Identification and Evaluation of Tools Utilised for Measuring Food Provision in Childcare Centres and Primary Schools: A Systematic Review

Correction: Elford et al. Identification and Evaluation of Tools Utilised for Measuring Food Provision in Childcare Centres and Primary Schools: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 4096

In the original publication [...].

Environmental sustainability and food provision in the early childhood and education setting

OBJECTIVE

To describe environmentally sustainable (ES) and healthy food provision practices in childcare services in Victoria, Australia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Childcare services providing food onsite.

PARTICIPANTS

Staff completed an online survey that explored ES food provision practices including purchasing seasonal/local food, food waste awareness/management, and food cost/child/d. A purposively sampled subgroup conducted weighed audits to determine compliance with guidelines and total waste, serving waste (prepared, not served) and plate waste.

RESULTS

Survey results found 8 % of services (n 129) had previously conducted food waste audits. Service audits (n 12) found 27 % total food waste (range: 9 % - 64 %). Statistically significant differences in plate waste were found between services who had previously conducted food waste audits (7 %) and those who had not (17 %) (P = 0·04). The most common ES practice was 'providing seasonal food'; the least common was 'maintaining a compost system' and 'less packaged foods'. Most services (95 %) purchased foods from supermarkets with 23 % purchasing from farmers' markets. This was statistically lower for regional/rural services (8 %), compared to metropolitan services (27 %) (P = 0·04). Twenty-seven per cent of services spent AUD2·50 or less per child per day on food. Only one audited service provided a menu compliant with childcare food provision guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Childcare settings procure and provide large volumes of food; however, food waste awareness appears limited, and environmentally sustainable food procurement practices may be less affordable and difficult to achieve. Understanding the impact of food waste awareness on food waste practices and food costs across time merits further research.

Children's Dietary Intake by Early Care and Education Setting in the US Affiliated Pacific

OBJECTIVE

Examine differences in dietary intake of children aged 2-5 years in early care and education (ECE) setting in the US Affiliated Pacific (USAP).

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected by the Children's Healthy Living program.

PARTICIPANTS

Children (n = 1,423) with complete dietary records and information on the ECE setting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Dietary intake by ECE setting; Head Start (HS), other ECE (OE), and no ECE.

ANALYSIS

Comparison of mean dietary intake across ECE settings and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate ECE setting and likelihood for meeting dietary reference intake (DRI).

RESULTS

Children in HS and OE settings had a significantly higher intake of several food groups and nutrients, compared with no ECE; vegetables (0.4 cup-equivalents per thousand kcals [CETK] vs 0.3 CETK; P < 0.001), fruits (0.8 CETK vs 0.6 CETK; P = 0.001), milk (0.9 CETK for HS and 1.0 CETK for OE vs 0.8 CETK; P < 0.001). Sixty-five percent of the HS group met DRI and had greater odds of meeting calcium DRI (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.7) compared with other groups. The OE group had the lowest proportion of children meeting recommended intakes for 19 out of 25 nutrients.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Mean intakes of foods and nutrients for children across the USAP meet some, but not all, recommendations and intakes vary across children attending various ECE setting types. Additional research on the clinical importance of these differences and the impact of the complex food systems in the USAP may identify systematic strategies for improving diet among children.