Thursday, October 10, 2013

Section 4: Healthy Food and Nutrition

·         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.

It is good for all children to eat the best meals.  “Adequate nutrition during childhood is necessary to maintain overall health and provide for growth” (Robertson, p. 213).  When children eat healthy, it can sharpen their mind and give them energy.  Children do not need to eat junk food because it is not healthy.  By encouraging healthy eating habits, you can make an impact on your children’s relationship with food. (helpguide.org)  Children should not eat a lot of food with sodium.  It is not safe to intake too much salt.  If children begin overeating, they will become overweight, and that is not safe.  That is why we have to make sure our kids are getting the best nutritional meals daily.  We need to make sure they eat vegetable and fruits daily.  If children continue to eat right, parents will not have to worry about obesity, hypertension, diabetes or breathing problems for their child.  We need to make sure our kids get the right amount of carbohydrates, fats, and protein.  These macronutrients will help the body grow and maintain its functions. (Robertson, 2013)

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

When children are eating the best meal, it allows them to grow, learn and play. (Robertson, 2013) Children can develop problems if they continue to eat the wrong meals.  "Good nutrition will help children maintain resistance to infection and will ensure adequate stores of body-building materials and nutrition needed for the adolescent growth spurt” (Robertson, p.316) Once a child starts to eat nutritional meals, they will remain eating the right foods.  This can be accomplished by parents making sure their children are eating good meals at home.  Teachers can make sure they are giving nutritional meals to their students.  Teachers can play games with their students to pick the best choices of food.  When children learn positive things at school, they go home and explain to their parents about the things they have learned.

·         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.

These are my meals I will give to parents to prepare for their child/children.  Every meal should at least contain meat, vegetable, wheat, fruit and a dairy.  These ingredients are important for every child. These meals can provide vitamins, energy, nutrients and mineral needed for your child.  You can ask your child if he/she wants to help you prepare meals.   Let your child go grocery shopping with you.  It will be fun for the both of you.  For breakfast, let your child pour the milk in the oatmeal and stir it around so they can know how it is fixed.  Give your child a spoon and let him/her spread the fruit spread on the bread.  Once your child gets the hang of things, he/she will want to help cook all the time.

For your lunch menu, you may let the child get the lettuce and cheese out the bag.  Parents you are dealing with a knife so; therefore, your child can not cut the tomato.  You should not allow your child near the stove.  I will suggest you place all ingredients on the table and let your child fix their own taco.

It is dinner time for the family.  This is a chance for the family to eat together and talk about school, work and other activities that was did that day.   Parents let your child wash their hands before handling chicken.  You can let your child wash and season the chicken.  Once they finish with the chicken, PLEASE wash their hands.  I have a son that is seven, and he enjoys cooking with the family.  Since a salad is in the bag, you can let your child pour the salad into a bowl.  I would suggest the parent take care of macaroni and cheese.  While preparing meals, it will be fun to talk to your child about school.  They may want to show you the dances and songs they learn at school.

Breakfast                                                                               
½ cup Oatmeal with Raisins                                                                        
½ Milk                                                                                                                  
Wheat Toast topped with fruit spread   


                                               
Lunch                                                                                                                 
Taco salad w/trimmings
Taco chips
Wheat corn
Pineapples
Milk


Dinner                                                            
Bar-B-Cue Chicken
Salad
Fruit
Macaroni and Cheese

References:
Robertson (2013-02-01). Safety, Nutrition and Health in Early Education. Wadsworth Publishing. Kindle Edition.

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