Nutrition and Children

Task 3
5.1 Identify balanced meals, snacks and drinks for children in their EY, following government guidance on nutritional needs
Children have to have a balanced diet of certain foods in order for the children to grow properly. This list provides for children;-
Warmth
Growth
Sensory experience
Fighting infection and healing the body
Energy
Helping general behaviour patterns, for example sleeping, concentration and alertness
Establishment of good eating habits and prevention of digestive problems
Development of healthy bones, teeth, skin, muscles, nervous system, all bodily functions
All food are made up of one or more nutrients;-
Proteins;-
-build the body
- Good for the brain, blood, skin and other tissues within the body
Vitamins;-
Help to maintain a healthy body
Made by plants and animals
Carbohydrates
Gives energy
Are present in foods such as pulses, bread and oats

Fibre-;-

-maintains a healthy bowel
- adds bulk to foods
- is known as roughage
- Can’t be digested
- is made of plant material
- is presented in foods such as bread, pluses and oats

Fats;-
Gives energy
Stored as body fat if too much is eaten

Water;-

Makes up two- thirds of the body’s weight
Is essential for children to drink

Minerals;-

Are presented in most foods
Includes calcium, iron and fluoride
Comes from earth
Builds strong bones and teeth
There is a big variety of these foods need to be eaten to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. You need a lot of water in your in body but it is continuously lost through sweating, breathing and urinating, so it needs to be replaced through foods and drink.
Within a balanced diet children need to have five a day which means five fruits or vegetables a day. Also children need to have a little bit of fat in their diet to give the children energy but if they have too much fat this is stored as fat and they will become overweight and then eventually obese and too much fat in younger life will cause problems such as heart disease later in life.
A balanced diet for any child requires recommended portions from five different food groups. If the child is given the right number of portions from each food group you will know that their bodies are receiving all the nutrients that are required in the right amounts.
Group 1- oils and fats;-
This group of food give a concentrated source of energy, but research has shown that too much saturated fat (animal fats) may result to heart disease later in life. Processed food contain hidden fats within in them for example, cheese, crisps , chips, pies and sausages and a lot more, you need to take care because if children have these for their main diet it will cause a lot of problems later on in life. Use unsaturated fat when possible, grill instead of frying and use oven chips rather than deep pan frying them.
For children aged two years and under need a lot more fates and less fibre than older children and adults. The fat provides the extra energy that is needed at this stage and too much fibre will fill young children up and other more important foods may be left out.
Group 2- high protein foods;-
This group of foods contains meat, fish, poultry, eggs, tofu, quorn, pulses and all the types of beans. These foods along with diary foods provide the main source of the protein in the diet. Meat, eggs and pulses have iron and many of the B vitamins and oily fish and liver contain vitamin A. Pulses provide children with alternative source of protein for vegetarians.
A child needs two portions from this group per day. To get the amount they need the portion is depending on the age group they are in for example if your child has apportion of meat or fish fingers will vary from two slices or fingers for a young child or three or four for an older child.
Group 3- milk and dairy products;-
Milk and dairy products contain milk, yogurt and soft cheese also includes cottage cheese and fromage frais. All these products contain protein, vitamins A and B this helps the nervous system they are also rich sources of calcium. If a child has one pint of milk or if its equivalent each day the child is ensure to have enough calcium to form healthy bones and teeth but if the child does not like milk you need to make sure that the child has another product from this group instead. Because if children are low in energy and smaller in fat- soluble vitamin content, reduced-fat dairy products should not be given to children under five years of age.
A child needs three portions from this group each day, for example a child could have a portion of a tablespoon of grated cheese, one yogurt or one glass of milk.
Groups 4- fruit and vegetables;-
Fruit and vegetables contain a good source of vitamins and minerals as well as fibre. Green vegetables contain iron, and citrus fruits and potatoes and high in vitamin A. Tinned and frozen vegetables and tinned or dried fruit can be used as stand by and will still provide the child with the required nutrients they will need, as long as they are stored and cooked correctly. Many vitamins are destroyed through poor storage and in cooking. The best place to store food is by freezing it because it locks all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
To keep vitamins in food storage;-
Eat food while it’s fresh as possible because sunlight destroys vitamins
Eat the whole raw fruit and vegetables when possible, otherwise peel the chip the immediately before eating
When vegetables and fruit are cooked use the water from them to put in the gravy or sauce because it will contain all the vitamins which has dissolved into the water
Give children fruit, salad or fruit juice instead if they don’t like the vegetables

Children need five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day and at least one portion should be rich in vitamin C. A child could have a glass of fruit juice, a piece and two tablespoons of cooked vegetables. The way you could do this is by putting them into little tubs with cut up cucumber, carrots and tomatoes. Groups 5- potatoes and cereals;-

