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The amount of food a child needs depends on the child's activity level, current weight and stature, growth spurts and appetite. The amount of food children eat may be influenced by hunger, appetite, food choices, mood and whatever else is happening in their lives. If a child fills up fast, making the child eat more may cause a negative association with eating.
Unless medically indicated, food may never be withheld from children during scheduled meal and snack times. It is better to limit the amount of foods with high salt, high fat content, and sugar on the child care menu for all the children than to limit certain foods for specific children. By following the Washington State Meal Pattern found in the WACs and planning healthy meals and snacks you can offer foods that provide the optimal amount of nutrients for growth while helping to satisfy a child's appetite.
When meals and snacks are served family style, children choose how much and what foods they eat. They can be reminded to take a reasonable portion size to ensure that everyone gets a serving and that seconds will be available later. This reassures the anxious child that there is more food to eat after the first helping has been eaten while establishing a guideline for what a reasonable portion size looks like.
If a child's eating behavior causes concern, talk to the child's parent to determine if they have concerns about the child's eating pattern. You can call a registered dietitian or a child care health consultant at the local health department for practical approaches to assessing and addressing a child's eating behavior.
Children consume food in varying amounts. Children may use food consumption to demonstrate independence. Making a fuss over a child not eating may increase this behavior.
Note: To help make mealtimes a pleasant social time for children, make sure that you sit down and eat with them (family-style). Encourage them to take small bites and short breaks while eating. Engage them in light conversation. Give them plenty of time.
Unless medically indicated, food may never be withheld from children during scheduled meal and snack times. It is better to limit the amount of foods with high salt, high fat content, and sugar on the child care menu for all the children than to limit certain foods for specific children. By following the Washington State Meal Pattern found in the WACs and planning healthy meals and snacks you can offer foods that provide the optimal amount of nutrients for growth while helping to satisfy a child's appetite.
When meals and snacks are served family style, children choose how much and what foods they eat. They can be reminded to take a reasonable portion size to ensure that everyone gets a serving and that seconds will be available later. This reassures the anxious child that there is more food to eat after the first helping has been eaten while establishing a guideline for what a reasonable portion size looks like.
If a child's eating behavior causes concern, talk to the child's parent to determine if they have concerns about the child's eating pattern. You can call a registered dietitian or a child care health consultant at the local health department for practical approaches to assessing and addressing a child's eating behavior.
Children consume food in varying amounts. Children may use food consumption to demonstrate independence. Making a fuss over a child not eating may increase this behavior.
Note: To help make mealtimes a pleasant social time for children, make sure that you sit down and eat with them (family-style). Encourage them to take small bites and short breaks while eating. Engage them in light conversation. Give them plenty of time.
The course does not "save" your progress. Use the checklist provided to track your progress, and click on the link in the menu to return to where you left off in the training.
