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Age-appropriate diet for children

An age-appropriate diet is one that provides adequate nutrition, is appropriate for a child's state of development, and can help prevent childhood obesity.

Recommendations

BIRTH TO 4 MONTHS OF AGE

During the first 4 - 6 months of life, infants need only breast milk or formula to meet all their nutritional needs.
If breastfeeding, a newborn may need to nurse 8 - 12 times per day (every 2 - 4 hours), or on demand. By 4 months, the baby is likely to cut back to 4 - 6 times per day, however, the quantity of breast milk consumed at each feeding will increase.
Formula-fed babies may need to eat about 6 - 8 times per day, starting newborns with 2 - 3 ounces of formula per feeding (for a total of 16 - 24 ounces per day). As with breastfeeding, the number of feedings will decrease as the baby gets older, but the amount of formula will increase to approximately 6 - 8 ounces per feeding.
Never give honey to an infant, as it may contain the spores that cause botulism. An infant's immune system is not fully developed to fight off this disease.
Although an infant may sleep through the night, waking to feed may be necessary if the infant is not eating enough during the day or if they are underweight. Routine check-ups with your physician to monitor your child's growth will ensure they are eating adequately during the day. Your doctor or dietitian will inform you if waking to feed is recommended.

4 - 6 MONTHS OF AGE

At 4 - 6 months of age an infant should be consuming 28 - 45 ounces of formula, and is often ready to start the transition to solid foods. Starting solids too soon may cause the infant to choke if they are not physically ready.
There are several developmental milestones to indicate an infant is ready to eat solid foods:

• The birth weight has doubled
• The baby has good control of head and neck
• The baby can sit up with some support
• The baby can show fullness by turning the head away or by not opening the mouth
• The baby begins showing interest in food when others are eating.

Start solid feedings with iron-fortified baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula to a thin consistency. The cereal may be mixed to a thicker consistency as the baby learns to control it in his mouth.

• Initially, offer cereal 2 times per day in servings of 1 or 2 tablespoons (dry amount, before mixing with formula or breast milk).
• Gradually increase to 3 or 4 tablespoons of cereal.
• Cereal should not be given in a bottle unless a doctor or dietitian recommends it, for example, for reflux.

Once the baby is eating rice cereal routinely, you may introduce other iron-fortified instant cereals. Only introduce one new cereal per week so you can watch for an intolerance or allergy.
Never put a child to bed with a bottle as this can cause bottle mouth, resulting in tooth decay. Use plain water if a bottle is necessary. Discuss use of water with your physician. (In some cases, use of excess water can lead to seizures in children.)

6 - 8 MONTHS

Continue to offer breast milk or formula 3 - 5 times per day. Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old.
The baby will begin drinking less formula or breast milk once solid foods become a source of nutrition.
After a baby has tried a variety of different baby cereals, try strained fruits and vegetables.

• For strained fruits and vegetables, introduce one at a time waiting 2 - 3 days in between to check for any allergic reaction.
• Start with plain vegetables such as green peas, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, beans, beets; and plain fruits such as bananas, applesauce, apricots, pears, peaches, and melon.
• Some dietitians recommend introducing a few vegetables before fruits, as the fruit's sweetness may make a less-sweet food such as vegetables less appealing.
• Give fruits and vegetables in 2 - 3 tablespoon servings and offer about 4 servings per day.

Amounts of fruits and vegetables eaten per day will vary between 2 tablespoons and 2 cups depending on the size of your child and how well the child eats fruits and vegetables. The consistency of foods offered may be gradually increased as your child tolerates.
Finger foods may be offered in small amounts, but avoid foods such as apple chunks or slices, grapes, hot dogs, sausages, peanut butter, popcorn, nuts, seeds, round candies, and hard chunks of uncooked vegetables that may cause choking.
Soft cooked vegetables, washed and peeled fruits, graham crackers, melba toast, noodles are good finger foods. Salty or sugary foods are not recommended. Teething foods, such as toast strips, unsalted crackers, bagels, and teething biscuits may also be introduced at this time.

8 - 12 MONTHS OF AGE

Breast milk or formula should be offered three to four times per day at this age. Cow's milk is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children under 1 year old.
At 8 - 12 months of age, a baby will be ready to try strained or finely chopped meats. For breastfed infants, start meats at 8 months of age (breast milk is not a rich source of iron, but infants have adequate iron stores to last until 8 months of age when iron-rich foods such as meats can be given).
As with other foods, offer only 1 new meat per week in 3 - 4 tablespoon servings -- use strained and finely ground meats, frankfurters, or meat sticks. Serving sizes for fruits and vegetables increases to 3 - 4 tablespoons, four times per day. Eggs may be given 3 - 4 times per week, but only the yolk until the baby is 1 year old, as some babies are sensitive to egg whites.
By the age of 1, most children are off the bottle. If the child still uses a bottle, it should contain water only.

