Section 4: Healthy Food and Nutrition

Good nutrition and eating habits are so important to infants in several ways. The first way is that infants value good nutrition for their growth and development (Robertson, 2007, p. 295). According to the course text, at the first four to six months of life, the only food an infant’s body can accommodate is breast milk or formula that provides with the nutrients (Robertson, 2007, p. 295). If an infant is breastfeed, the mother is allowed to give the baby its milk when they drop them off, and then come back at lunch. When infants are 4 to 6 months old, they are introduced to solid foods, such as cereal.
Good nutrition and eating habits are also important to toddlers in several ways. The first way is that good nutrition allows the child to grow, learn, and play (Robertson, 2007, p. 306). The second way for good nutrition and eating habits in toddlers is that they need to follow an eating pattern just like the infants. The third way for good nutrition and eating habits it teaches the toddler the importance of eating on a schedule.
Good nutrition and eating habits are important to preschoolers in several ways. Preschoolers are known as picky-eaters, which means that there are certain types of food that they will or will not eat. Another way is that preschoolers like to be around a positive environment when it is time for them to eat, support their growth and nourish their development (Robertson, 2007, p. 314). A third way for good nutrition is that teachers can encourage preschool children to help with the food preparation (Robertson, 2007, p. 314).
Adults should actively help children develop healthy eating habits by training the child to be on task in eating foods that are good for them and also by giving the that child a selection of well-prepared foods (Robertson, 2007, p. 307). Another way that adults can help children develop healthy eating habits is by being flexible of the feeding schedule and make sure they eat on time (Robertson, 2007, p. 308).
1) Strawberry Shortcake’s Fruit Pizza
• 1 English muffin
• 2 tablespoons whipped, fat-free strawberry cream cheese
• 1/3 cup strawberries, sliced
• ¼ cup red grapes, quartered
Preparation: Toast the English muffins until golden brown. Spread cream cheese on toasted muffin. Arrange sliced strawberries, grapes, and orange slices on top of the cream cheese. Slice into quarters and you’ll have “yummy fruit pizza”!
Here is the nutrition value of Strawberry Shortcake’s Fruit Pizza:
Calories: 228 Protein: 10g
Total Fat: 1.3g Carbohydrates: 46g
Saturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 5mg
% of Calories from Fat: 5% Dietary Fiber: 4g
% Calories from Saturated Fat: 0% Sodium: 374mg
2) Banana Milkshake
1 cup lowfat milk
1 large banana, sliced
Mix, milk, and banana together in a blender for a delicious milkshake.
Serves 2. Nutrition Information: 110 calories, 2.5 g fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium, 19 g carbohydrate
3) Green Eggs and Ham

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon chopped green onions (optional)
1 Tablespoons chopped green peppers (optional)
¼ cup chopped ham
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon lowfat milk
¼ cup chopped spinach
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in a skillet. Add green onions, green peppers and ham, sauté. Beat eggs and milk together and add to the vegetables mixture. Stir in spinach. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir the mixture constantly until eggs are set. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 120 calories, 9 g fat, 215 mg cholesterol, 200 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate
There are couple suggestions that I would make to make cooking together is an enjoyable learning experience for children and their families. The first suggestion I would make is turning it into a game by having them figure out how many goes into what. Then, I would suggest that they put their hands in the mixture to see how ooey and gooey it is.
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org
Robertson, Cathie. Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education. 4ed. Cengage Learning, 2007.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/foodforthought