A healthy menu translates into healthy eating that is influential for growth and development in infants, toddlers and children. Developing a healthy menu is part of the significant step in making healthy choices and healthy behaviors in the life of young ones.
Steps for Developing a Healthy Menu for Infants
For the first six months, breast is the only drink and food that the baby requires. Breastfeeding should continue until the baby is one year or longer depending on the way that is reciprocally wanted by both mother and baby. For babies that cannot breastfeed, the mother or caregiver should get a commercial bought infant formula. The infant formula should be checked to ensure that all the necessary minerals for instance iron are available. Further, the caregiver should learn the frequency of offering the formula and the safety precautions in storage and preparation of the formula ("What to leave off the menu | Healthy Eating Advisory Service", 2018).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
When the infant is 6 to 8 months, the food should be smashed, and then the baby progresses to minced and lumpy foods. The baby needs more nutrients and therefore, begins to try solid foods. Breast milk and infant formula is part of the diet. At 8-12 months, the foods are chopped, finger foods and the baby progresses to the regular menu ( Infants and Children , 2018).
Steps for Developing a Healthy Menu for Toddlers
At the age of 1 to 3 years, it is essential to offer the toddler the same healthy foods that other members of the family enjoy. The menu should entail different textures and flavors in the all the four groups of food. The categories include vegetables and fruit, milk alternatives, grain products, and meat and alternatives (Anzman ‐ Frasca et al ., 2015). The meals should have little or no added sugar or salt. Incorporate in the diet foods that are rich fats, for instance, avocado, salmon, nut butter and cheese. Most toddlers have a higher risk of choking. They possess small airways and minimal control during swallowing. It is essential to be with the child when eating.
The toddlers decide what they want to eat and the quantity of intake. The toddler’s appetite changes day to day. Most of the children eat at the time they are hungry. As such, they should not be forced to eat. The Florida health programs alluded that vegetarian eating is essential and can meet the toddler’s wants for growth and development. It is important to offer water between the meals to quench any kind of thirst.
Steps for Developing a Healthy Menu for Children
Child caregivers need to ensure that every meal served to the children has, at least, each of the components of food in the quantities that are elucidated for the children and done in the correct pattern. In the menu, the nutritional requirements are achieved by targeting at least three meals a day. Each meal should contain an item from the every food group and up to two healthy snacks. The child eats from the regular menu with the rest of the family. Knai, Pomerleau, Lock and McKee (2016) recommended the use of a fruit drinks for children at intervals before meals.
Some foods can be left off the menu. That includes drinks and food that have large quantities of energy, salt/or sugar, saturated fat and the foods that have minimal nutritional value. That incorporates foods like chocolate, cakes, ice cream, sugary drinks and fried foods.
In conclusion, it is realized that a healthy menu is crucial for the overall development of the children. Clean and well-treated tap water remains an integral part of the meal. Most of the toddlers do not have a fixed timetable but eat when they feel hungry.
References
Anzman ‐ Frasca, S., Mueller, M. P., Sliwa, S., Dolan, P. R., Harelick, L., Roberts, S. B., & Economos, C. D. (2015). Changes in children's meal orders following healthy menu modifications at a regional US restaurant chain. Obesity , 23 (5), 1055-1062.
Cite a Website - Cite This For Me . (2018). Floridahealth.gov . Retrieved 12 February 2018, from http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/child-care-food-program/nutrition/_documents/nmp-workbook-2013.pdf
Infants and Children . (2018). HealthLink BC . Retrieved 12 February 2018, from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthy-eating/your-age-and-stage/children
Knai, C., Pomerleau, J., Lock, K., & McKee, M. (2016). Getting children to eat more fruit and vegetables: a systematic review. Preventive medicine , 42 (2), 85-95.
What to leave off the menu | Healthy Eating Advisory Service . (2018). Heas.health.vic.gov.au . Retrieved 12 February 2018, from http://heas.health.vic.gov.au/early-childhood-services/menu-planning/what-to-leave-off
