Children's Nutrition

What is children's nutrition?

Child nutrition should not be limited to the feeding of children alone.  Rather it should be a holistic approach to the eating patterns and nutritional requirements of those planning to have children, pregnant and post-partum women, and babies as they grow and develop into toddlers, children and later teenagers.

With further study, you can become a nutritionist with specialist knowledge in this area.  Study at you own pace and receive tutor help and feedback as you progress through the course. 

ACS Student comment: "I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I had not studied for the past 10 years and was a little apprehensive. The staff were very supportive, their feedback was always valuable and response time was extremely prompt. This course has given me a new desire to keep learning. I never knew learning could be so enjoyable. I am looking forward to my next learning experience through ACS". Rhonda Rae, Children's Nutrition

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Child Nutrition
   • Scope, Nature and History of Nutrition
   • Affect of Culture and Family Background on Nutrition
   • Importance of Nutrition in Early Childhood
   • Basic Nutrients needed in a Childs Diet
   • Key things to Remember about a Childs Diet
   • Nutrition Tips for Children
2. Nutrition for Pre-Pregnancy
   • Pre Conception Diet -Maternal Weight, Maternal Nutrient Status
   • Paternal Health and Nutrition
   • Affect of Nutrition of Parents at Conception
   • Making Diet Changes Pre Conception
3. Nutrition in Pregnancy
   • Early Pregnancy and Morning Sickness
   • Tips to Help with Pregnancy Nausea
   • Nutrition through Pregnancy -RDI
   • Caloric and Fluid Intake through Pregnancy
   • Calorie Demands for a Pregnant Woman
   • Foods to Avoid Whil;e Pregnant
   • Hypervitaminosis
   • Pregnancy Complications that Relate to Nutrition (Neural Tube Defect, Morning Sickness, Constipation, Gastrointestinal diabetes, Hypertension, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
4. Nutrition in Infants
   • Breastfeeding
   • Formula Feeding
   • Feeding for the first six months
   • Starting on Solid Foods
   • Adequate Vitamin C and Iron Intake in first year
   • Progressing with Solid Foods: protein, dairy, finger foods, etc
   • Nutrition for Toddlers
   • Snack Packs, Small Meals, Meal Alternatives, Being creative, etc
   • Allergens
   • Weaning
5. Nutrition in Childhood
   • Caloric Intake
   • Mineral Intake
   • Vitamin Intake
   • Encouraging Good Eating Habits
   • Breakfast
   • Morning and Afternoon Snacks
   • Packed Lunches
   • Eating Habits
   • Puberty
6. Nutritional Concerns
   • Scope and Nature of Nutritional Health for Children
   • Healthy Snacks and Rehydration
   • Underwight
   • Malnutrition
   • Anaemia or Iron Deficiencey
   • Dental Care
   • Eating Disorders : Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating
   • Fast Food and Junk Food
7. Healthy Eating Behaviours
   • Influencing Childrens Eating
   • Teaching Healthy Eating to Children
   • Health Snack Ideas
   • Childhood Food Sensitivities
   • Food Intollerance
   • Food Allergies
   • Relevent Research
   • Food and Autism
   • Food and Child Behaviour Problems
   • Diagnosing Sensitivities : skin test, blood test, diet
8. Issues in Child Nutrition
   • PBL Project: Develop a presentation to be given to a group of families, where a child has been recently diagnosed with an illness/disease of your choice. The purpose of the presentation is to inform families and sufferers about the disease, and to provide clear, simple guidelines for dietary intervention to improve health, correct the condition or prevent deterioration in health.
9. Childhood Obesity
   • Cause of Childhood Obesity
   • What is Unhealthy about Childhood Obesity?
   • Guidelines for Child Weight Loss
10. Diet Plans
    • Special Nutritional Needs
    • Childhood Diabetes
    • Vegetarian and Vegan Diets
    • Normal Eating Habits for Children

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Discuss the nature and scope of developing nutrition for children according to their backgrounds and needs.
• Explain the various nutritional needs of the mother and father before pregnancy.
• Explain the various nutritional needs of the mother and child during pregnancy.
• Explain various nutritional needs of infants from birth to age two.
• Explain various nutritional aspects of growing children addressing various issues and concerns.
• Identify concerns in the diets of children and adolescents and overcoming them.
• Lists ways to encourage healthy eating behaviour in children.
• Explain some of the common issues such as food sensitivities in childhood nutrition.
• Explain causes and guidelines to overcoming childhood obesity.
• Develop a list diet outlines for healthy children and special diet plans for children with special nutritional needs.

What You Will Do

• Interview parents regarding the diets (what the children eat for breakfast , lunch and dinner as well as snacks) of their children , they can be family or friends. Make a day’s menu for each one of them according to the information they give you
• Interview pregnant women (family or friends) and question about their daily diet. Note what they have said and write how you would improve their diets.
• Research for information to make a tasty and healthy weaning mix for a six month old baby. Make your own weaning mix with the information you have gathered.
• Prepare a diet plan for an 11 year old, over three days.
• Compare the nutrition panel for different staple foods bought from the supermarkets (for example breakfast cereals, stir fry sauces or pasta sauces, fruit bars). Compare the added sugars to natural sugars
• Do a survey and find out what children and adolescents are actually eating. Write a report on your survey. (You can conduct your survey by talking to children, adolescents and their parents, by reading articles in magazines and newspapers or by searching the internet)

Do you work with children in a child-care or health-care setting, or are planning to in the future?  Are you interested in human nutrition, whilst developing specialist knowledge in children's nutrition? Are you a first time mum not quite sure of the do's and don'ts when it comes to your child's dietary requirements - this course provides the essential knowledge!

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