Nutrition Meal

Rhona Henry Tappin

CHPC 123

Linda Langevin

October 29, 2019

 Introduction

Providing and preparing healthy foods for our children is of great importance. It is a

discipline we should all embrace as part of our daily living. When preparing the appropriate

foods we should practice consistency especially when children are involved. In doing so, our

children will emulate us as their role models as they transition into adulthood with the same

principle.

Choosing Appropriate Foods

Choosing appropriate food can often times be a challenge for children. Sensitizing their

taste buds to healthy foods at an early age is considered a good thing. This opens the door to

acquiring the taste of healthy foods. It is safe to offer a variety of healthy foods and not what the

children are accustomed to, because you don’t want to limit their choices. According to Alberta

Health Services (n.d.) when choosing appropriate meals it is recommended to include 3 of the 4

food groups. This will capture all the nutrients, minerals, proteins, fats and oil etc. that the body

needs for sustenance.

Plan Lunch and Two Snacks

Planning lunch for children, I will be using whole wheat pasta, chicken breast, with

carrots and broccoli. To prepare this meal I will boil the pasta; bake the chicken breast, and serve

the carrots and broccoli raw with a mango dip. To present this meal I will cut the chicken breast

in cubes, carrots will be slice diagonally in shape along with broccoli making smiley faces on a

platter. I will place the pasta in a bowl and allow the children serve themselves. According to the
Canada Food Guide 2019-07-11 in relation to snacks I will be preparing a Fun Fruit Salad. This

snack comprises of melon; grapes; cantaloupes, and apples. To serve this snack, I will use a

cookie cutter to form different shapes from the fruits and allow the children to indulge from their

separate bowls. For the second snack I will serve the children whole wheat crackers as their

whole grains food and cheese as their protein food. To prepare this meal I will slice the cheese in

triangular and square shapes place them on a tray along with the crackers. The children will be at

liberty to serve themselves

How will I accommodate children who for religious, cultural reasons?

In the initial stages of accommodating the child, the parent and I will establish and

document the different allergic reactions, and challenges the child has. For the child or children

with religious and cultural beliefs surrounding certain food they don’t partake of, I will, for
example. The child who don’t eat meat I will structure the menu plan to cater to their different

needs by providing either Tofu, with different types of vegetables, lots beans for protein and

mushrooms, I will ensure to stock food items that they are able to consume.

Supporting a picky eater

According to the Alberta Health Services, children with feeding challenges usually want

to eat the same food all the time. They will eat very little or skip an entire meal. A picky eater

uses this method to take control and have nothing to do with the actual food. For a picky eater

serve food occasionally as long as they are a part of the 4 food groups. Include a variety of the

other food choices at each meal. Serve the child in small portions and use child size dishes. It is

recommended to serve a snack 2 hours before mealtimes. For example, if the child loves cookies

serve him with a 500 ml cup of milk. If the child hates poultry or ground meat use them to

prepare soups and stews. Using this method the child will still be absorbing all the nutrients in a

different way.
.
 References

Alberta Health Services (n.d.). Registered Dietitians Nutrition Services. Mealtime Struggles.
Retrieved from https://bb.mhc.ab.ca/bbcswebdav/pid-642883-dt-content-rid-
3951347_1/courses/CHPC123_LCMA_FA19ST/Mealtime%20Struggles%20Powerpoint.
pdf

Government of Alberta. (2019). Canada’s Food Guide. Retrieved from https://food-

guide.canada.ca/en/