Clearing up Mythinformation about Nutrition and Physical Activity for Kids

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Clearing up Myth-information about Nutrition
and Physical Activity for Kids
A Presentation for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx County
Elementary Schools
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Myth 1

• Sugar makes kids hyper.

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FACTS

• Sugar does not cause hyperactivity
• A high-sugar diet is often low in key vitamins
  and minerals
• On average, children eat 24 to 34 TEASPOONS of
  sugar each day
• Thats 3 to 6 times TOO much!

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FACTS

• A little sugar is OK to eat
• No more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of sugar a day
• Its important to keep the BIG picture in mind

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Smart Moves

• Choose products naturally low in sugar or use
  low-sugar alternatives.

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Myth 2

• Juice is healthy.

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FACTS

• Whether juice is healthy depends upon the kind
  and amount
• Only fruit juice is 100 juice
• Potential benefits of 100 juice include vitamin
  C, phytonutrients and added calcium
• Juice has virtually NO fiber

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FACTS

• Kids who drink TOO much juice
• May gain weight
• May miss out on foods with more nutritional value
• May be at risk for cavities

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Smart Moves

• Choose 100 juice
• Offer it only as part of a meal or snack
• No more than 4 to 6 oz per day for kids 1 to 6
  years old
• No more than 8 to 12 oz per day for kids 7 to 18
  years old
• Go for whole fruits instead of juice

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Myth 3

• Kids need kid-friendly food.

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FACTS

• Kid-friendly foods are usually HIGH in fat,
  sugar, salt and calories
• Highly marketed products include
• Sugar-sweetened cereals
• Candy, snacks and beverages
• Fast food
• Children ask for products by brand as early as 2
  years old

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Smart Moves

• Offer a variety of unprocessed, nutritious meals
  and snacks
• Help children understand and evaluate food ads
• Watch for products that have jumped on the
  junk-food-makeover bandwagon
• Support changes in marketing toward children

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Myth 4

• Once a picky eater, always a picky eater.

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FACTS

• Still learning about new foods
• Choices influenced by parents and peers
• Fluctuations in appetite are normal
• Likely getting necessary nutrients
• Tend to see improvements as enter puberty

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Smart Moves

• Be a role model
• You provide, they decide
• Set limits
• Continue to offer new foods
• Dont scold, cajole, bribe or punish
• Reward and praise desired behavior

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Myth 5

• Childhood overweight is not a concern in North
  Carolina.

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FACTS

• A large percentage of children ARE overweight in
  North Carolina
• Overweight children are more likely to become
  overweight adults
• Overweight has increased risk for many serious
  diseases
• Many parents do not recognize overweight in their
  own children

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Smart Moves

• Talk to your childs doctor about determining
  his or her weight-for-height.

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Myth 6

• Children who are not overweight can eat whatever
  they want.

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FACTS

• Teaching good eating habits IS important
  regardless of weight
• Good habits can last a lifetime
• Poor diets can impact future health even if not
  overweight
• Children in the U.S. are not meeting dietary
  recommendations

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Smart Moves

• Expose ALL children to healthy foods
• Use educational tools, such as MyPyramid for Kids

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Myth 7

• Active children get plenty of physical
  activity.

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FACTS

• Kids need moderately intense and vigorous
  physical activity for AT LEAST 1 hour each day
• 15 minute increments or MORE are ideal

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Smart Moves

• Encourage a variety of kid-friendly ways to step
  up physical activity level
• For teachers, consider integrating physical
  activity into curriculum

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Myth 8

• Watching too much TV has no effect on the health
  of children.

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FACTS

• Watching too much TV does negatively impact the
  health of children
• Marketed foods are usually high in solid fats and
  added sugars
• Relationship between TV viewing and poor diets
• TV presents conflicting messages

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FACTS

• Watching TV is a passive event
• Difficult to get recommended amounts of physical
  activity if watching too much TV
• Relationship between too much TV and childhood
  obesity

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Smart Moves

• Reduce screen time by closely monitoring use
• Limit viewing to under two hours per day
• Help children understand and evaluate ads

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Myth 9

• It costs too much time and money to eat healthy.

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FACTS

• A healthy diet CAN be eaten in a crunch and
  without breaking the bank
• It takes the same amount of time to purchase
  healthy foods as it does unhealthy ones
• Frozen and canned fruits and veggies count
• Fresh fruit is natures convenience food

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FACTS

• A well-stocked kitchen helps pull together quick,
  healthy meals
• Making big batches of meals in advance can save
  time in the long run
• Healthy cooking techniques are often time-saving
• Good nutrition can be added to fast favorites

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FACTS

• Fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies can cut costs
• Fresh produce is reasonably priced when converted
  to cost per serving
• Going meat-less for some meals can help save
  money
• Convenience foods often cost more due to
  packaging

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FACTS

• Coupons may lure you to junk foods at a price
• Buying items in bulk may work for some
• Eating out usually costs more and is less healthy
• Bringing snacks from home avoids the cost of
  purchased snacks

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Smart Moves

• Create a game plan that works best for your
  family
• Plan healthy meals and snacks in advance
• Make a shopping list and stick to it
• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store

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Myth 10

• Kids can make up for unhealthy lifestyles later.

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FACTS

• Healthy eating and physical activity are
  especially important for children
• Key nutrients missed in childhood CANNOT be
  made-up later in life
• Learning the skills and ability to be physically
  active for life begins in childhood

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FACTS
Optimal nutrition and physical activity decrease
risk for

• Obesity
• Eating disorders
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis

• Heart disease
• Depression
• Cancer
• Polycystic ovary disease

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• What ONE myth can you conquer TODAY to help
  children be as healthy as they can be?

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Contact Information

• Insert Your Name and Contact Information