Common Problems with Child Nutrition

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Common Problems with Child Nutrition
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Food Jag

• Only wants to eat 1 food
• Improper nutrition
• Limits variety

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How To Prevent

• Offer variety of foods at each meal
• Do not offer the food between meals
• Make foods appealing
• Color and texture
• Dont force eating
• Will eat when hungry

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Fear of New Food

• Dont force on a child
• Frequent exposure
• Model good behavior
• Children mimic adults

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Refusing to eat what is served

• May pick at one meal
• Make up for it at the next
• Dont give in!
• Discipline issue

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Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
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Why snacks are important

• Essential for energy
• Dont eat a lot at one sitting
• Balance out uneven diet
• Keep them from becoming cranky
• Boost intake of nutrients

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Snack Schedule

• 2-3 snacks daily
• Mid morning
• Mid afternoon
• After dinner
• Do not bribe with sweets
• Small portions

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How to Incorporate Healthy Snacks

• Decide whats an appropriate snack
• Stick to a snack schedule
• Work with a toddlers independence, not against it

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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

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Appropriate Snacks, cont

• Small portions
• ½ c dry cereal
• ½ c milk
• Banana
• 5-6 crackers

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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
• Dont allow to carry around a sugary drink all day

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Work with the Toddlers 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

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Snacks vs Sweets

• Dont use sweets as a bribe
• Dont let sweets become a regular snack
• Keep sweets out of sight and reach

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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