Food allergy
an abnormal immune system response to a specific food
Food preferences set early in life establish
a pattern that persists into adulthood.
“Fat-phobia” begins at this age, children becoming
body conscious at younger ages, sensitive to messages and their social environment
Mothers who restricted their child’s eating increased their chances of
having an overweight or obese child.
Children imitate food choices of
people they admire
Restricting foods increases
child’s desire for those foods
Children living in poverty may lack
access to sufficient high-quality food
Social environment greatly influences
food choices
Allergic reactions range from
tingling in the mouth and shortness of breath and death.
Allergic reactions in younger children have a higher risk of
anaphylaxis
Children who suffer from food allergies are, on average,
smaller and shorter than children without food allergies.
Food allergies cost families
$4,184 per year.
Ninety percent of food allergies can be attributed to eight foods:
milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, soy, wheat, and shellfish – more common in childhood, many outgrow
Immunotherapy in children can
increase tolerance.
Rate of allergies increased almost
4x in past 20 years
Suggested contributors to the increase in allergy rates:
changes in diet, how foods are processed, and decreased vitamin D based upon less exposure to the sun
Repeated, unpressured exposure to better food choices
increases acceptance
Emotional climate at mealtimes has
a powerful impact
______ has its roots in this stage.
Obesity
Longitudinal studies found that
overweight children were at an increased risk of becoming overweight adults
Early childhood is a particularly critical time for
healthy eating .
_______________________________ is equally important
How healthy eating is presented
In a Dutch study of nearly 5,000 4-year-olds,
mothers who pressured their child to eat were more likely to have an underweight child.