Healthy Food and Nutrition

The same nutrients for a healthy life are needed for all humans from infancy through out adulthood. Young children need nutrients for energy and healthy growth development. Adults need the same nutrients to maintain/repair body tissue and energy levels. Required amounts of nutrients vary at different stages of life. For example, a small child requires forty calories per pound, where as an adult female requires only eighteen and an adult male twenty-one calories for each pound.
Nutrient amounts for children also vary during different stages of development. An infant experiencing a rapid rate of growth require high intakes of nutrients. Toddlers grow slower than infants, yet still have high nutrient needs because of smaller stomach capacities. Preschoolers’ grow in spurts; therefore nutrient intake needs are constantly changing, depending on the need at the time.
Eating habits and attitudes toward food start early in life and usually follows a person into adulthood. The prevention of obesity and chronic diseases,like heart disease, kidney failure and diabetes are minimized. Teaching children healthy eating habits can be accomplished by implementing a health education curriculum in school. Another way is to incorporate an extension of health programs to parents for consistency between school and home. A well-designed curriculum that effectively addresses essential nutrition education topics can increase students’ knowledge about nutrition, shape appropriate attitudes, and help develop the behavioral skills students need to plan, prepare, and select healthful meals and snacks (Healthy People 2010, n.d.).
Children model adult behavior. For this reason it is important for adults to be positive role models of healthy habits. Activities, environment, meal planning, and supervision should be a part of a teacher’s daily commitment to health education practices. Teachers can model good eating habits by integrating learning experiences about good food choices while sharing a snack or meal with the children.
It is beneficial for caregivers to remain current on young children's eating habits and the nutritional needs at different stages of development. The nutritional needs for infancy is high because of rapid growth rates. By six months of age infants require 40-45 calories per pound. All these calories are from formula or mother's milk. As the infant grow into toddlers the appetite decreases. Toddlers grow less rapidly than infants. Their nutritional need is still high. Proteins, fats, and iron has to come from eating many different foods in appropriate amounts. By preschool age growth happens in spurts. Their caloric need will change, depending on the child's need at the time. The main difference between toddlers and preschoolers is the amount of food required to meet calorie and nutrient needs.

Three nutritional recipes, for home, that preschoolers can help prepare are:
1. Bugs or Ants on a Log (Creative Kids Crafts)
Get Ready for Kindergarten
Give your preschool child a head start for school.
This is always a fun kitchen activity for kids interested in bugs. Plus it is a very healthy snack any day of the week.
What You’ll Need
* Celery sticks
* Raisins or Mini-M&Ms
* Cheese spread or peanut butter
or cream cheese
Directions
Wash celery.
Cut it into "logs".
Spread topping into celery. (Choose cheese or peanut butter).
Add a few raisins (ie bugs)
Nutritional Value: raisins=iron, peanut butter=protein, celery=vitamin A

2. HEALTHY FRUITY POPSISCLES (Show Kids the Fun)

INGREDIENTS
Frozen strawberries (thawed a little)
Plain yogurt
A drop of vanilla
A little honey

PREPARATION
Put all ingredients into a blender
Blend it till its smooth
Pour into popsicle molds
Put into the freezer
Nutritional Value: Strawberries=Vitamin C, Yogurt=Calcium,

3. HEALTHY FRUITY SMOOTHIES EASY RECIPES (Show Kids the Fun)

INGREDIENTS
1 Frozen peeled ripe banana
1 cup orange juice

PREPARATION
Cut banana into chunks (great cutting lessons for kids)
Throw banana chunks into blender (count as you throw)
Pour in orange juice (enhance pouring skill)
Remember to close the cover (or you'll get fruity splash!)
Press the button to blend till smooth
Pour into glasses (another pouring lesson)

You can use any type of frozen fruits combined with any juice. You may also use yogurt or fresh / soya milk. (Show Kids the Fun)
Nutritional value: Banana=fiber, potassium, vitamin C, 93% carbohydrates, 3%fats, and 4% protein
Cited References

Healthy People 2010. Nutrition and Overweight. Retrieved October 3, 2009, from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume2/19


Creative Kids Crafts: Preschool Kids Cooking and Recipe Ideas. Retrieved October 3,
2009 from http://www.creativekidskrafts.com/preschoolerrecipes.html

Show Kids the Fun. Cooking activities for Kids. Retrieved October3, 2009 from
http://showkidsthefun.com/activities-by-type/kitchen/ideas.php