Healthy Eating = Healthy Kids

Heidi M. Bates, MSc(C.), RD

Tri-Nutrition Consulting

Houston – We’ve Got a Problem!

• Foods from outside of the four food groups represent almost ¼ of the calorie intake of Canadian children and youth– Soft drinks, snack foods, sweets, added

fats– Children and youth who take in high fat,

high sugar, nutrient deficient, high calorie foods are at increased risk for obesity.

Did You Know?

¼ of Canadian kids eat fast food

every day!

Healthy Eating Anyone?

• Vegetable and fruit consumption is limited among Canadian children – <5 servings/day for Prairie children

• 61% of boys, and 83% of girls do not meet recommended intakes for Milk Products

• Both boys and girls fail to meet Canada’s Food Guide Recommendations

In 1977-78, children ages 6-11 drank about four times as much milk as soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same amounts of milk and soda.

The High Cost of Poor Nutrition

• Decreased academic achievement• Decreased physical performance• Increased risk for:

– Overweight and obesity– Diabetes– Heart disease– Stroke– Certain types of cancer

Diabetes Projected Risks:For Babies Born in 2000

Girls: 38% lifetime risk If diabetic before age 40, lifespan shortened by

14 years (Quality of life by 19 years)

Boys: 33% lifetime risk If diabetic before age 40, lifespan shortened by

12 years (Quality of life by 22 years)

V Narayan et al: JAMA 8 Oct 2003

“Unless effective population-level interventions to reduce obesity are developed, the steady rise in life

expectancy observed in the modern era may soon come to an end and the youth

of today may, on average, live less healthy and possibly even shorter lives

than their parents.”

Olshansky S.J. et al.. NEJM: 2005 Mar 17; 352(11): 1138-45.

Feeding Our Future

Ecological Model

Healthy Eating for Kids: What Works

• Environments that value healthy eating:– Home, school, childcare, community

• Policy supports healthy environments– Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth

» Childcare, Schools and Recreation Centres

• Nutrition Education:– Knowledge and skills

• Parents• Kids

Healthy Eating: What Kids Say!

• How often do you try and eat healthy?– 26% said all the time. – 35% said most of the time. – 24% said sometimes. – 10% said once in a while. – 5% said never.

Source: KidsHealth KidsPoll

The Troops are Willing – Let’s Support Them

• Kids are interested in eating well and being healthy!

• We can support this interest by:– Creating environments that allow easy

access to healthy food choices– Limiting access to competitive foods– Helping kids become media savvy– Providing skill-based nutrition education