Webinar Tomorrow: Meeting Children’s Nutritional Needs from conception through the teenage years

17-Nov-2020 - Last updated on 17-Nov-2020 at 14:06 GMT

Children’s dietary patterns are mostly set by the time they turn 2 years old, which doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for indulging picky eaters if caregivers want their kids to grow up eating – and liking – a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-dense foods.

But small children are notorious for turning their heads away from during mealtime or preferring to toss food on the floor rather than eating it – so how can caregivers, and the food and beverage industry by extension, make the most of every bite? Which foods and nutrients should they prioritize, and which should they avoid? And to what extent can supplements help fill the gaps?

In FoodNavigator-USA’s last but not least installment of our virtual Food For Kids Summit, Meeting Children’s Nutritional Needs, on Wednesday Nov. 18 we will tackle each of these questions and more – and in doing so reveal where there are market opportunities and what manufacturers should avoid when crafting nutritious products for children from conception through the teen years.

To kick off the session, Erin Quann, head of medical affairs at Nestle/Gerber and a professor in residence at the University of Connecticut, will share key findings from Nestle’s Feeding Infants and Toddler Study (FITS) – revealing where little ones are hitting the mark and where they need additional help.

Building on Quann’s presentation, Elizabeth Crawford, deputy editor for FoodNavigator-USA, will guide a discussion with a panel of experts, including: Jennifer Harris, senior research advisor for the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity; Shelly Balanko, senior vice president of The Hartman Group; Sonia Hartunian-Sowa, director of nutrition, science and advocacy at DSM, Erin Quann, head of medical affairs at Nestle/Gerber; Julie Thibeau, sales manager at IFF Health; and Natasha Bonhomme, founder of Expecting Health.

After the panel discussion, Eric Ciappio, technical sales manager at IFF Health, will explore emerging ingredients and sensory trends that can help improve children’s nutrition – including ways to boost immunity, overcome deficiencies in key nutrients, and improve the taste and delivery format of nutritious foods that children often turn their noses up at.

The session, sponsored by IFF and DSM, promises to be jam-packed with information that will improve children’s nutrition and the appeal of food and beverages to caregivers hoping to establish in their kids a healthy diet and lifestyle.

If you haven’t already, be sure to register for this free event HERE. You can also learn more about the event – including the previous four installments of the Food For Kids Summit, which are available on demand – HERE.