Senate Hearing on Child Nutrition Programs

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing "Reauthorization of U.S. Child Nutrition Programs: Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health." The hearing focused on the upcoming reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs and the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual report on hunger and food insecurity, "Household Food Security in the U.S., 2008" that details the number of American households who experience food insecurity at some point during the year. Chairman Lincoln (D-AR) stated during the hearing that the committee will take the necessary steps during reauthorization to ensure that all children eligible for federal child nutrition programs have access to them; improve the nutritional quality of the meal benefits provided through child nutrition programs; and modernize and improve the integrity of child nutrition programs. For information about the hearing, including testimony, click here: http://ag.senate.gov/site/calendar.html. To view the U.S. Department of Agriculture report click here: http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/householdfoodsecurity/.

Junk Food vs. Healthy Nutrition For Children

I found a great article on this topic here... http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9522

This would be great to print out and share with the families in your care.

Hope this is helpful.

Food can be a choking hazard

A hazard you may encounter while feeding small children is choking. We are all aware that children commonly put small objects in their mouths that can easily cause them to end up choking, putting their lives at risk. However, it can be a little difficult to gauge when a child may encounter a problem with swallowing food that results in choking. You don't want to compromise nutrition, but you have to consider if certain healthy foods may pose a choking hazard.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the most common foods that cause choking are chunks of meat or cheese, peanuts, popcorn, hard, sticky, or gooey candy, seeds, raw vegetables, whole grapes, and hot dogs, raisins, chewing gum, and chunks of peanut butter.

Being CPR and First Aid certified will keep you best equipped to handle any choking situation, but the main goal is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This can be done by taking several precautions. To begin with, never leave children unattended during breakfast, snack, or lunch time. Always monitor them closely as they eat so that you can react to any signs of choking or aspiration. Additionally, never feed children unless they are seated properly in an upright, stationary position. Children that try to eat while moving around or lying down have a greater chance of accidentally choking. Furthermore, since children under the age of 4 do not have a full set of teeth, it is always best to cut round, firm foods into small ½ inch size pieces.