From Soda to Salad: A Mama's Nutrition Resource

exploring topics of relevance to maternal and pediatric nutrition, especially as relates to community health issues

[savvymama101]

Farm to Preschool: Building a Connection with Food

Most of us have heard of the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) by this point, although we may be a little fuzzy on what that means exactly, or how to go about starting such a program in our own community.  And what better way to get our children involved in local food than by educating them on growing and harvesting from their own little school garden? Or visiting a local farm or ranch?  The common theme in my posts has tended to be that healthy food habits start young, and here is another great way to foster a good relationship with the foods we eat!

Farm to Preschool is an offshoot of the Farm to School model that focuses on preschool aged children.  Preschools, Head Start, center-based programs, programs in K-12 school districts, and family child care programs are the object of this program.  The program also establishes connections between participants and local food producers, with the objectives of serving locally-grown, healthy foods to young children, improving child nutrition, and providing related educational opportunities.

A successful Farm to Preschool plan coordinates with teachers and curriculum being to taught so as to augment the current education format, rather than detract from it.  To get a teacher on your side, you need to offer assistance, not pile on more responsibility!  Seasonal considerations must be made (who will tend the garden when school is not in session, or if some of the class is only part time?) In Montana and other cold climate growing zones, a winter greenhouse would be a fascinating project.  You could incorporate lessons in plant biology, weather science, green technology and more, while also building teamwork, problem-solving and social skills.  One distinct advantage to preschool settings is having a smaller group of kids, allowing for more one-on-one attention and instruction.  You could also organize field trips to farmer's markets, and to visit local farms and meet the farmers in your community.  The possibilities are only as limited as your creativity!

There are many resources available for starting a Farm to Preschool program in your community.  A great place to start is http://www.farmtopreschool.org/, a national hub for  information, state and local connections and examples of successful programs. 

#NUTR351

[savvymama101]

A Link Between Maternal Depression and Child's Feeding Habits?

In the discussion on maternal health and childhood nutrition, we also need to be aware of the potential effect that a mother's (or caregiver's) mental health has on her children's eating habits.  We learn how, what and when to eat from our parents and/or caregiver's, and those habits start young!

In an interesting study published recently, the authors attempted to determine if there was a correlation between depressive symptoms in mothers, and the way that they fed their children.  Their theory was that elevated maternal depression is linked to child obesity. The sample population was drawn from 295 low income, low literacy Head Start families in southeastern Michigan.  The mothers' depressive symptoms were measured using the standard Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depressive (CES-D) scale, common in psychological determination for depression.  Two groups were formed, one containing mothers that exhibited elevated depressive symptoms, and those who did not.  The authors used several evaluation methods to determine feeding practices set by the mothers for their young children (average of 6yrs old).  Methods used included interviewer-administered questionnaires, interviews and videotaped observations in both the home and the laboratory setting. 

The authors concluded that mothers with higher levels of depressive symptoms were less likely to eat with their children, were more likely to have the television on during mealtimes, reported more pressuring of their children to eat and had less authority overall as to what and when the child ate. 

I found the results of this study fascinating.  I think that it makes perfect sense that depression in the mother would lead to less involved feeding practices, and less engagement in her child's nutrition overall, especially in the low income sector, where procuring food is challenging enough.  There are many resources available for low income mothers struggling with mental health issues, and as a dietician who plans to work with low income families, being aware of the potential need to screen for depression when counseling on healthy childhood eating practices is an important one.

You can read the full study here!

Goulding, A., Rosenblum, K., Miller, A., Peterson, K., Chen, Y., Kaciroti, N., Lumeng, J. (2014).  Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child feeding practices in a cross-sectional study of low-income mothers and their young children.  International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11(75), doi:10.1186/1479-5868-11-75.

#NUTR351

[miss-scottie-says]

Brian Wansink, a professor at Cornell University, recently published information from his research in which he studied eating habits of children in schools. The new requirements established by the NSLP have left many children dissatisfied as foods they once loved to eat have been removed from the menu, and as they are required to take servings of fruits and/or vegetables, whether or not they actually want them. The conflict between the healthy foods and the desires of the children have left many wondering what foods could be changed to encourage the children to eat more, but Wansink’s research has led him to believe that it is not about the food options, but rather about how the foods are presented. He proposes that changing the design of the food trays and altering food line presentation and order will encourage children to choose more healthful options.

To read more, follow this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/healthy-school-lunches_n_5991324.html

[lindlaub]

I think this is a great idea for schools to try. Many students dont get many fruits and veggies but a lot of the main entree. Switching up the tray layout might make them think twice about portions.

[savvymama101]

This is a great idea.  Especially after our food waste project and learning how much people are influenced in their food choices subliminally by placement and presentation!  So interesting to see all the innovative thoughts going into providing more nutritious choices in our school programs.  #NUTR351

[kellizentz]

I believe since I was a kid growing up to now things have changed dramatically. I remember as a kid in grade school we had physical education every day. Physical education included playing sports like soccer, basketball, and t ball which required movement. Every year we had to run a mile at the...

