FCS-FNL-5. Students will explain the
nutritional requirements of the stages
of childhood
a. Analyze the causes, treatment, and
prevention of childhood obesity.
b. Evaluate a school nutrition program for
meeting the nutritional needs at different
stages of childhood and determine and
recommend any needed changes to the
program.
c. Investigate nutrients that may pose
problems in the diet and evaluate the use of
dietary supplements in early childhood.
d. Identify children at nutritional risk.
Do you have memories
like this?

Bill Cosby tells Rudy she will “sit there
until she eats the vegetables”
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey4IeV
B4_eY

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Do you have memories of your parents
“making” you eat your vegetables?
Now that you are older, do you understand
why they wanted you to do this?
Do you think that you will make your future
children “sit there until they eat the
vegetables”?
CHILDHOOD OBESITY



Children who are obese are more likely to
suffer from type 2 diabetes, hypertension,
cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other
chronic diseases
Childhood obesity can affect a child’s selfesteem and self-concept
Characteristics of CO
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–
–
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–
Non-European descent
Family history of type 2 diabetes
Low family income
Eat when they are not hungry
Watch excessive amounts of TV
Sedentary lifestyles
Parents who are obese
CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Treatment/Prevention
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Appropriate food portions
Setting regular mealtimes
Nutritious snacks
Limiting high sugar/high fat foods
Parents set a good example
Physical activity
Slow down eating
Limiting TV time
Parents should not use food as a
reward/punishment

A&E Video: Obesity
– Points of interest while watching the video:


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What social commonalities do you see with the
children in the video?
What commonalities do each set of parents
share?
What were the excuses the children and
parents gave for the obesity?
Think of the list of characteristics discussed in
class. Make a note of which characteristic each
child exhibits.
???? Land



Design your own HEALTHY version of the classic
children’s game “Candy Land”
The object of the game is to advance to a healthy life
by avoiding factors that contribute to obesity, as well
as making healthy food choices
Include in your game ways to prevent obesity
– Examples could include:



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Eat an apple, advance one space
Play outside for 30 minutes, advance two spaces
Eat a candy bar and drink a coke for lunch, lose a turn
Include the “bad guys” of obesity and the “good
guys” of healthy nutrition
– Examples could include

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Harry Hypertension
Dungeon of Diabetes
Bouncing Broccoli
SCHOOL NUTRITION



School nutrition for childhood usually starts at
the preschool years and continues through
sixth grade
It is important to remember that sweets
should be limited in a nutritious diet; nutrientrich foods should be used to satisfy hunger
Children develop tastes for certain foods at
an early age and the eating habits and
attitudes children learn are likely to last a
lifetime
SCHOOL NUTRITION

School lunches must follow the Dietary
Guidelines
– Recommended that no more than 30 percent of
an individual's calories come from fat and less
than 10 percent from saturated fat.


Provide 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary
Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C,
iron, calcium, and calories.
Must meet Federal nutrition requirements,
but decisions about what specific foods to
serve and how they are prepared are made
by local school food authorities.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf
SCHOOL NUTRITION

The 2006 Child Nutrition Act mandated that
every school district that participates in
Federally funded meal programs develop a
School Wellness Policy
– The policy includes rules on vending machines,
competitive food items, and nutrition education
Play
Clip
from
Super
Size Me
Childs Menu and Aesthetic Values
Food Item Color
Pan Cake
Or. Juice
Sausage
Choc Milk
Toast
Texture Size
Shape
Temp.
Childs Menu and Aesthetic Values
Food Item Color
Texture Size
Shape
Pan Cake
Or. Juice
Sausage
Brown
Orange
Brown
Soft
Liquid
Soft
Choc Milk
Toast
Brown
Brown
Liquid
Medium Circle
Crunchy Medium Square
Medium Circle
Medium Circle
Small
Circle
Temp.
Warm
Cold
Warm
Cold
Warm
Summary: Color is mostly brown…more colors could be
used. Texture is mostly soft or liquid…Shapes and sizes
should be varied
NUTRIENT ISSUES and
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Common nutrient deficiencies
– Protein, energy, vitamin A, iron, and zinc

In the U.S., these deficiencies usually go
unnoticed
– Iron deficiency seems to be the most
common of the above


Anemia can result from this deficiency
Iron supplements should only be suggested by
a physician
– Iron toxicity (through ingesting too many iron pills)
is the leading cause of poisoning
CHILDREN AT
NUTRITIONAL RISK

Both parents work irregular schedules
– Children need a regular meal schedule

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Feeling tired or cranky from hunger will affect
their appetites
Low income families
– Healthy food costs more and children need
HEALTHY snacks

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Their stomachs are small, but their energy levels
are high and they are not able to eat enough at
dinner time to satisfy the need
Parents/Family have history of obesity
or chronic disease
Children who have food allergies or
intolerances
CHILDREN AT
NUTRITIONAL RISK

Sometimes children go
through food jags, or
wanting one food for a
while
– They usually don’t last
very long, keep
introducing new foods

Make sure mealtime is
pleasant, serve
colorful foods, small
servings, ask them to
help cook, let them
help fix their plate