1 YEAR OF AGE

After a baby is 1-year old, whole milk may replace breast milk or formula. Children under the age of 2 should not be given low-fat milk (2%, 1%, or skim) as they need the additional calories from fat to ensure proper growth and development.
Children under the age of 1 should not be given whole milk as it has been shown to cause low blood counts. Cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt, however, may be given in small amounts.
The 1-year-old child should be getting much of their nutrition from meats, fruits and vegetables, breads and grains, and the dairy group, especially whole milk.
Providing a variety of foods will help to ensure enough vitamins and minerals. Toddlers do not grow as rapidly as babies do, so their nutritional needs relative to their size decrease during the second year of life. Although they continue to gain weight, they no longer double their weight as infants do.
Keep in mind, however, that toddlers are becoming more and more active as they learn to crawl and walk. Toddlers and small children will usually eat only small amounts at one time, but will eat frequently (4 - 6 times) throughout the day, so snacking is strongly encouraged.
Feeding tips:

• Feeding solids too early is not recommended and can result in overfeeding.
• Offer only one new food at a time. Offer the new foods for a few days. Watch for allergic reactions (hives, vomiting, diarrhea).
• Do not feed solids in a bottle.
• If your child dislikes the new food, try giving it again later.

SAFETY DURING MEALTIMES

• Feed the baby directly from the jar only if you use the entire jar contents, otherwise use a dish to prevent contamination with food-borne illness.
• Opened containers of baby's food should be covered and stored in a refrigerator for no longer than 2 days.
• Use a small spoon to feed the baby.
• A baby put to bed with a bottle (milk, fruit juice, or sweetened beverage) can develop bottle mouth, resulting in tooth decay. Use plain water if a bottle is necessary.
• Avoid foods that may cause the baby to choke -- popcorn, nuts, potato chips, whole kernel corn, berries, grapes, hot dogs, raw vegetables, raisins, dry flake cereals.

OTHER TIPS

• Water can be offered between feedings.
• Feeding sweets or sweetened beverages is not recommended because they will spoil the appetite and contribute to tooth decay.
• Salt, sugar, and strong spices are not recommended.
• Caffeine products are not recommended (soft drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate).
• A fussy baby may need attention, rather than food.

OLDER CHILDREN

Throughout childhood and adolescence, it is important that the diet include a variety of foods for proper development. The principles of the food guide plate apply to a child's diet as well as an adult's, although portions and number of servings per day are obviously less for children.
After the age of 2, it is recommended that the diet be moderately low in fat, as diets high in fat may contribute to heart disease, obesity, and other health problems later in life.
In areas where water is not fluoridated, fluoride supplementation is recommended. A diet that contains a variety of foods from each of the food groups (breads and grains, meats, fruits and vegetables, and dairy) will help prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Both the American Medical Association and the American Dietetic Association recommend that healthy children should get all their nutrients from foods rather than vitamin supplements.
The nutrients that are most likely to be deficient in a child's diet are calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin B6. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not support routine supplementation for normal, healthy children. However, there is no significant risk if a parent wishes to give their child a standard pediatric multi-vitamin.
Children who consume little or no dairy products are at particular risk for calcium deficiency that can interfere with bone growth and development. Foods that are good sources of calcium include low-fat or nonfat milk, yogurt, and cheeses. Other foods such as broccoli, cooked greens, and canned salmon (with bones) will also provide a source of calcium in the diet, however it is often difficult to get children to consume adequate quantities of these foods.
Iron requirements vary by age, rate of growth, iron stores, increasing blood volume, and rate of absorption from food sources. Adolescent girls will have increased iron needs due to menstrual losses. Food sources of iron include meat, fish, poultry, iron-fortified cereals, spinach greens, and dried beans and peas.

References

Stettler N, Bhatia J, Parish A, Stallings VA. Feeding healthy infants, children, and adolescents. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 42.

Update Date: 9/21/2011

Updated by: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc; Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine.

Eating Right for Sleep

Food has a huge impact on a child’s well-being. It can energize, increase hyperactivity or induce fatigue. Just as a lack of sleep can jumble a child’s thinking or cause learning problems, so can an inadequate diet. Each child is a unique individual, and it’s unreasonable to think that “one size fits all” diet advice is realistic.

