Section 4: Healthy food and Nutrition

 Section:4    Healthy food and Nutrition

                                                                      Erica Wilford

                                                                        Educ1005

•   Summarize why good nutrition and eating habits are so important to children in each age group. Cite evidence from Chapter 6 in your text and/or other resources to support your claims.

  

        Good eating habits and nutrition are vital to children of all ages.  There are many risks for children that have poor eating habits as obesity, hypertension, strokes, anemia, diabetics, and many more health problems because of poor nutrition.  Majority of adults and young children is dealing with obese.   “American are eating too much saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar, but too few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains” (Robertson 2013, p. 224).”  It is vital for children to avoid eating unhealthy food that contributes to overweight, high blood pressure, heart disease, irritable, and high cholesterol.

 Many children are not eating proper can sometimes interfere with their academics, emotional and social development.  Well-balanced meals are essential for providing children with a safe and healthy growth. “ Children need good basic nutrition for normal growth and development, cognitive function, immunity, and energy expenditure” (Robertson 2013, p. 228).”  In order, for a child to do well in school he or she needs to eat a well-balanced meal.  Caregivers and parents need to provide their children with meals that will enhance their developmental skills.   “Children need to be offered meals and snacks that include foods that meet their essential nutritional needs and help them to maintain a healthy body weight” (Robertson 2013, p. 229).”

•  Refer to Chapter 8 in your course text and explain why adults could actively help children develop healthy eating habits and at least two ways this can be accomplished.

        Caregivers can make a difference in how some children’s eat and what they eat.  “Just as in toddler hood, preschool children need a positive environment that will help them eat, support their growth, and make mealtime a time that will nourish all parts of their development” (Robertson 2013, p. 313).”  It is vital for toddlers and preschool’s teachers to conduct family style meals.  Family styles will allow the teachers the opportunities to encourage children to try food that they wouldn't normally try.  “Teachers and friends at school also influence preschoolers” (Robertson 2013, p. 313).”

Many toddlers and preschool’s children are influenced by the media on what to eat.  “Children of this age are also easily influenced by television advertising of foods that are poor nutritional choices” (Robertson 2013, p. 313).”  My three years old are always watch television advertisement and screaming for everything he sees.   Television commercials are good at providing many episodes of many unhealthy snacks.

•  Provide three nutritious recipes that family members can prepare with preschoolers and explain the nutritional value of each. (To locate recipes, look through the various suggested Web sites or do research as needed.) Offer strategies and suggestions to make cooking together an enjoyable learning experience for children.

        A fresh fruit salad will be a great dish to prepare for preschoolers because it will be easy to make and full of nutritional.    The recipe calls for 1 sliced apple, 1 sliced orange,  2 cups of blueberries, 2 cups of fresh strawberries, 1/3 cup of honey, and 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice.   This recipe will provide the children with one serving of fruits that they need for a healthy diet.   “Children need fruits every day as a part of their meals for a health growth” (Robertson 2013, p. 302).”

Second, recipes will be fresh fruit and vegetable salad which includes ½ pound asparagus spears, cut into bite-size pieces, 2 cups thinly sliced carrot, 8 cups mixed salad greens, 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled goat or feta cheese, 2 cups sliced strawberries, ½ cup light balsamic vinaigrette, ½ cup pecan halves toasted.”  Vegetables are a great way to provide children with the essential iron they bodies are needed for proper growth.  “As a child grows, more sources of iron, such as meats, fish, poultry, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains, are necessary to prevent iron deficiency” (Robertson 2013, p. 240).” 

Last recipes is “apple and walnut oatmeal (not instant), 1 cup low-fat milk, 2 apples-cored and peeled and diced, ½ cup crashed walnuts, 2 tablespoon maple syrup, teaspoon cinnamon.”  Oatmeal is a great such of fiber.  Children need fiber to promote healthy growth.   Food such as oatmeal, fiber bars, grits, and cheerios can product fiber for the body.     “Offering these types of food is very important because it has been found that dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are missing from many young children’s diets” (Robertson 2013, p. 306).”

References

Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, Nutrition, & health in early education. (5th ed.).Belmont: Wadworth/Cengage Learning.

Retrieved on September 26, 2013,from www.mrbreakfast.com/subcategory.asp?

Retrieved on September 26, 2013, from www.food.com/recipes/fruit-salad