“ChooseMyPlate” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture canprovide parents with a general guideline for the types of foodsto be offered on a regular basis. A child should eat three mealsa day and two healthy snacks. A general rule for the quantity offood to offer to a child is one tablespoon per age of each foodprovided per meal, with more given if the child requests. As arule of thumb, children should not be eating more than an adultpalm per serving. By 1 year of age, infants should be eating mealswith the family, have a regular schedule of meals and snacks,and be encouraged to self-feed with appropriate finger foods.
The “plate” image is divided into five sections: Fruits, Grains,Vegetables, Protein, and Dairy (Figure 28-1; Table 28-1). Halfof the “plate” should be vegetables and fruits, and the other halfgrains and proteins, with dairy on the side. The “plate” is simple,organized, and serves as a guide for healthy eating. A weekly recommendation for vegetable intake is also provided (Table 28-1).Other suggestions include the following: switch to fat free orlow-fat (1%) milk; make at least half of the grains whole insteadof refined grains; avoid oversize proportions; compare sodium(salt) in foods such as soup, bread, and frozen meals; choosefoods with lower sodium content; and drink water instead of sugary drinks. After 2 years, it is recommended that the fatintake gradually be reduced to approximately 30% and not lessthan 20% of calories. Replace proteins from red meat with a mixof fish, chicken, nuts, and legumes. Power struggles over eatingare common between parents and toddlers. The parent’s role is to decide the what, when, and where of the meals. The child’s role is to decide if, what, and how much to eat.
Iron intake may be inadequate in some children between 1 and 3 years of age in the United States. Significant iron deficiency anemia exists in some high-risk minority or low-income www.ChooseMyPlate.gov *Including cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, lettuce, zucchini.
Figure 28-1 “ChooseMyPlate” guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (From www.ChooseMyPlate.gov populations of young children. Toddlers with excessive milk intakes (>32 oz/day) and/or those who consume little meat, green leaves rich in iron, or grains are at risk for iron deficiency.
Teen nutrition can be a challenge. Ads for junk food and images of incredibly thin adolescents provide conflicting and unhealthy ideas about what they should eat. Girls ages 14 to 18 need anywhere from 1800 to 2400 calories per day, depending on their activity level and stage of development. Boys of the same age group need 2000 to 3200 calories daily. Poor eating habits may develop during adolescence. Skipped meals (especially breakfast), binge eating with friends or alone, dieting, and consumption of nutrient-poor, calorically dense foods are common problems. Excessive consumption of sugar from soda, fruit drinks, and specialty coffee and tea drinks may contribute to excess weight gain as well as tooth decay and may displace other needed nutrients. Poor calcium intake during adolescence may predispose the adult to future osteoporotic hip fracture. Osteoporosis (osteopenia) during adolescence caused by poor dietary calcium or vitamin D intake or poor absorption of ingested calcium in children and adolescents is a potential problem. Only 1 of 10 teenage girls and 1 of 4 teenage boys get enough calcium every day. Adolescents ages 9 to 18 need 1300 milligrams of calcium daily. Good sources include milk, yogurt, fortified orange juice, cheese, soybeans, and tofu.