Children seem to be born not only with an emotional temperament but with a food temperament. For instance, my son has always had a particular suspicion and aversion to any food that is green; however, he doesn’t care much for sweets. In direct contrast, my youngest daughter has always loved vegetables and from the time she was a toddler, her favorite food was broccoli. Unfortunately, she also inherited my sweet tooth.

Diet is critical for children’s health and everything that we eat affects us. However, it affects each of us a little differently, depending on our individual makeup and metabolism. For instance, some children are highly sensitive to sugar and any form of sweets in their diet. For them, sugar consumption can aggravate many problems such as hyperactivity, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, and poor concentration—all of which can lead to sleep difficulties.

We all know that children are healthier and sleep better if they eat a healthy diet containing a variety of foods from all the food groups. Unfortunately, some children can be incredibly picky. I don’t think it’s a good idea to cater to a child’s every whim or to battle over food. Fill your house with healthy foods and snacks and don’t get in the habit of buying junk food. That way, when your children are hungry, they will have no choice but to eat healthy and nutritious foods.

In addition, children are much more likely to be interested in eating meals that they have helped plan and prepare. Buy a healthy children’s cookbook and have fun planning and preparing nutritious meals and snacks together.

Healthy Tips:

Eat a variety of foods from all of the food groups. 

Drink a lot of water during the day; even slight dehydration can cause feelings of anxiety. 

Make sure your child gets enough calcium; it enhances the synthesis of serotonin, the chemical that induces feelings of well-being. Low levels of calcium can cause irritability and nervousness. Food sources include milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli, sunflower seeds, carob and spinach. 

Eat organic foods as much as possible. (Many food additives can also be detrimental to sleep.) 

Eat more complex carbohydrates, rather than processed carbs. (Include raw fruits and vegetables.) 

Don’t use sugary treats as a reward or to console a child when he or she is upset. To Ensure a Good Nights Sleep: What you eat and when you eat can affect how you sleep. In the following section, I’ll review the foods and bedtime snacks that are likely to help your child sleep and identify the foods that should be avoided.

Avoid late afternoon or evening caffeine and sugar consumption. (Sodas are usually a huge source of both sugar and caffeine.) 

Eat foods rich in B vitamins: Sources of B vitamins include whole grains, legumes, organ meats, raw nuts and seeds, mushrooms, deep sea fish, eggs, meat and dark green vegetables. 

Eat foods rich in magnesium. Food sources include nuts, whole grains, sunflower seeds, legumes, whole grains, avocados and raisins. 

Avoid eating dinner any later than three hours before bed if it seems to energize your child. (Eating too late at night raises the metabolic rate and energizes some children.) 

Have an evening bedtime snack that contains tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that the brain converts into the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Serotonin is then converted into melatonin, which assists in sleep. Many children find a glass of warm milk calming and it is a good source of tryptophan. Other sources of tryptophan include cottage cheese, yogurt, pineapples, plums, bananas, eggs, turkey, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews and peanuts. It’s best to combine these tryptophan rich foods with complex carbohydrates like whole grain cereals, bread or potatoes; it helps the brain to absorb the tryptophan. Bedtime snack suggestions: whole grain cereal with milk, oatmeal with milk, peanut butter sandwich with ground sesame seeds, oatmeal cookies with milk. 

If your child has a bedtime snack, have it half an hour to an hour before bed. About the Author
Dubbed “The Dream Maker” by People magazine, Patti Teel is a former teacher and the author of The Floppy Sleep Game Book, which gives parents techniques to help their children relax or fall asleep. She is holding Dream Academy workshops at schools, hospitals and libraries across the country where parents and children learn the playful relaxation techniques from her book and widely acclaimed children’s audio series. Children at the Dream Academy workshops practice the three R’s by resting their bodies, relaxing their minds, and refreshing their spirits. Visit her online at http://www.pattiteel.com/.

by Patti Teel

Nutritional Information About Baby Food

We all know baby food is a natural transition in every baby’s life by about six months of age. It is really nutritious for your baby though, and do you know what goes into it? You wouldn’t put strange food into your body and for that same reason you want to make sure you know what is in the food you are giving to your baby before you give it to them.

You’re Infants Needs
The nutritional needs of your infant are not the same as the nutritional needs that you have or that your spouse has. They need certain fats and only small amounts of the fiber, proteins and sugars that adults need. You should never apply your diet to your baby.

