Eat Create Cultivate: Fun with food through positive mealtime experiences Kate Abernathy MS, RD, LD, CCNP Providers Choice Inc Eat Create Cultivate Fun with food through positive mealtime experiences Food Program Training 2018 What does this mean? What is the purpose? Eat to take in and consume Create to make or bring into existence Eat Happy Create Culinary Enthusiasts Cultivate to acquire or develop a quality skill Cultivate Little Sous Chefs Objective After completing this training, participants will accurately demonstrate at least three age appropriate kitchen activities for children of toddler and preschool ages. Eat Happy Smarter Mealtimes 1
Healthy Nutrition Environment Teaches children that mealtimes are enjoyable Helps form lifelong healthy eating habits Reduces risk of overweight and obesity It s not just what we eat, but how we eat it. Healthy habits start at an early age. It s Not Nutrition Until It s Eaten! Smarter Mealtimes Key Facts: Giving healthy food choices fun, descriptive names supercharged green beans can increase consumption by over %. 30 Offering sliced fruit (instead of whole) can increase consumption by %. 70 Providing a variety of vegetables and fruits instead of just one fruit or vegetable can increase consumption from 70% to %. 94 Mealtime A,B,C s Atmosphere Use age appropriate bowls, silverware Display colorful artwork Display nutrition education Remove clutter Family Style Meals Positive mealtime transitions Mealtime A,B,C s Behavior Role model healthy eating habits Refrain from food being a reward or punishment Plan activities such as gardening Use non food treats for celebrations Mealtime A,B,C s Communication Discuss food during mealtime Announce the menu Avoid bribery when encouraging new foods Let parent s know what their children ate Whole Wheat (Pasta) Wiggles Special Saucy (Meat) Sauce Jumpin (Green) Beans Sliced (Apple) Smiles Snow White (Skim) Milk Smarter Mealtimes Child Care Scorecard 2
5 Easy Changes 1. Veggies & dip 2. Offer 2 fruit & 2 veg 3. Offer fruit and veg first & last 4. Use stickers 5. Fun names Create Culinary Enthusiasts Picky Eaters (Adventurous Eaters in Training) Adventurous Eaters in Training A child may need to try a new food 10 15 times before accepting it Offer new foods at the start of the meal when children are hungriest Don t play personal chef Serve new foods alongside familiar foods Feature a wide variety of colors and textures Adventurous Eaters in Training (continued) Serve the same food in different forms Be a role model Give options Use snacks to fill nutritional gaps Try healthy dips or sauces Involve the kids with meal prep! Repeat, Repeat, Repeat! Behavioral Milestones 1 2 years Can use a spoon and drink from a cup Develops likes and dislikes Can be messy May suddenly refuse certain foods 3 years Makes simple either/or food choices Pour liquids (some spills) Can use fork and spoon Follows simple commands May suddenly refuse certain foods 4 + years Influenced by TV, media and peers May dislike mixed dishes Rarely spills with spoon or cup Can be easily distracted May suddenly refuse certain foods Focus: On Variety! Focus: On the Meal and Each Other Focus: On Making Healthy Foods Visible Cultivate Little Sous Chefs Cooking with Kids 3
Why cook with kids? Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes and cooking. It s about harnessing imagination, empowerment and creativity. Guy Fieri Increased confidence and self esteem Reading and math skills Small motor skills; hand eye coordination Patience and self control Creativity Problem Solving Why cook with kids? Language skills Teamwork Ability to follow directions Openness to trying new foods Understanding of where food comes from Independence Getting Started Start small Plan ahead Expect a mess Patience Children enjoy the experience Be the coach Age-Appropriate Activities < 2 Years Sit in highchair Provide a small bowl and spoon Allow the child to touch, feel, smell foods 2 Years Tear lettuce Rinse vegetables/ fruit Snap green beans Add items to a bowl or sort items Carry items to table 3 Years Pour liquids into a bowl Mix ingredients Spread soft spreads Knead dough Wrap potatoes in foil Mash potatoes Squeeze citrus Name and count foods Assemble a pizza Age-Appropriate Activities 4-5 Years Set the table Scramble eggs Peel hard boiled eggs Peel fruit (oranges/ bananas) Measure dry/ wet ingredients Scrub fruits/ vegetables Make sandwiches & salads Cut soft fruits 6-8 Years + Read and follow the recipe Gather utensils and ingredients Grating or peeling ingredients Cut firmer fruits and vegetables 4
Food/activities and prep adaptable for cooking with kids MYO Make your own Sandwiches Individual Pizzas Parfaits Vegetable/ Fruit Salads Muffins Bread/ Soft Pretzels Tear lettuce for salads Set table Load dishwasher Super Yummy Chicken Salad Boats Credit: Super Healthy Kids Living Well Kitchen Blog Crunchy Banana Sticks Confetti Crackers Credit: Bell Institute/ General Mills Credit: Super Healthy Kids Squish & Rise Baggie Bread Cheese Please! Pizza Crackers Credit: Providers Choice Credit: Snack Works 5
Shake em Up Smoothies Vegetable Critters Credit: General Mills Credit: Inspiration for Moms Blog, Little Food Junction Blog, Women s Day Magazine, Two Chums Blog Breakout Station -Culinary Creations -Mystery Bag -CACFP/Civil Rights Culinary Creations A Creative Names: Age Appropriate Activities: 2 3 years: 4 5 years: Culinary Creations B Creative Names: Age Appropriate Activities: 2 3 years: 4 5 years: How will you adapt this activity for your child care? How will you adapt this activity for your child care? 6
Mystery Bag Yes! Meat/ Meat Alternate Take away thoughts? How will you adapt this activity for your child care? Reminders: Does not credit as a fruit Homemade not creditable OK frozen! Corrected Meal: Whole Wheat Pasta Ground Beef Tomato Sauce Pears 1 % Milk Yes! Grain only (enriched or whole grain crust) Reminders: CN label required (for MMA or Veg) Record on menu as CN If making homemade pizza record as HM At least ONE serving of grains must be whole grain rich for children. Tonya needs to serve all meal components at the same time. Pre plated meals/snacks: Minimum portion sizes must also be served. 7
Objective After completing this training, participants will accurately demonstrate at least three age appropriate kitchen activities for children of toddler and preschool ages. Eat Happy Create Culinary Enthusiasts Cultivate Little Sous Chefs 8