Making the Most of Mealtimes with Young Children Insert Date Insert Name of Instructor

Welcome

Learning from each other about these topics: Describe what a Healthy Mealtime Philosophy (ATTITUDE) is; based on Ellyn Satter’s Approach and the Division of Responsibility in Feeding.

Learning from each other about these topics: Learn steps in creating a mealtime setting that supports healthy, pleasant mealtimes.

Learning from each other about these topics: Participate in group activities learning what to say and what not to say to encourage healthy eating in a supportive manner.

Acknowledge credit to: Credit to Ellyn Satter Associates for the teaching materials and handouts. –Helping Children Eat and Grow Well in Child Care, Pam Estes, Ellyn Satter Institute Dr. Janice Fletcher and Dr. Laurel Branen, University of Idaho, Feeding Young Children in Group Settings Child Care Resources in Missoula, MT –Jennifer Swartz and Judy Kendall –Ellyn Satter Approach to Feeding Correspondence Course Montana Child and Adult Care Food Program Staff –Phone (406) , Toll free (888) Montana Team Nutrition Program

Are Mealtimes Important in Childcare? WHY? What life-skills/health habits to children learn at mealtime? Mealtime experiences now shape future relationships with food

Ellyn Satter Approach to Feeding The Feeding Relationship –Raising COMPETENT and CAPABLE Eaters ES quote “The way feeding is conducted can support a child being competent with eating, growing appropriately, and doing her part to contribute to mealtime harmony. (Or not!)”

A Positive Feeding Relationship maintains a Division of Responsibility Adults do the what, when, where of feeding. Children do the how much and whether of eating.

Division of Responsibility for Infants The parent/caregiver is responsible for what The child is responsible for how much (and everything else)

Division of Responsibility for Toddlers through Adolescents The parent/caregiver is responsible for what, when, where The child is responsible for how much and whether

Jobs adults need to do with feeding: Choose and prepare the food Provide regular meals and snacks Make eating times pleasant Show children what they have to learn about food and mealtime behavior Not let children graze for food or drinks between times Let children grow into the bodies that are right for them

If adults do their jobs with feeding, children will do their jobs with eating. Children will eat They will eat the amount they need They will eat an increasing variety of food They will grow predictably They will learn to behave well at the table

Division of Responsibility and Healthy Feeding Relationship Children are born wanting to eat, knowing how much to eat and will grow the way nature intended. Healthy Feeding preserves these qualities throughout the growing up years. Adults provide structure, support and opportunities. Children choose how much and whether to eat from what the adults provide.

Think about the ES Approach to Feeding as we watch a few video clips…… Toddler Preschooler

What makes you feel good about this meal? What makes you feel not so good about it?

COMPARE WITH HEAD START PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Offer variety to broaden child’s food experiences Don’t use food as punishment or reward Encourage but don’t force child to taste food Allow sufficient time for each child to eat Children, staff and volunteers eat together Offer all the same food

What is the purpose of showing these videos? Do I have to do something as soon as I get back to my center? No…… we want you to think about the feeding relationship, be watchful and aware of what you and your staff do and say at mealtime. Consider how you feel about this personally.

Parents and Providers want to know: How do I get my children to eat? –The right food? –The right amount of food?

The Answers You don’t GET your child to eat She gets herself to eat Your child knows how much to eat He will grow the way nature intended You play a supporting role Moreover…. Your child will eat the way YOU do

What happens when adults cross the line of the Division of Responsibility…. When adults restrict foods/calories, children gain MORE weight. When adults pressure, bribe or coerce children to eat more, the children eat LESS. Kids feel bad about themselves and mealtime is not pleasant for anyone.

Don’t make it complicated! The ES Method: Is simple and practical Is based on trust, respect and developmental stages Makes feeding easier, less stressful and more enjoyable Allows clear lines of responsibility for caregiver, parent and child Takes the worry out of feeding

Children are UNPREDICTABLE eaters A lot one day, a little the next Not a square meal Eat what they like, not what they “should” Accept foods one day, reject the next Rarely eat a new food

What research tells us about how kids eat Fascinating stuff that kids are born with! –Ability to self regulate food intake –Prefer high calorie, energy dense foods –Scared of the new from 2-6 yrs –Timeline to keep trying. 6-8 weeks! –Wide variances meal to meal; day to day

What research tells us about how kids eat Children eat what they know and like –Offer familiar and new foods together Children tried a new food quicker and eat more of it when adults are eating the same food (and eating it enthusiastically.) Portion size affects how much they eat –If self serve, they take an age appropriate portion size and eat less of it.

Now let’s think about OUR eating Can you depend on your sensations of hunger and fullness to tell you how much to eat? What do you think your upbringing has to do with your capability-or lack of it? –Clean pate club, one-bite rule, too much food or not enough Take emotions out of feeding and follow hunger and satiety cues

Why is a Healthy Feeding Relationship important for life-long health and building a foundation for healthy kids?

Let’s take what we’ve learned about feeding in a healthy way and built it into a Healthy Mealtime Philosophy for your programs.

Healthy Mealtime Philosophy for Child Care Let’s look at some sample Healthy Mealtime/Child Feeding Policies. Based on the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

10 Steps Handout

Family Style Meals Tips for success What elements of Family Style Meals support a Healthy Feeding Philosophy? How does it work in your programs? Using it with different age groups.

A quick word about gourmet eaters Let them be responsible for whether and how much They are served the same meal as everyone else Encourage; don’t bribe, coerce, trick Don’t label with negative terms “picky, etc.”

Let’s Practice Group Activities What to Say and What Not to Say What do you say and do to be encouraging at meal time?

Think of a challenging feeding situation. How would a clear mealtime philosophy help solve this challenging situation? Educating parents on a healthy feeding philosophy and the division of responsibility.

Questions/Comments Sharing Time Learning from each other What works for your program What do you need ideas on/tips for?

Healthy Kids Healthy Communities T ogether E veryone A chieves M ore

Thank You! Insert contact information for the class instructor here.