[savvymama101]

I can appreciate the angle of this article.  Physical education was essential when I was younger, I find it impossible to imagine that removing or limiting exercise from the school program could be anything but detrimental.  As our children spend 9 months of the year, 5 days a week in care of the school system, it is important to recognize the role schools play in affecting the health of our children.  Thanks for the article!  #NUTR351

[danibrag]

Food Insecurity and Pregnancy

Food insecurity effects people off all ages and lifestyles, but pregnant women are at higher risk. Food insecurity in pregnant women is linked to more weight gain and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem. Weight gain is an issue with food insecurity because pregnant women need more calories and minerals and vitamins. Often times money goes farther if unhealthy foods are purchased, which seems to happen with food insecure house holds. Low income house holds can get support from WIC, but food stamps do not increase in level until the child has been born. This could prove a serious issue for pregnant women relying on food stamps throughout pregnancy.

A study I found online evaluated food insecure pregnant women and the results were upsetting. They found that food insecure pregnant women were more likely to have at least one mental health disorder and at a significantly higher risk for weight gain. 36% of the 606 food insecure women were on WIC and 16% on food stamps. Over 14% of the women reported either borrowing food from people or getting it from a church or food bank. They also found that the women were more likely to be food insecure if they had a lower income, less education, and were single.

Food insecurity in pregnant women puts their children at risk for birth defects and malnutrition. It is a vital time as a child is developing and it is important pregnant women have enough food and healthy food.

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nancy_Dole/publication/7405695_Psychosocial_factors_and_socioeconomic_indicators_are_associated_with_household_food_insecurity_among_pregnant_women/links/0c960525edb422ac0e000000

[savvymama101]

As if pregnancy is not difficult enough to navigate, worrying about when and where your food will come from puts so much additional stress on a woman, and the potential health consequences are scary for mother and infant.  Thank you for this insight!  #NUTR351

[savvymama101]

Human Biology Affects Caloric Intake

Humans have come a long way in terms of food consumption.  The invention of fire, and subsequent discoveries of methods for cooking our foods has led us all the way to present day highly processed, highly available, inexpensive foods.  As the numbers of obesity continue to climb, scientists and scholars across disciplines investigate the factors that contribute to the epidemic.

 Recently, biologists studying human digestion have found a number of interesting discrepancies in how we process food individually.  Digestion begins in the mouth, where we release digestive salivary enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins.  After the highly acidic environment of our stomachs, food is passed into the intestines, where most of the breakdown and extraction of nutrients occurs.  Not all calories can be treated equally, however.  We know that fat contributes 9 calories per gram, carbohydrates and proteins contribute 4 calories per gram, and fiber a mere 2 calories per gram.  These are the numbers used to calculate the totals you see on nutrition labels, based on lab analysis of food items.  However, this system of calorie counting does not take into account the energy your body has to expend in order to break down the nutrient source.  For example, protein takes about five times as much energy to process than fats, due to the complex nature of amino acids.  Sugars, on the other hand, barely tax the digestive system at all.  In addition, cooking our foods, especially proteins, begins the process of nutrient breakdown early, so our digestive system expends less energy to digest processed and cooked foods.  Also, researchers have found that essentially two types of bacteria are prevalent in our guts, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.  Interestingly, Firmicutes are more abundant in obese people, leading some people to postulate that these bacteria assist in processing food more effectively, leading to less elimination waste and more nutrient storage as fat.   Scientists also argue that as our diets evolve to include more and more processed foods, that we begin to lose the gut bacteria that can process more fibrous foods, decreasing our ability to derive optimal nutrition from the foods we eat. 

In summary, diets high in processed foods ask little from our bodies in terms of energy expenditure, and may affect our longer term ability to extract vitamins and minerals.  However, diets high vegetables, nuts and whole grains make our bodies work for the calories, sustain healthy intestinal bacteria, and provide more vitamins and minerals overall.  Just another persuasive angle in the argument to avoid highly processed foods!

For the full article, check out:  Everything You Know About Calories is Wrong by Rob Dunn in Scientific American, Volume 309, Number 3.

#NUTR351

[savvymama101]

Food Habits: Can the School System Help?

Our food habits start young.  They start at home, with our family, the people who care for us and feed us.  This is where we learn what to eat, how to eat it, and when.  And so if misinformation exists from the beginning, what can we do to turn young children's food habits around and encourage healthier choices?  One recent study compiled data from 24 low income families with preschoolers, assessing the effectiveness of a nutritional education program in the schools.  The program was an offshoot of SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  The goal of the program was to increase the amount of vegetables and low-fat dairy consumed at the home.   The children received nutritional education from registered dieticians in six separate modules, one each week.  The parents also participated in the program, separate from their children, and were sent newletters with recipes and ideas for activities.  The study found a significant correlation between the implementation and completion of the program and increased preference for vegetables and low-fat dairy outside of the school program.  In a country where we seem to have an abundance of fast, cheap food, our children are deficient in too many essential vitamins and minerals.  Programs like SNAP and food stamps are evolving to include a wider range of food resources, such as farmer's market fare, an exciting development.   However, if an educational gap exists between parents and their resources, these programs cannot succeed to the fullest of their potential.  Perhaps an in-school program incorporating both children and their parents is a good step in the right direction.

You can read the full article here: 

Williams, P., Cates, S., Blitstein, J., Hersey, J., Gabor, V., Ball, M., Kosa, K., Wilson, H., Olson, S., Singh, A. (2014).  Nutrition-Education Program Improves Preschoolers’ At-Home Diet: A Group Randomized Trial.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(7), 1001-1008.