Fluent Essays

Prior to beginning this assignment, you are strongly encouraged to visit the My PLate website at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/index.html to learn more about healthy eating for people of all ages. There are some wonderful resources for home and for the classroom you will want to check out and use. We know that more and more fast-food restaurants are offering healthy options for children (e.g., apples instead of fries). But, is it enough? Using only food options available from fast-food restaurants, create a three day healthy menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a preschooler based on recommended guidelines from the My Plate website and the attachment provided from the site. Access nutritional information from various restaurants via the Internet, or use brochures from local restaurants. When you have completed your menu, write a short 1 page reflection discussing your thoughts about the quality and variety of fast food options available for children.Healthy Eating Get your child on the path to healthy eating. Focus on the meal and each other. Your child learns by watching you. Children are likely to copy your table manners, your likes and dislikes, and your willingness to try new foods. Offer a variety of healthy foods. Let your child choose how much to eat. Children are more likely to enjoy a food when eating it is their own choice. Be patient with your child. Sometimes new foods take time. Give children a taste at first and be patient with them. O!er new foods many times. Let your children serve themselves. Teach your children to take small amounts at first. Let them know they can get more if they are still hungry. Cook together. Eat together. Talk together. Make meal time family time. U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service FNS-451 October 2012 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 1 cup 1! - 2 cups ! cup of fruit? ! cup mashed, sliced, or chopped fruit ! cup 100\% fruit juice ! medium banana 4-5 large strawberries ! cup of veggies? ! cup mashed, sliced, or chopped vegetables 1 cup raw leafy greens ! cup vegetable juice 1 small ear of corn 2 year olds 3 year olds 4 and 5 year olds What counts as: 1 ounce of grains? 1 slice bread 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal flakes ! cup cooked rice or pasta 1 tortilla (6” across) 1 ounce of protein foods? 1 ounce cooked meat, poultry, or seafood 1 egg 1 Tablespoon peanut butter cup cooked beans or peas (kidney, pinto, lentils) ! cup of dairy? ! cup milk 4 ounces yogurt # ounce cheese 1 string cheese 1! cups 1 cup 1 - 1! cups1 - 1! cups 3 ounces 4 - 5 ounces4 - 5 ounces 2 ounces 3 - 5 ounces3 - 4 ounces Protein Foods 2 cups 2! cups2 cups Food group Vegetables Fruits Grains Dairy Daily Food Plan Use this Plan as a general guide. Make half your grains whole Choose low-fat or fat-free These food plans are based on average needs. Do not be concerned if your child does not eat the exact amounts suggested. Your child may need more or less than average. For example, food needs increase during growth spurts. Children’s appetites vary from day to day. Some days they may eat less than these amounts; other days they may want more. Oer these amounts and let your child decide how much to eat. Some foods are easy for your child to choke on while eating. Skip hard, small, whole foods, such as popcorn, nuts, seeds, and hard candy. Cut up foods such as hot dogs, grapes, and raw carrots into pieces smaller than the size of your child’s throat—about the size of a nickel. Healthy Eating There are many ways to divide the Daily Food Plan into meals and snacks. View the “Meal and Snack Patterns and Ideas” to see how these amounts might look on your preschooler’s plate at www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html.