In this group it contains high- energy foods. This group contains bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals and potatoes. This group of food provided energy as well as protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre which ware the bulk of the diet. The fibre content of these foods can be raised by using whole- grain pasta, rice or chapattis, wholemeal breads and potatoes in their skins. Fibre helps digestion and prevents constipation, as well as encouraging chewing and healthy gums.
On the other hand children need to have five portions from this group of foods each day a portion should be included in each meal of the day. Children could have one small potato, slice of pizza, small bowl of cereal, one slice of bread.
Snacks- children sometimes need energy but at mid- morning or mid- afternoon to keep their energy levels up. This is an ideal time to introduce different tastes and different foods to the children.
Additives- this is a substance which is added to preserve it or to improve its ‘looks or taste. By law all manufactured must list what additives they have put in that product on the package; they are all coded E numbers so that they are recognisable. They your best to offer children fresh or frozen vegetables, or fresh fruit when you can.
Liquids- are really important as well as food in a balanced diet. Squashes and fizzy drinks are very high in sugar. Water is a lot better for you or natural fruit juices. But a mixture of drinks may be more realistic, including milk. Make sure that you don’t add sugar to drinks because this will encourage a ‘sweet tooth’

Salt – a balanced diet should have the right amount of salt which a child will need every day. Too much salt added when cooking or when you are sat at the table, can cause ill health later in life for children which should be avoided. For babies and young children it can cause kidney problems.

Children sometimes may have food conditions where they might not be able to eat some foods and have more food than what other children have;

Diabetes- this means that the pancreas cannot regulate the body’s sugar levels. Children need to avoid sugar but should have regular meals and snacks. Each child’s needs will be different and you will have to work closely with your supervisor and parent to support that child.

Coeliac disease- this is another medical condition which means that children cannot absorb their food normally. Coelia children avoid gluten, which id found in cereals such as wheat barely ect. Celiac disease is usually detected after a child has been weaned from breast milk.

5.2 Recognise why it is important to follow a carer’s instructions in respect of their child’s food allergies or intolerances

Within a child care setting you need to listen to the parents or carers to make sure that you have the correct information in case the child could have allergies or intolerances. For example a child could be lactose intolerance this is where the child will not be allowed milk or cheese; you need to make sure that every member of staff is aware of this for when they are carrying out snack/ meal times, or if a parent doesn’t want their child to have something you need to take this into account. As well in the kitchen you should have a list of children with allergies so who can see who can have foods and which child can’t.
If you don’t listen to the parent/ carer then the correct information will not be passed on and if that child had an allergic reaction or accident whilst in your care. If a child is allergic to bananas and a child is sat next to someone with a banana or something that contains banana, the child could touch it and not be aware of this and will then have an allergic reaction or could become poorly and start to vomit or diarrhoea.
If you don’t listen to the parent or carers information or forget about it, the parent/ carer could then put a formal complaint to the manager of the setting because you have put their child at risk.

5.3 Identify the dietary requirements of different cultural or religious groups

For children who have come from another background and culture they eat different types of foods for example;

Jews;-
Eat kosher lamb, beef and chicken which is slaughtered and prepared in a certain way
Dairy products are not eaten with meat
Eggs must not have blood spots
Fish should have fins, scales and backbones
Fast during Yom Kippur Muslims;-
Eat halal meat, fish and shellfish which is slaughtered and prepared in a certain way
Don’t eat pork or dairy products that contain rennet
Fast during Ramadan
Hindus;-

Usually vegetarian
Don’t eat beef as the cow is seen as a scared animal
Don’t eat dairy products that contain rennet
Some hindus eat eggs and shellfish
Eat fish with fins and shellfish

Sikhs;-

Rarely eat pork; do not eat beef as the cow is seen as a scared animal
Some Sikhs eat chicken, cheese, fish and shellfish

Vegans don’t eat meat fish or any other products that come from animals, such as milk, eggs and cheese

Vegetarians do not eat meat or fish

Some children may have food allergies. This means that they can’t tolerate certain foods and may become very ill if they are to eat them, the common food allergies are;-
Lactose- found in milk and dairy products
Histamine- found in strawberries and ripe tomatoes
Tartrazine- found in yellow food colouring and some drinks and sweets

5.4 Describe methods of educating children and adults in effective food management

When carrying out a baking activity with a child in setting it is important that they learn that before touching any type of food they need to wash their hands with warm water and soap, as well this goes for all adults because this is important that adults show good role models to children.
Within my setting the children bring their own dinner, but this has to be a healthy dinner and a parent was asking what can I put in his/ hers packed lunch, I then told her for example she could bring tinned spaghetti or ravioli and we can warm that up for their child in the microwave, as well they could bring sandwiches, then a yogurt to have with the other children who are having savoury, then the parent asked what other savoury products could I bring, I told them fresh fruit or homemade dinners from the night before. Once I had told them a few things the parents then started to think about different things they can bring in for their child’s lunch box.