Nutrition in a Society

1. Milton Saier Professor of Biology UCSD Nutrition in a Society

2. Agenda • Why should parents care about nutrition? • What should our children eat? • How should our children eat? • How much should our children eat? • Practical solutions for parents.

3. Why should parents care about nutrition? • The poor state of children's health in the U.S. is generally acknowledged. • Nutrition has a direct impact on the quality and length of our lives. • Parents have a responsibility and an opportunity to provide their children with a healthy foundation.

4. What our children are eating today • Fast foods • Convenience foods • Processed foods with chemical additives • Foods high in “bad” fat, refined flour, sugar, sodium • Too much meat and other animal products • Insufficient amounts of fresh fruits, grains and vegetables

5. Fast Foods • Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant. • In 1972, we spent 3 billion dollars/year on fast foods – today we spend more than 110 billion dollars/year. • Surgeon General David Satcher: “Fast foods are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.” • Most nutritionists recommend not eating fast foods more than once a month. • The average child sees 10,000 TV advertisements per year, 35% about fast foods.

6. U.S. Nutritional Facts • In the U.S., we eat more than 1,000,000 animals/hour, more than in any other country/person. • French fries are the most eaten vegetable/starch in America, more than in any other country/person. • In these quantities, both are harmful to our health.

7. Obesity Warnings • The World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic. • 60% of all Americans are either overweight or obese. • Left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America. • One in every three children will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

8. Obesity: Links to Diseases • Obesity has been linked to: hypertension, coronary heart disease, adult onset diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers, dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, breathlessness, asthma, hyperuricaemia, productive hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired fertility and lower back pain.

9. McDonald’s Statistics • McDonald’s feeds more than 46 million people/day. • McDonald’s operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries on 6 continents. • You would have to walk for seven hours to burn off a super-sized Coke, fries and a Big Mac. • McDonald’s calls people who eat a lot of their food “Heavy Users.”

10. More McDonald’s • McDonald’s: “Any processing our foods undergo makes them more dangerous than unprocessed foods.” • McDonald’s distributes more toys per year than Toys-R-Us. • Before most American children can speak, they can recognize McDonald’s.

11. What should our children eat? Nutritionists and ecologists agree and suggest: • Varied whole grains • Organic and non-GMO fruits and vegetables • Safe, quality beans and plant proteins • Organic dairy and meat, but LESS OF THEM • Healthy (plant derived) fats • Safe, but not necessarily bottled water

12. What should our children eat? Recommended changes • Offer a variety of whole, nutritious foods • Read labels for content • Avoid processed (canned, bottled) foods • Involve kids in food choices • Supplements (less important for kids) • Be a good role model; don’t boss

13. How should our children eat? How our children eat today • Take out • On the run • Skipped meals • Snack throughout the day • Eat for reasons other than hunger • Eat while doing other things (e.g., watching TV)

14. How should our children eat? Nutritionists suggest • Eat at home or in a comparable social setting • Eat as a family or with others • Relax, eat slowly and chew well • Schedule three smaller meals plus a snack • Don’t do other things while eating • Don’t use food as a Reward/Punishment

15. How should our children eat? Recommended changes • Schedule time/Meal Plan for family meals. • Buy/prepare healthy uncooked foods. • Cook in advance and store. • Shop Smart; don’t buy into processed stuff. • Discourage grazing. • Teach, don’t preach. • Come up with other ways to motivate kids!

16. How much should our children eat? How much American kids often eat: • Super-sized me • Portion distortion Nutritionists and ecologists agree and suggest: • Recommended daily allowances (RDA) • Know the serving size, then downsize • Limit overeating: smaller portions are better • Avoid waste and over consumption

17. How much should our children eat? Recommended daily allowance (RDA):

18. How much should our children eat? Some Tricks for Portion Size • A fist or cupped hand = 1 cup • Palm = 3 oz. Meat • Thumb = 1 oz cheese • Thumb tip = teaspoon (3 teaspoons = a tbsp) • A handful = 1-2 oz (a serving size) snack food • Tennis ball = piece of fruit • One small coffee cup = smoothies, fruit drinks

19. Recommended changes Steer clear of “all you can eat” buffets, “value” meals and “super-sizing” Insure the eating area is clean and pleasant Read labels for Quantity as well as Quality Measure amounts used Put less on plate – it’s okay to ask for 2nds Say goodbye to the “clean plate club” Eat from a bowl or plate How much should our children eat?

20. Practical solutions for parents • Raise your own • Places to shop • Items to buy • Foods to prepare • When and how much to cook • Tricks for picky eaters

21. Pay attention, ask questions and be curious. Stop the addiction to processed foods. Teach kids how GOOD good nutrition can be! Lead by example, but involve kids in choices. Think health AND the environment. Above all, think small. Remember, obesity is an American addiction! Conclusions