Good Nutrition for the

Early Years

Eileen Muir

Community Dietitian

Old Johnstone Clinic

• What do we know about children’s nutrition in

Scotland?

‘Nutrition in the early years of life has a major influence on the growth and development of an individual child and also that of adult health’

‘Scottish children have the worst diet in the Western world.’(Scottish Diet Action Plan, 1996)

Obesity in Children (The Scottish Health Survey 2010)

1 in 4 children aged 2-6 years are overweight

Food Related Health Issues

• Overweight children overweight adults

• Overweight children diabetic (type 2) adults

• High fat diets raised blood cholesterol

• High sugar intake dental decay

• Blood pressure higher in children who add salt

Children’s Consumption (The Scottish Health Survey 2010)

• 12% ate ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables

• 80% ate too much sugar

• 90% ate too much fat

• 100% ate too much salt

• What can we do to improve children’s eating habits?

Salt Intake Recommendations for children

• 1-3 years 2 grams daily• 4-6 years 3 grams daily• 7-10 years 5 grams daily

Average salt content• I standard(25g) packet of crisps 0.3g salt • I packet of sea salt crisps 0.6g salt• 1 packet of dairylea dunkers 0.7g salt• 1 pot noodle 2.5g salt• 1 cup a soup 1.5g salt• 1 burger 1.14g salt

Curriculum for Excellence 3-18Curriculum Areas

• Health and Well-Being

• Literacy and English

• Numeracy and Mathematics

• Sciences

• Social Studies

• Expressive Arts

• Technologies

• Religious and Moral

Education

Aims of Eat Well to Play Well

• To encourage children to eat a healthy balanced diet

• To encourage children to be more active

• To help to prevent obesity

Stage 1 Introducing Food Groups

Fruit and Vegetables

Bread, Other Cereals & Potatoes

Milk and dairy foodsFoods & drinks containing fat & sugar

Meat, fish & alternatives

Stage 2 –Introducing Health Messages

Stage 3 Introducing Meal Ideas

Lunch

Sandwiches with Bread,Tuna,Sweetcorn

Apple

Yoghurt

Crisps

Lunch Ideas

• Include the following:– Starchy foods

• bread,roll, wrap, pitta, oatcakes, crackers, pasta, rice– Fruit and vegetables

• fruit - fresh (whole/chopped), tinned (in juice)• veg/salad - cherry tomatoes, carrot/cucumber sticks, veg

soup.– Protein

• cold meat, egg, tuna, salmon, hummus• cheese, cheese spread, yoghurt

– Drink• milk or water between meals• fruit juice, milk

Breakfast

• Include the following:– Starchy foods

• Porridge, breakfast cereal, toast or bread

Fruit and vegetables

• Fresh fruit – banana, strawberries or fruit juice

Dairy

Milk or yoghurt or cheese including cheese spread.

EWTPW Parents Bags

• Have fun with your child, whilst reinforcing the importance of a balanced diet & physical activity

• Bag contains:– Table food mat– Food pictures – for each food group– Health pictures – for four main food groups– Manual with suggested games– CD with action songs

Eat Well to Do Well

• Primary School Resource• Builds on EWTPW health

messages• Links curriculum and food

provision in schools– Hungry for Success– Schools (Nutrition and Health

Promotion) (Scotland) Act 2007

• Curriculum for Excellence– Health and Wellbeing

Why should children Eat Well?

•Reduce rising obesity levels•Help prevent chronic diseases such as

•heart disease•diabetes•high blood pressure

•Reduce incidence of anaemia•Improve dental health•Better concentration

Summary of Healthy Eating• Enjoy lots of different foods, most foods

can be included – it’s the balance that’s important.

• Include the foods rich in nutrients first from the 4 main food groups.

• Limit foods that are high in fat, sugar and / or salt – especially for snacks between meals.

Any Questions?

Eileen Muir,Community Dietitian,

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,