Early Childhood Health: Nutrition

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.