Coble, Sally S.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-938FEEDING THE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDSally S. Coble*same foods eaten during the preschool years areneeded to supply additional nutrients and calories forthe growing child. The size of servings gradually in-creases during the elementary school years to meetthe needs of growing bodies.A good guide to follow in planning the child'smeals as well as the family's meals is the Daily FoodGuide. This guide is composed of four food groups:School years are nutritionally important for thechild. The child is exposed to new food patterns whenhe begins eating meals away from home. Group ac-ceptance becomes increasingly important, and foodpreferences may be influenced by the group to whicha child belongs.Outwardly, the child between 6 and 12 is growingslowly. However, the child should be storingadequate nutrients for the period of rapid growth dur-ing adolescence. A well-balanced and adequate diet isessential during the school years.Uneven GrowthThe child between 6 and 10 grows at a relativelyslow, steady pace. Following this period, there is anaccelerated growth spurt. For girls, growth usuallybecomes more rapid around 10 to 11; for boys, thegrowth spurt begins later, about 13 to 15.An adequate diet is needed throughout the schoolyears to provide building materials for growth andenergy for vigorous physical activity. Nutrients, espe-cially protein, are needed to help maintain resistanceto infection. The child is in contact with increasinglymore persons and chances of exposure to infection aregreater. It is also important that the child developadequate stores of nutrients for the growth andstresses of adolescence.utrient needs are usually the same for boys andgirls until the age of9 years. Then, boys usually needmore food than girls because boys generally are moreactive and have greater muscle development.A Guide to Food NeedsDuring the school years, a child needs the samefoods as adults but in different amounts. More of theFood GroupMILK GROUPMEAT GROUPFRUIT ANDVEGETABLEGROUPBREAD ANDCEREALGROUPFoods Includedmilkcheeseice creammeatpoultryfisheggsdry beans or peascitrus fruitsdark green andyellow vegetablesothersbreadscerealsnoodlesValue in DietSupplies calcium forstrong bones andteeth.Supplies proteinwhich helps buildstrong, healthymuscles, promotegrowth, and helpsresist infection.Supplies vitamin Cnecessary for healthytissues.Supplies vitamin Afor maintaininghealthy skin a~dgood eyesight.Supplies energy.Enriched productssupply iron whichhelps maintainhealthy blood. Theyalso supply theB-vitamins whichfunction in maintain-ing a good digestivetract and help thebody use energyfrom food.*Extension foods and nutrition specialist, Texas Agricultural Ex-tension Service.14.5The amounts of food recommended for school-agechildren are listed on the following page:Texa Agricultural Extension Service. The Texas A&M University System. Daniel C. Pfannstiel, Director. College StationAt school, the child may come in contact with foodpatterns different from those accustomed to at home.The child also learns that certain foods are acceptableamong his friends and others may not be acceptable.He may find different food patterns because of differ-ences in cultural food habits. A child may refuse afood at home if it is not accepted among his peerSchool Lunch - A New ExperienceEating lunch away from home is a new develop-ment in the day's meal schedule. The lunch shouldcontinue to be an adequate meal whether the childeats it at home, carries it from home or buys it atschool.The ational School Lunch Program reaches mostpublic schools. This program helps provide nutritiousmeals for children. This lunch supplies approximatelyone-third of the day's nutritional needs. A Type Alunch must contain as a minimum:1 cup whole milk2 ounces protein food1% cup serving fruits and/or vegetables1 slice enriched bread2 teaspoons butter/fortified margarineMilk 2-3 cupsEggs 1Meat, fish, poultry 2-3 ouncesPotatoes 1 smallVegetables (green leafy or yellow) % cupOther vegetable % cupFruit for vitamin C 1 mediumOther fruit 1 mediumCereal Vz cupBread 3 slicesBu tter/margarineAdditional foods to meet energy needs.Food Age 6-9 Age 1~123-4 cups13-4 ounces1 mediumlh cupY3 cup1 medium1 medium% cup3 slicesgroup. At the same time, the school-age child is morewilling to try new foods within his group than hewould try alone.Breakfast - Never to be SkippedMany school children are in a hurry and mealsmay become rushed or irregular. It is best if the childhas a fairly routine schedule for meals.Breakfast, especially, is often skipped or, if eaten,it may be inadequate. However, breakfast is probablythe most important meal of the day. Breakfast reallymeans "breaking a fast" as the body has been withoutfood for 12 hours or more. Studies have been con-ducted on the effect of breakfast on school-age chil-dren. These studies indicate that children who eatbreakfast make sharper decisions, become less tiredand work and play longer than children who omitbreakfast. Children perform better in school if theyeat a good breakfast.A good breakfast furnishes about one-fourth of theday's intake of calories and nutrients. It should con-tain a source ofvitamin C (citrus fruit), a protein food,milk and sufficient other food to supply energy. Thus,a glass of juice, egg, milk and toast would be a goodbreakfast for a school-age child. Or, cereal with fruitand milk could supply needed nutrients.The Healthiest AgeSchool age is generally considered to be the health-iest time of life. School children have relatively fewdislikes for food, except possibly for some vegetableswhich may not be eaten in sufficient amounts. School-age children usually have good appetites, especiallyafter age 10 when they begin to grow !Dore rapidly.Parents should serve as examples of good eatinghabits, as school-age children still look to adults forguidance. Food habits that will last throughout lifeare being formed during these years.AcknowledgmentAcknowledgment is given to Marilyn A. Hag-gard, Frances L. Reasonover and Mary K.Sweeten, Extension foods and nutritionspecialists, The Texas A&M University System,for their assistance in the preparation of thispublication.Educational proarams conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people ofall ages regardless ofsocio-economic levels, race,color, sex, religion or national origin.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Ec<.momics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States Departm nt ofAgriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.lOM-6-76, Revised F& 5

Feeding the School-Age Child.

Texas A&M University

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Feeding the School-Age Child.

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Feeding the School-Age Child.

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Texas A&amp;M Repository

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