Fiona Rutherford(NZRD)

Paediatric Dietitian

Early Childhood Health Team

Child & Youth Team

Auckland District health Board

A healthy diet for children

From 2 – 18 years, eating for healthy children

Outline

Eating right for activity & growth

Regular meals

Exercise

Fluid

Fibre

Vegetables and fruits

Provide energy (sugar & starch), fibre, vitamins and minerals

Preschoolers need:

2+ servings of vegetables

2 servings of fruits

School age children:

3+ servings of vegetables

2 servings of fruit

Breads & cereals (Carbohydrates)

The best source of energy for the body + provide fibre, some vitamins and minerals

Preschoolers:

at least 4 servings

School age:

at least 5 servings

Growth spurt children:

can have 6 servings

Serving size

1 slice of bread

1C rice bubbles/cornflakes

½C cooked cereal (porridge)

1C pasta, noodles, rice

1 medium potato, kumara, taro

Meat, seafood, eggs and pulses

Protein is important for growth and providing muscle bulk. Rich in vitamins and minerals especially iron

Preschoolers need: 1 serving

School age children:

At least 1 serving

¾C of pulses

1 egg2 drumsticks or 1 leg

Serving size

Dairy products

Highly nutritious foods or drinks with energy, protein and vitamins + minerals

Preschoolers need:

At least 2 servings

School age children:

At least 3 servings

Glass of milk

Pottle of yoghurt or dairy food

2 slices of cheese

Serving size

Plate model

Vegetables/ fruit

Lean protein

Whole grain/ starch

cous cous

fish

tofu

Aim for balance at every meal of the day

Regular meals + daily routine

3 meals

2- 3 snacks

Routine meal times result in a routine for toileting

Exercise

At least 60 minutes of ‘purposeful activity’

Limit screen time to 2hours

Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and NZ

Dietary fibre

Total

fluid

Children 1-3 years 14g 1.0L

4- 8 years 18g 1.2L

Boys 9-13 years 24g 1.6L

14-18 years 28g 1.9L

Girls 9-13 years 20g 1.4L

14-18 years 22g 1.6L

NHMFC. 2006. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand including Recommended Dietary Intakes. Canberrra: NHMRC, Wellington: MOH

Fluid

at least 6 glasses of fluid

Water and milk are best choices

Small amount of fluid in foods

Higher needs when exercising or

in hot weather

Fibre

Evidence suggests enough is enough

Meeting requirements for age

Age + 5grams = minimum intake

Sources of dietary fibre

1 pear = 3.1g 1 banana = 3.6g 1 apple = 1.9g 1 orange = 1.3g

Corn cob = 3.9g Carrot (cooked) = 1.6g Baked beans (1/2c) = 5g Potato = 1.6g ½c of taro = 4.4g ½c of peas = 4g

1 Weet-bix = 2g

1c cornflakes = 0.9g

½c porridge = 1g

bread (1 slice)

9 grain = 2.2g

Wholemeal = 1.8g

White bread = 1g

1Tbsp peanut butter = 1g

Reference: http://www.crop.cri.nz/home/products-services/nutrition/foodcompdata/Concise_8_Edition.pdf

Fibre intake in NZ

Median usual intake of dietary fibre of 17.9g for NZ children (8-14years)

PI children had a lower median intake than NZEO and Maori

Bread, potatoes, kumara & taro, fruit, breakfast cereal and vegetables provide 70% of dietary fibre

Reference: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/4330

Increase fibre by reducing fat!

Low fibre, high fat High fibre, low fat

Breakfast Breakfast1 bowl of Coco-pops 2 Weetbix + peachesBlue top milk Green top milk

Snack: Snack:Fizzy drink 1C pop corn

Lunch: Lunch:Mince pie and donut Sandwich (ham & salad) + apple

Snack: Snack:Chocolate chip cookies 6 rice crackers + fruit yoghurt

Dinner: Dinner:Fish and chips 2 chicken drumsticks, stir-fry

vegetables + 3/4C rice

Fibre 10g Fibre 21g

‘Diet recall’ checklist

Regular meal times?

Sufficient fluid?

Some fibre containing foods?– wholegrains, fruits and vegetables

Not too much milk as a drink?

Not too many snack foods or takeaways?

Participating in daily exercise?

Is the child having…………………………………………………

Thank you

Any questions?