Agenda:

What is a Special Diet? What is a Disability? Allergies vs. Food Intolerances Disabilities and Special Dietary Needs Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diabetes Mellitus Vegetarian Diets Resources

Food Allergies and Special Diets

What is considered a Special Diet?

What is considered a Disability?

◦ DPI Guidance Memorandum 12 C: CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements

Pages 6-8

Special Diet and Disability

There are 12 categories. Some examples include: autism, Deafness or other hearing impairments, visual impairment, learning disabilities, and acute health problems (e.g. asthma,

diabetes, epilepsy, leukemia, heart condition)

What is classified as a Disability?

Allergies: protein in foods (i.e., milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, & soybeans) trigger abnormal immune response

Food Intolerances: due to inability of the body to digest or metabolize a food component

Allergies vs. Food Intolerances

All personnel know allergies of all children Allergies must be posted in a conspicuous

but confidential manner Instructions from parent and physician must

at all times be kept with the teacher supervising the child

Staff must be trained in emergency procedures for responding to allergies

Allergies and Intolerances Policy

Emergency equipment, EpiPens must be readily available and secured from children’s reach

If a child is severely allergic to a particular food, it should not be served anywhere in the entire setting

Parents should be sent regular reminders to let staff members know about allergies

Allergies and Intolerances Policy

Children may be hyperactive, impulsive, inattentive

Causes can be genetic (inherited) factors; brain injury; exposure to toxic substances: lead, alcohol & tobacco; premature birth

Nutrition Consideration: eliminate food dyes and increase foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, walnuts, canola oil, flax)◦ Sugar and synthetic sweeteners?

Attention-DeficitHyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

WHAT is DIABETES MELLITUS?

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder which prevents the body from using food properly, causing a glucose intolerance, or hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar).

CATEGORIES

Type I Diabetes Type II Diabetes Impaired Glucose Intolerance (IGT) Secondary Diabetes

A diabetic diet is a healthy balanced diet, eliminating excessive concentrated sweets, based on the person’s usual food intake and activity patterns

2-3 year old children need the same numbers of servings as 4-6 year old children but they need smaller portions.

General rule of thumb: 1 Tablespoon of food per year of age

Nutrition Considerations

Three types:◦Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian ◦Lacto-Vegetarian◦Vegan Vegetarian

Vegan= plant-based foods and NO animal products including honey and products made with animal by-products such as gelatin

Lacto = milk and milk products Ovo = eggs

Vegetarian Diets

Benefits:

lowers blood cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, lowers body mass index, reduces risk of heart disease and stroke,

and reduces risk of type 2 diabetes

Vegetarian Diets

Nutritional Concerns Protein

N-3 fatty acids

Iron

Zinc

Iodine

Calcium

Vitamin D

Vitamin B-12

DPI Community Nutrition Child and Adult Care Food Program:◦ http://fns.dpi.wi.gov/fns_cacfp1

Dietary Guidelines for Americans:◦ http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov

Resources

BookChild Care

Rethinking Nutrition: Connecting Science and Practice in Early Childhood Settings

◦ by Susan Nitzke, PhD, RD; Dave Riley, PhD; Ann Ramminger, MS; Georgine Jacobs MS

InternetDiabetes National Diabetes Education Program –

http://ndep.nih.gov/index.aspx/

Resources

Internet:Food allergies

USDA http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/toddler.pdf

Baby and Kid Allergies – http://babyandkidallergies.com/index.php

Resources