dietary needs

• Pregnancy diets


  Need to be adapted through pregnancy
• Energy increase in pregnancy

  200kcal per day towards end of pregnancy for baby growth - no more to prevent weight gain
• Folic acid (vitamin B9)


  Prevents spina bifida in the baby
• Babies up to 6 months


  Breast fed/formula - contains all nutrients
• Weaning of babies at 6 months

  1. Introduced to solid foods, pureed - must be soft as teeth are not formed

  2. Combination of raw & cooked foods should gradually be increased (getting lumpier) to get the baby used to textures
• Special diets


  • Vegetarian
  • Pesco-vegetarian
  • Lacto-ovo-vegetarian
  • Lacto-vegetarian
  • Vegan
• Vegetarian


  Chooses not to eat any meat and sometimes products deriving from animals
• Pesco-vegetarian


  Eats fish, products derived from animals & dairy. NO meat
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarian


  Eats products derived from animals & dairy. NO meat or fish
• Lacto-vegetarian


  Eats dairy. NO meat, fish or products derived from animals
• Vegan


  NO meat, fish, products derived from animals or dairy
• Products derived from animals

  • Eggs
• Dairy


  • Milk, cheese, yogurt
• BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)


  The amount of energy the body uses to stay alive each day (i.e. breathing)
• PAL (Physical Activity Level)


  Amount of energy the body uses to fuel physical activity
• EAR (Estimated Average Requirements)

  Calculated estimates for how much energy the average person needs on a daily basis (amount of kcals or kilojoules per day)
• Energy balance


  Where the calories taken in from the diet are equal to the calories used by the body (Energy in = energy out)
• Weight gain


  Energy in > Energy out
• Weight loss


  Energy in < Energy out
• Energy from foods


  • Carbohydrates - 50% of daily energy (less than 5% from sugar)
  • Protein - 15% of daily energy
  • Fat - less than 35% of daily energy
• Energy content of foods

  • Carbohydrates - 4 kcal/gram
  • Protein - 4 kcal/gram
  • Fat - 9 kcal/gram
• Places to find nutritional information

  • Reference tables online/in books (have to then calculate for the amount of ingredient)
  • Nutritional analysis software (i.e. Explore Food) calculates per weight entered
  • On food labelling/packaging
• Lactose intolerant


  Lactose - sugar in milk. Sufferers are intolerant to this (causes adverse effects). Must substitute milk for alternatives (i.e. soya, almond) & dairy products
• Diabetic


  Glucose isn't used up by body for energy so it stays in the body. Regular meals, include carbohydrates, cut down the 3 S's
• Coeliac


  Gluten (in wheat, barley, rye) which produces bread, biscuit, cake, pasta, sauces. Substitute - coconut, rice, corn turn into flour. Check label
• Nut allergy


  Fatal reactions if nuts are eaten so must be careful. Adapt recipes i.e. for cake & biscuit. Labels MUST state if they contain nuts.
• Common food allergens


  • Gluten
  • Crustaceans
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Peanuts
  • Soybeans
  • Milk (lactose)
  • Mustard
  • Nuts
  • Celery
  • Sesame
  • Sulphur dioxide
  • Lupin
  • Molluscs

  
• Religions and dietary restrictions

  • Christianity - no strict food laws. Good Friday & Fridays in Lent - no meat.
  • Judaism - KOSHER meat (painless slaughtering with blood drained form the animal). Only 'split hoof' animals to be eaten (cows, goats, sheep). NO pork & fish without scales. NO meat with dairy.
  • Islam/Muslim - HALAL meat (blessed during slaughtering) NO pork & fish without scales. No alcohol. Ramadan = fast from sunset to sunrise.
  • Hindu - Most are vegetarian.
  • Sikhism - NO beef or alcohol. Most are vegetarian.
  • Buddha - Most are vegetarian as they are against killing.
  • Rastafarian - no pork. Most vegetarian.
• Toddlers


  Diet should be based on the Eat well guide. Small stomachs so should have small meals more frequently for energy. Dairy is important - calcium. Encouraged to try new food, mixed with food they like, with choices offered.
• Children


  Very active & growing, so have high energy needs. Need a balanced diet with fruit and vegetables, calcium & vitamin D to help absorb the calcium. Sugar should be avoided - sweets are common. Eating habits are learnt from parents so the whole family should eat healthily.
• Teenagers


  Usually eat too much sat. fat, salt & sugar, as well as being inactive due to TV, games etc. Growth spurts occur in early teen years -protein is required for muscles & calcium for skeleton (vitamin D will help absorb calcium). Teenage girls begin menstruation (blood loss) = loss of iron. This needs to be replaced in the diet (with vitamin C to help absorb it). Teenagers usually deal with stress for the fist time with school & social media pressures) so this can lead to poor eating habits such as anorexia, or overeating which leads to obesity.
• Adults


  Stopped growing so needs don't vary much. The Eatwell Guide should be followed. The metabolic rate of adults slows through age – muscle is lost & fat is gained – less energy is needed. Women continue to lose blood so iron is important.
• Elderly


  Usually less active and so need less energy. They need to take care not to gain weight, cutting down on sat fat will reduce heart disease. Taste & smell change, which can affect enjoyment of eating/appetite. Important nutrients are calcium, vitamin D & vitamin B12: calcium (to reduce risk of brittle bones & osteoporosis) – vitamin D helps absorb calcium. B12 prevents memory loss (found in dairy, fish & beef). Some elderly do not get nutrients from a balanced diet & so need supplements. It is common that they have lost their teeth/have dental problems so sometimes meals need to be adapted so they are softer to eat & chew. This can affect digestion of foods so fibre prevents digestive system becoming weak.
• Nutrients that vegetarians/vegans may lack

  • Protein – alternative proteins (mycoprotein, tofu, soya)
  • Iron – fortified cereal, green leafy veg, nuts
  • Vitamin B12 – from animals only so supplements
  • Omega 3 fatty acids –flaxseed, tofu & walnut
  • HBV protein – soya & quinoa or complementary proteins