Nutritional Needs Throughout the Life Cycle

Nutritional Needs Throughout the Life CyclePreschooler

Case Study: Preschooler• Girl• 3 years old• Family situation:

nuclear family• Nutrition concern:

male family member has high cholesterol

Canada’s Food GuideRecommendations apply for children 2 – 3 years old (does not change based on gender)• Vegetables and fruit• 4 servings

• Grain products• 3 servings

• Milk and alternatives• 2 servings

• Meat and alternatives• 1 serving

Nutrient Requirements: MacronutrientsMacronutrient Recommended daily

amountTotal water 1.3 L

Carbohydrate 130 g

Fibre 19 g

Fat 30 – 40 % of total energy

Carbohydrate 45 – 65 % of total energy

Protein 5 – 20 % total energy

Nutrient Requirements: VitaminsVitamin Recommended

daily amount

Vitamin A 300 gμ

Vitamin C 15 mg

Vitamin D 15 gμ

Vitamin E 6 mg

Vitamin K 30 gμ

Thiamin 0.5 mg

Riboflavin 0.5 mg

Vitamin Recommended daily amount

Niacin 6 mg

Vitamin B6 0.5 mg

Folate 150 gμ

Vitamin B12 0.9 gμ

Pantothenic acid 2 mg

Biotin 8 gμ

Choline 200 mg

Nutrient Requirements: MineralsMineral Recommended

Daily Amount

Calcium 700 mg

Chromium 11 gμ

Copper 340 gμ

Fluoride 0.7 mg

Iodine 90 gμ

Iron 7 mg

Magnesium 80 mg

Minerals Recommended daily amount

Manganese 1.2 mg

Molybdenum 17 gμ

Phosphorus 460 mg

Selenium 20 gμ

Zinc 3 mg

Potassium 3.0 g

Sodium 1.0 g

Characteristics: Preschooler• Physically smaller

than adults• Strong likes and

dislikes• Easily influenced by

peers, adults and media (commercials and TV shows)• Gaining autonomy

Key issues• Young children must eat nutrient dense foods because they

eat much less food than adults (physical limitations)• Preschoolers can be very picky eaters and forcing children to

eat will create behavioural problems and poor eating habits• A nutritious diet is important for optimal development

(including physical and intellectual) and can have an impact on their future

• Time constraints: Nuclear families with kids involved in extracurricular activities and parents who both work full-time often find it difficult to find time to make nutritious meals and sit down to eat them together

Encourage good eating habits• Give preschoolers choices. For example, carrots or corn with

dinner.• Keep the atmosphere at the table quiet, happy, and relaxed

with conversation.• Do not play tricks. Tricks and punishment with food cause

distrust and unhealthy attitudes.• Do not use sweets as a reward (they will seem more desirable

than they are).• Show children that food and cooking can be fun.• Allow children to have more autonomy. Give them their own

plastic cutlery and dishware.

Menu: One-day• Breakfast:• 15 g whole-grain cereal (1/2 serving grain)• ¼ cup fresh blueberries (1/2 serving fruits vegetable)• 1 cup 2% milk (1 serving milk)• ½ cup orange juice (1 serving fruit)• Children’s multivitamin

• Snack:• 6 whole-wheat crackers (1/2 serving grain)• 25 g cheddar cheese slices (1/2 serving milk)

• Lunch:• Peanut butter (1 tbsp) and jelly sandwich (1 slice) (1 grain + 1/2 meat and alternatives)• 4 carrot and celery sticks (1/2 serving vegetable)• 1 extra -small oatmeal muffin (1/2 serving grain)

• Snack:• ½ granola bar (1/2 serving grain)• ½ apple (1/2 serving fruit)

• Dinner:• ½ boiled potato (1/2 serving vegetable)• ½ cup mixed corn and carrots (1 serving vegetable)• 1 ¼ oz. cubed chicken breast (1/2 serving meat)• ½ cup 2 % milk (1/2 serving)

Menu: eaTracker analysis

Nutrient Units Intake from foodand supplements

Recommendeddaily intake

Calories kcal 1123 1300

Fat g 37.0 (30%) 30 – 40 %

Carbohydrate g 155.8 (55 %) 130 g (45 – 64 %)

Fibre g 15.9 19

Protein g 51.4 (18 %) 5 – 20 %

Macronutrients

Menu: eaTracker analysis

VitaminsNutrient Units Intake from food

and supplements Recommendeddaily intake

Vitamin A RAE 1379.1 300

Vitamin C mg 133.4 15

Vitamin D mcg 14.1 15

Vitamin E mg 3.7 6

Thiamin mg 2.4 0.5

Riboflavin mg 2.7 0.5

Niacin NE 32.9 6

Folate DFE 220.9 150

Vitamin B6 mg 2.2 0.5

Vitamin B12 mcg 5.5 0.9

Menu: eaTracker analysis

MineralsNutrient Units Intake from food

and supplements Recommendeddaily intake

Calcium mg 805.9 700

Iron mg 5.9 7

Sodium mg 895.1 1000

Potassium mg 2133.0 3000

Recipe: Celery Race Cars

Recipe: Celery Race CarsIngredients• peanut butter• 4 ribs celery, cut in half• 16 toothpicks• 2 large carrots, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds• 8 chocolate chipsDirections1. Using a butter knife, spread peanut butter in the cavity of each of

the celery rib halves.2. Pierce each of the celery ribs with two toothpicks (one at each

end), pushing all the way through. This forms the "axle" for the car's wheels.

3. Attach carrot rounds to the ends of the toothpicks (4 per car).4. Place one chocolate chip on each car (this is the driver's head).5. Enjoy!

Recipe: Explanation• Makes eating fun for kids• Also contains vegetables and protein-rich peanut butter (best

to buy a natural peanut butter rather than commercial brand names)

• Skippy, Kraft peanut butters contain high amounts of added sugar that is not beneficial for a preschoolers diet

• Note: Could replace chocolate chip with raisin to decrease added sugars.

ReferencesCelery race cars (n.d.). Tablespoon. Retrieved from

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/celery-race-cars-recipe/1/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=recipe-img

Health Canada. (2007). Eating well with Canada’s food guide (HC Pub.: 4651). Ottawa: Queen’s Printer.

Johnston, P. (1996). Good times at mealtime. National Network for Childcare. Retrieved from: http://www.nncc.org/series/good.time.meal.html

United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Dietary reference intakes: Recommended intakes for individuals [datafile]. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/5_Summary%20Table%20Tables%201-4.pdf