
- need increased iron to for tissue growth
- Females need more iron due to losses through menstruation
- Cereals, meat, legumes, dark leafy veg. are good sources
long term eating effects ados
Disordered eating & weight management issues can develop during adolescence and persist into adulthood
Poor intake of vitamin D & calcium can lead to osteoporosis later in life
Overweight/obesity can lead to heart disease & some cancers
Eating a proper diet rich in nutrients in the teen years can prevent future health problems
