Month: October 2013

A new study from East Finland University claims that children who have a routine meal and snack pattern that includes breakfast are less likely to be overweight.[i] Over 4,000 children were studied from the time their mothers were pregnant through to the age of 16 by experts from the university. The 16 year olds who said they regularly ate three meals and two snacks per day had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those with erratic eating patterns and those who skipped breakfast.

Judy More, Paediatric Dietitian and member of the Infant & Toddler Forum (ITF) said,
‘‘With so many of our children now overweight and obese even before they begin school, it is really important that parents organise a daily routine for their children of three meals and two planned snacks based on nutritious foods, rather than allowing them to graze on foods or eat unplanned snacks which are often high calorie low nutrient foods. Establishing good eating habits in early life and eating family meals with their children have both been shown to benefit the health of children. Planned meals and snacks usually provide a better range of nutrients, and a good daily meal and snack routine also limits the number of times that teeth are exposed to sugar and acid.”

For practical advice on developing a positive approach to food and feeding in the early years visit the ITF’s resources for parents

[i] Jääskeläinen A, Schwab U, Kolehmainen M, Kaakinen M, Savolainen M, Froguel P, Cauchi S, Järvelin M-R and Laitinen J. Meal frequencies modify the effect of common genetic variants on body mass index in adolescents of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. PLOS ONE 8: e73802, 2013.

The Infant & Toddler Forum are delighted to pledge their support for the Wave Trust’s 1001 Critical Days Manifesto that was launched on the 12th September 2013. This cross-party manifesto sees the four main UK political parties joining forces to recognise the importance of acting early (in the first two years of life) to enhance the outcomes of children. The manifesto emphasises the need for early intervention on the part of parents and all caregivers as these first 1001 days are crucial to development and change. CMO, Sally Davies in her Foreward to the Manifesto explains “as our understanding of the science of development improves, it becomes clearer and clearer how the events that happened to children and babies lead to structural changes that have life-long ramifications”

The 1001 Critical Days Manifesto also highlights research conducted on the positive benefits of early nutrition on cognitive and physical development.

Dr Atul Singhal, Professor of Paediatric Nutrition at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Chair of the ITF said: “We are very pleased to support the 1001 Critical Days Manifesto as we know what happens to children in their earliest years is key to health outcomes in adult life. Optimal nutrition in the first few months or years is vital to a child’s physical and intellectual development. We know that physical and emotional health are interlinked and interdependent and good physical health can be promoted through good nutrition”.

The Infant & Toddler Forum are dedicated to supporting healthy development in infants and understand the importance of early years intervention in nutrition on the wellbeing of children in later life.