Category Archives: Child Nutrition

School Lunches: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

When I started this blog it was not intended discuss my experience in working with school lunches several years ago. However, the recent media blowout over a school girl’s lunch has me on edge.

It all comes down to misunderstanding and the school’s inability to handle the situation appropriately:

The girl’s teacher should have handed the child a carton of milk to round out the turkey-and-cheese sandwich and banana she brought from home. Instead, the teacher erred by telling the tyke to get a cafeteria lunch, Barnes (Hook County Superintendant) said.

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Meal Wars – Part 5: The Child Who Sneaks Food

This is the last of my 5 part series on feeding children. When in doubt, always remember the parent and child responsibilities. The parent plans the meal, prepares healthy options, and provides a positive environment. The child will choose whether or not to eat, what to eat (from the healthy options you provide), and how much to eat based on scheduled meals and snack times.

In this last series you will see a lot of overlap between this type of behavior and with “the child who overeats” (see previous blog Meal Wars – Part 3).

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Super Snacks for Kids

These snacks are great for kids (and adults) to graze. They combine a variety of options that include carbohydrates with protein, fiber and/or healthy fat. There is one on this list that even your pickiest eater should enjoy.

 

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Meal Wars – Part 4: The Child Who Asks for Snacks All the Time

Some children ask for snacks all the time. In this series, I have provided parents with some ideas to help you and your child cope between meals:

1. Provide regular meal and snack times. This will save you the worry that your child is going hungry and will help your child to curb a frequent snacking habit.

2. Children frequently mistake being tired or bored for being hungry. Help your child work out what they are truly feeling.

Ask if they are really hungry, but fight the urge to tell children, “You are not hungry.”

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Meal Wars – Part 3: The Child Who Overeats

As a parent, always remember to refer to the responsibilities that you and your child have. So here is some strategies to help you with the child that overeats:

1. Stay Positive – don’t judge, criticize, overreact, or call attention to your child’s overeating.

2. Tune in to your child’s emotional life – Stress and unhappiness can lead to overeating. Make time to talk to your child about their day. Listen to their problems and work together to address them. You may need to see professional help if necessary.

3. Fix and serve health meals and snacks (in reasonable portions) at regular times.

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Meal Wars: Part 2 – The Child Who Refuses to Eat Healthy Food

I have a picky eater at home, no doubt about that. But I find it’s not always my son (wink, wink). However, that being said, it’s always important to be a good role model for your kid(s). If you don’t like broccoli and say that at the dinner table, then your child will demonstrate that behavior.

One of the best authors on this subject is Ellyn Satter. She wrote several books on infant and toddler feeding. She emphasized the parent responsibilities of providing the what, where, and when food will be served, and children choosing whether, what, and how much to eat from the healthy choices you provide, as a parent.

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Meal Wars: The Struggle of Healthy Eating, Part 1

It is not uncommon for parents to wonder if they are doing the right by their child.  Am I going to breastfeed my child?  Should I use cloth or disposable diapers?  Is he watching too much TV?  How often should my child eat?  While most parents can answer most of these questions for themselves, I can definitely help answer the last one.

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