Jarred Food vs. Home Made Food
Jarred food is in many cases just as good for your baby as homemade food assuming the home made food is carefully prepared using clean work areas and kitchen tools. You want to make sure that you do not expose your baby to any harmful bacteria from your last meal that might be growing on the counter. When prepared carefully and made correctly either food is healthy for your baby to eat.

Water
Water is occasionally added to baby food in an effort to thin it out and get it to the proper consistence for your baby’s growth and development. When your baby first starts on baby food it would be very hard for him to swallow peas that have been simply chewed up, so baby food companies add water to make the food the right texture. If you are making your own baby food at home you can substitute breast milk or formula for the water.

Starch
Some people may not realize, but many baby foods contain starches which are easily digestible carbohydrates which are actually good for your baby. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that starches are ok to put in baby food but specifies that companies must put it on the label.

Textures
Why does your baby need texture in his food you might wonder? The texture on your baby’s tongue helps to teach them about shapes and sizes when it comes to food that goes in their mouth. Learning about textures when young, helps a baby as they become a toddler and begin to eat table food. It is important for them to learn to swallow chunky foods because no one can puree food with their teeth, even your toddler who thinks he can do EVERYTHING.

Organic vs. The Original
Is there really a difference and is it important which one you feed your baby? In the big world probably not, but if you and your family is into organic foods then you may want to follow along the same with your baby. Organic foods are free of the pesticides and preservatives that some of the original jarred baby food may have been made with or treated with while the food was growing whether it is vegetables or chicken from the range.

It is important for you to be concerned about your baby’s nutritional well being. After all, what you feed your child now will help shape the type of eater they grow up to be. If you have questions about what you should be feeding your baby or your baby’s developmental progress be sure to ask your pediatrician at your baby’s next well-check.

http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/baby/feeding-nutrition/nutritionalbabyfood.asp

Happy Martin Luther King Day!!!!

I hope everyone had a great Martin Luther King Day!

Lately, it has been getting cold where it is perfect to stay inside and have a great bowl of soup. Here are some delicious soups that everyone in the family will enjoy.

Butternut Squash Soup with a Kick

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 (2 pound) butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, or to taste

Directions

1.       Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, ginger, and jalapeno pepper; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the butternut squash and chicken broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the squash is tender, about 30 minutes.

2.      Stir in the evaporated milk, coconut milk, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes more. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth, and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with sour cream and thyme to serve.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-soup-with-a-kick/detail.aspx

 

Awesome Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1 gallon water
• 1 (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 large onion, peeled and halved
• 3 bay leaves
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• 2/3 bunch celery, leaves reserved
• 1 pound whole carrots
• 3 tablespoons chopped lemon grass (optional)
•  
• 1/4 cup chicken bouillon powder
• 1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1/3 bunch celery, chopped and leaves reserved
• 1 (8 ounce) package dry egg noodles

Directions

1.       Place chicken and water in a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, skimming fat as needed, 30 minutes.

2.      Place the halved onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, whole celery, whole carrots and lemon grass in the pot and simmer, covered 1 hour.

3.      Strain broth and reserve chicken. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove skin and cut meat into bite-size pieces.

4.      Return strained stock to pot over high heat, and stir in chicken base, chopped celery and chopped carrots. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes, or until carrots are tender.

5.      Chop celery leaves and stir into pot with the noodles. Simmer until noodles are cooked, about 10 minutes more. Stir in chicken and heat through.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/awesome-chicken-noodle-soup/detail.aspx

Homemade Tomato Soup

Ingredients

• 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 small carrot, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

1.       Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

2.      Strain the chopped canned tomatoes, reserving the juices, and spread onto a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, to taste, drizzle with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and roast until caramelized, about 15 minutes.

3.      Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat remaining olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the celery, carrot, onion and garlic, cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the roasted chopped canned tomatoes, reserved tomato juices, chicken broth, bay leaf and butter. Simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add basil and cream, if using. Puree with a hand held immersion blender until smooth.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/homemade-tomato-soup-recipe/index.html

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone had a great new years. This year I think we should make more of an efford to really try to much sure our children are getting the right healthy foods needed to grow. Let's work as a community to make sure our children are healthy.

Here is a great lesson plan which teachers may use in their classes to get children to learn their fruits and veggies: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/includes/content/lunchlab/fruits.pdf

Here is a fun website for parents and children may use at home and may learn together: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/nutritionforkids/index.htm

Great Vidoes

For all the teachers that would like to get your children in you class interested in nutrition. Here are a few videos to use:

Fat Food vs. Healthy Food on PhotoPeach

Chapter 8: Food and Nutrition on PhotoPeach