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Common Problems with Child Nutrition. Food Jag. Only wants to eat 1 food Improper nutrition Limits variety. How To Prevent. Offer variety of foods at each meal Do not offer the food between meals Make foods appealing Color and texture Don’t force eating Will eat when hungry.
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Food Jag • Only wants to eat 1 food • Improper nutrition • Limits variety
How To Prevent • Offer variety of foods at each meal • Do not offer the food between meals • Make foods appealing • Color and texture • Don’t force eating • Will eat when hungry
Fear of New Food • Don’t force on a child • Frequent exposure • Model good behavior • Children mimic adults
Refusing to eat what is served • May “pick” at one meal • Make up for it at the next • Don’t give in! • Discipline issue • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGIMd3_LfY • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSdZfgVDzQs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngQaBvz5nmA
Why snacks are important • Essential for energy • Don’t eat a lot at one sitting • Balance out uneven diet • Keep toddlers from becoming cranky • Boost intake of nutrients
Snack Schedule • 2-3 snacks daily • Mid morning • Mid afternoon • After dinner • Do not bribe with sweets • Small portions
How to Incorporate Healthy Snacks • Decide what’s an appropriate snack • Stick to a snack schedule • Work with a toddler’s independence, not against it
Appropriate Snacks • High in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals • Avoid prepackaged or processed • High in sugar, salt, fat • Simple finger foods • Low sugar cereals • Fresh fruit • Whole grain crackers • Mini muffins • Cheese
Appropriate Snacks, cont • Small portions • ½ c dry cereal • ½ c milk • Banana • 5-6 crackers
Stick to a Schedule • Serve meals and snacks at the same time daily • Routine • Helps maintain a healthy weight • Learns hungry and fullness ques • Graze all day- likely to overeat • Don’t allow to carry around a sugary drink all day
Work with the Toddler’s Independence • Offer variety and let them choose • Offer a favorite food with a new food • Let the child know that meals and snacks are available at certain times
Snacks vs Sweets • Don’t use sweets as a bribe • Don’t let sweets become a regular snack • Keep sweets out of sight and reach
Toddler Snack Ideas • Create a menu book of 5 snack ideas for toddlers age 2-5 • Develop a creative name for the snack • Example: “Ants on a Log” • Be sure to include the recipe for how to assemble the snack