Child (12 months to 11 yrs)• Serving sizes/portions for children are smaller than adults;

children under age 4 a serving is usually 2/3’s of a regular serving: children 4 years and older can eat the same amount as a regular food pyramid size

• Need a variety of nutrient dense foods in small frequent amounts

• Expose to new and a wide variety of foods • Introduce new foods one at a time• Taste buds are very sensitive • Avoid sweet food as snacks • Make foods interesting and inviting for children; color, texture,

shape, size and temperature

Adolescents

• 2-3 servings milk, 2-3 serving meat, 3-5 servings vegetables, 2-4 servings fruit, 6-11 servings grain

• Time of great activity and rapid growth • Need a variety of nutritious food throughout

the day • Avoid high sugar and high fat snack foods;

monitor among of caffeine and carbonated drinks

Adults

• Metabolism slows down; generally total food intake needs to be reduced

• Exercise is an important component to balancing food intake and output

• Less active lifestyle creates a greater need for daily exercise

Elderly (60+)

• Nutrient dense foods are important • Taste sensations and smells are less sensitive • Low sodium and low-fat diets are recommended to lower

the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease • Various physical and mental challenges may limit ability

to purchase and prepare foods • Elderly who live alone have a harder time eating a variety

of nutritious foods; malnutrition is a concern• Food assistance programs are available to help feed the

elderly

Anemia

Definition: severe levels of iron results in low blood hemoglobin

symptoms include - weak, tired, mental state affected, headaches

Prevention: Proper nutrition of meat and green leafy vegetables, and iron supplements can change this

Who does it generally affect: women

Type I Diabetes• insulin is a hormone produced in the body• Hyperglycemia - blood glucose levels are too high• Definition: your body doesn’t produce its own insulin to

balance blood sugar so you have to inject insulin by giving yourself a shot, or through a pump.

• Symptoms: excessive urination and thirst, weight loss with nausea, easy tiring, weakness, irritability, cravings for food; especially sweets, vision disturbances blurred vision, slow healing of cuts and bruises

• Prevention: none• Who does it generally affect: child/juvenile onset: usually

diagnosed with this type as a child or teenage years. Usually thin.

Type II Diabetes

• Definition: your body produces too much insulin and your body becomes resistant to it

• Symptoms: blurred vision, Pain or numbness in the feet or hands, Bladder, kidney, skin, or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly, Fatigue, Hunger, Increased thirst

• Prevention: maintain a healthy body weight• Who does it generally affect: obesity related.

Adult onset; usually later in life (after age 30)

Obesity

• Definition: most dangerous disease of all – makes your body a breeding ground for viruses, cancer, and disease

• Symptoms: inflammation• Prevention: eating a healthy diet can reduce

inflammation causing less joint and back pain, and helps to prevent disease caused by inflammation

• Who does it generally affect: usually adults, but also elderly, adolescents, and even children

Colon and Rectal Cancer

• Definition: cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last several inches of the colon. Caused by build up and fat

• Symptoms: fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating

• Prevention: Eat a high fiber diet, How to lower risk: Eat fiber! (whole grain foods, veggies, dried beans)

• Who does it generally affect: one of the top causes of cancer deaths in the U.S.

Heart Disease (Coronary Heart Disease)

• Definition: caused by clogged arteries of too much fat stored around arteries and blood vessels

• Symptoms: heart attacks and heart failure • Prevention: decrease consumption of foods

high in saturated fats and sodium• Who does it generally affect: growing problem

for women, leading cause of death in the USA

High Blood Pressure

• Definition: common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

• Symptoms: Severe headache, Fatigue or confusion, Vision problems, Chest pain, Difficulty breathing, Irregular heartbeat, Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

• Prevention: maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, reduce salt intake, limit alcohol, reduce stress

• Who does it generally affect: adults

Osteoporosis

• Definition: bones become porous and fragile due to the lack of calcium

• Symptoms: Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, a bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected

• Prevention: weight-bearing exercises such as walking, dancing, jogging and calisthenics are especially effective in maintaining bone density

• Who does it generally affect: older adults; females at a higher risk