Nutrition and Youth: Meeting the Challenge

1
Nutrition and Youth Meeting the Challenge
2
Statistics

• Breakfast
• Weight
• Dieting
• Quality of diet

3
Liquid Calories

• Average consumption of soft drinks has increased.
• Milk consumption has decreased.

4
USDA Healthy Eating Index
Children 7 10 years old

• Poor diet 10
• Good diet 14
• Need improvement 76

5
Effect of Breakfast Consumption on Healthy Eating
Index (HEI)

• Eating breakfast meant better HEI scores for
  grains, fruits, milk, and variety.
• Eating breakfast at school meant even better
  fruit, milk, and variety scores.

Nutrition Insights, CNPP, Dec. 1999.
6
Breakfast and Learning Readiness

• Increased student attention.
• Improved student behavior.
• Reduced nurse visits.

7
Factors influencing food choices in children

• Role models
• Meal time environment
• Exposure to food

8
Childrens picture books

• Food groups
• Anytime/seldom
• Positive messages

9
Teens Eating Behavior

• Nutritional adequacy
• Irregular meals
• Vegetarian diets

10
Factors influencing food choices in adolescents
Neumark-Sztainer, D, et.al. Factors influencing
food choices of adolescents Findings from
focus-group discussions with adolescents. JADA.
1999 929-937
11
Barriers to Healthful Eating

• It is not a priority.
• Fruits, veggies, and dairy products do not taste
  good.
• Lack of promotion.
• Fruits and veggies not convenient.
• Expensive.

12
What children know about nutrition

• Balanced diet
• Food Guide Pyramid
• Variety of foods
• Moderation

Borra, S, et.al. Food, physical activity, and
fun Inspiring Americas kids to more healthful
lifestyles, JADA, 1995 95 816-818.
13
Physical activity

• What children know
• What motivates them
• Source of encouragement

14
Teachable moments

• Watching TV counting commercials
• Family scrapbook body image
• Fast food restaurant balance a meal

15
Kids/Teens need experiences that

• Boost self-esteem
• Focuses on the now

16
Teaching vehicles

• Fast food guide
• Class/club cookbook
• Role playing
• Media ad watch

This is your life! guidebook, Foodplay
Productions. 1999.