WHY OATMEAL MAKES SENSE FOR A CHILD
A Health Practitioner’s Guide to Oats and Nutrition

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT OATMEAL
Oatmeal is a natural, whole grain food that provides a great tasting, convenient and economical source of nutrients, such as complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein and antioxidants.

Oatmeal and other whole-grain oat foods deliver a variety of health benefits for children and adults and help children meet the recommendations for whole-grain foods and fiber. Instant oatmeal along with its fortification not only offers children whole grain and fiber benefits, but also additional vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamins A, E, and the B vitamins. The oat grain is an important contributor to children’s health and nutrition, and warrants a closer look at some of its natural features.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF OATS FOR CHILDREN
The prevalence of obesity and overweight has reached epidemic proportions affecting 25-30% of children in the United States. Even in childhood, overweight is associated with several medical problems that include coronary heart disease, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, increased cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, sleep apnea and many others.

Diet, physical activity and psychological support remain cornerstones in the effective management of overweight children and complexities associated with overweight children. Emerging data suggests that oatmeal may contribute to weight control through increased satiety and reduced calorie intake at lunch – both the protein and fiber content in oatmeal may be contributing to this effect. The hypocholesterolemic effects of oats have been well documented and established in more than 40 clinical studies.

More recently, four of five clinical studies in adults have also shown that the fiber in oats can provide meaningful reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Research to date also suggests that the fiber in oats may also help improve glycemic control.

Fortified oatmeal provides children much needed dietary fiber and several key nutrients contributing to a healthy breakfast. Research over the past few decades has shown that apart from helping to improve overall diet quality, nutrient intake, and lower blood cholesterol levels, breakfast consumption has also been associated with improved cognitive function and school performance.

Two recent studies on cognition that included oatmeal, with children aged 6-8 and 9-11 years, showed that while children did better on several cognitive tasks with breakfast versus no breakfast, when children ate oatmeal versus no oatmeal or cold cereal they performed better on some cognitive tasks of memory and attention. These favorable results with oatmeal may be a result of a more sustained release of glucose to the brain from the more slowly digested oatmeal.

While further research in children using oatmeal and oat fiber is needed, given the science to date, it is reasonable to suggest that healthy habits and foods such as oatmeal within a balanced and individualized diet can provide several health and nutritional benefits.

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WHY OATS ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER GRAINS
Oats are a good source of total dietary fiber, which includes insoluble and soluble viscous fibers. Oats have a much higher percentage of the heart healthy soluble viscous fiber called beta-glucan than other commonly eaten grains such as whole wheat, rice or corn.

Compared to other grains, oats contain a favorable ratio of lipids and contain unsaturated fats, including the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. On a per gram basis oats have higher concentrations of protein, fat, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, thiamin, folacin, and vitamin E than other whole grains, such as wheat, corn, rice, barley, and rye.

One of the reasons oats have been long recognized for superior nutritional value is because of the high percentage of protein (typically, 15-20% of the groat) as well as the superior amino acid balance versus other grains. Oats also contain several antioxidant phytonutrients including vitamin E tocols, caffeic and ferulic acids, flavonoid and nonflavonoid phenolics including a group of novel antioxidants – avenanthramides.

OATMEAL FOR CHILDREN AND TODDLERS
Quaker makes a variety of instant oatmeal suitable for toddlers and children. Quaker Instant Oatmeal is available in convenient, single-serve packets, a variety of flavors, textures and contains key nutrients including fiber and iron. Packet sizes vary primarily due to the added flavor ingredients. Milk may be substituted
for water when preparing oatmeal for added taste and nutritional benefits.

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