Nutrition Through the Life

Cycle

General Nutritional Needs

Good nutrition:

Resists disease
Helps decrease
recuperation time
Supplies energy
Exercise is important
throughout the life cycle.
Proper amounts of fiber in
the diet is directly linked to
preventing many health
problems.

The Life Cycle

Prenatal (before birth)
Infant (0-11 months)
Child (1-11 years)
Adolescent (12-20 years)
Adult (21-60 years)
Elderly (60+ years)

Prenatal Nutrition
The major nutrients that a mother needs during
pregnancy are:

Protein (helps build babys body tissue)

Iron (helps with blood supply)
Calcium (helps with bone growth and health)
Folic Acid (helps prevent Spina Bifida)

Pregnant women need folic acid within the first

28 days to help prevent neural tube defects,
such as spina bifida.
Excellent food sources include: high protein
foods such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, beans,
enriched breads and cereals, fruits, and dark
green vegetables.

Infant Nutrition
Feeding Newborns:
Two choices for feeding newborn
infants: breast-feeding and bottle
feeding.
After the first four months, the baby
will be ready for solid food.
Can you give a baby honey?

NO!!
Why not?
Botulism! Spores grow in their
digestive tracts
Can be fatal

Child Nutrition

Childhood Nutrition
1 T of food for each year of the childs life.
Kids have small stomachs! They will need snacks to
maintain their energy throughout the day.
Nutrient dense snack ideas: juice, yogurt, milk, fruit,
vegetables, cooked meat, unsweetened cereal, whole
grain crackers.

Childhood Nutrition
Follow the MyPlate Guidelines for Kids (Based
on ages 6-11). It states that every child needs:

Grains: 6 oz everyday, half being whole

grains
Vegetables: 2 cups everyday
Fruits: 1 cups everyday
Milk: 2 cups everyday
Protein: 5 oz everyday

Early Childhood Nutrition

Serve foods that vary in color, texture,
shape, size, and temperature.
Eat meals with children. Be a rolemodel for good eating habits and
behavior.
Avoid using food as a reward or
punishment.
Dont encourage children to become
members of the clean your plate
society.
When possible, let children choose what
foods they want to eat for some meals.

Early Childhood Nutrition

Teach children how to prepare nutrientrich foods by and for themselves.
Introduce foods one at a time, not all at
once.
Remember: Childrens taste-buds are
very sensitive!

Childs Meal Plan

Teen Nutrition
Adolescents need extra nutrients to support growth
Goal: Follow MyPlate Guidelines
Dairy: 3 C per day
Protein: 5-6 oz per day
Grains: 6-8 oz per day
Vegetables: 2 - 3 C per day
Fruits: 1 - 2 C per day
Two biggest nutrition problems:
Obesity
Eating disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia)

3 Keys to Healthy Eating

VARIETY
MODERATION
BALANCE

Iron
Teen Females need 15 mg/day
Teen Males need 12 mg/day
Good sources:
Meat, poultry, fish, cereal, beans, green leafy
vegetables

Special Nutritional Concerns

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve physiological

changes associated with food.
Anorexia Nervosa: psychological loss or
denial of appetite and self-starvation
Bulimia Nervosa: large quantities of food
are eaten at one time (binging) and then
purged from the body by vomiting or use
of laxatives

Outward Signs of Eating Disorders

1. Preoccupation with food
2. Person becomes irritable and
hostile
3. Person refuses to eat or eats very
little
4. Person is excessively critical of
themselves
5. Person looks emaciated
6. Hair loss
7. Bruising
8. Dental decay
9. Lanugo

Physical Effects of Eating Disorders

1. Lowered body
temperature
2. Metabolism slows
down
3. Decreased heart
rate
4. Iron-deficiency
anemia
5. Rough, dry, scaly
and cold skin

6. Low blood
potassium
7. Decreased bone
mass (osteoporosis)
and muscle mass
8. Possible loss of
teeth
9. Muscle tears and
fractures in athletes

How can you help a friend?

Be sensitive
Let them know that you are there to help and to be a
friend.
Talk to a trusted adult to set up appointments for
professional help
The most important thing you can do is be a support
for your friend. Let them know that you are there for
them no matter what.

You are Special

video

Healthy Snacks!

Adults
Metabolism slows down; in general, total
food intake need to be reduced.
Metabolism: chemical process in the body that
provides energy in useful forms to sustain vital
activities.

Exercise is an important component to

balancing calories.
Sedentary lifestyle creates a greater need
for daily exercise.

Adults and MyPlate

Fruit: 1 - 2 C per day
Vegetables: 2 - 3 C per day
Grains: 6-7 oz per day
Protein: 5-6 oz per day
Dairy: 3 C per day

Feel Better Today, Stay

Healthy for Tomorrow!
Make smart choices
from every food group.
Find your balance
between food and
physical activity.
Get the most nutrition
out of your calorieseat
nutrient dense foods.

Exercise Plan for an Adult!

The Aging and the Elderly

Use less energy, need fewer calories
Still need same amount of nutrients!

Nutrient dense foods are important.

Taste sensations and smells are less sensitive.

Elderly Diet Video

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/eatingwellasyou
getolder/benefitsofeatingwell/01.html

The Aging and the Elderly

Various physical and mental
challenges may limit ability to
purchase and prepare foods.
Malnutrition is a concern,
especially for those who live
alone.
Many health concerns related
to aging affect eating habits
and food choices.

MyPlate for the Elderly

Fruit: 1 - 2 C per day
Vegetables: 2-2 C per day
Grain: 5-6 oz per day
Protein: 5-5 oz per day
Dairy: 3 C per day

Tips to Improve Nutrition

Buy frozen dinners or pre-cooked food
Eat out at a senior center
Share shopping and cooking duties with a
friend or neighbor
Eat food that is soft, chop/grind food
Add gravy or sauce to make it moist
Thick soup, fruit smoothies, milkshakes,
and hot cereals are good choices

Elderly meal plan