Healthy Eating Policy Improves Children's Diet Quality in Early Care and Education in South Carolina

From preschool to policy: A scoping review of recommended interventions for a systems approach to improve dietary intake in early childhood

Early childhood is a key opportunity to establish healthy eating behaviors and prevent future non-communicable diseases associated with poor diets. How to effectively intervene in the system of the many determinants influencing children's dietary intake remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to map the determinants of nutrition and eating that have been addressed in early childhood nutrition interventions and identify which of these improve dietary intake. We searched six electronic databases to identify eligible studies published from January 2000 to January 2024. We included studies of any interventions reporting dietary intake among children aged between two and five years. A total of 193 eligible studies were identified and mapped to the Determinants of Nutrition and Eating (DONE) Framework. Parent (n = 97) and child (n = 76) food knowledge and skills were most frequently addressed. Most studies addressing parent (67%) and child (66%) food knowledge and skills reported improvements in dietary intake. Government regulations such as healthy food subsidies, and food advertising and labeling interventions showed promised, with 82% of studies reporting improvements in dietary intake. However, these interventions were predominantly implemented in the United States and Chile. This review provides a comprehensive and systematic map of a range of interventions that positively influence nutritional outcomes in preschool-aged children but recommends further policy-level action globally.

Projected Impact of Replacing Juice With Whole Fruit in Early Care and Education

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to simulate potential changes in dietary intake and food costs by replacing juice with whole fruit among children ages 1-5 years attending U.S. early care and education settings between 2008 and 2020.

METHODS

Estimated mean changes in daily intake of calories, sugar, fiber, calcium, vitamin C and overall food costs under plausible scenarios of replacing juice with whole fruit. Researchers fit hierarchical regression with children nested within early care and education nested within studies, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 6,304 days of direct observation (90% aged 2 years or older, 51% female, 38% Black/African American) in 846 early care and education facilities (73% centers, 75% Child and Adult Care Food Program participants). Replacing juice with whole fruit would reduce energy intake by 8.2-27.3 kcal/day, reduce sugar by 3.4-5.6 g/d, increase fiber by 0.5-1.3 g/d, and have negligible impact on vitamin C and calcium. Replacing juice with whole fruit in early care and education would increase per-child daily food costs between $0.44 and 0.49, representing an increase from 3.8% for juice to approximately 9.8%-10.7% for whole fruit as a percent of total food costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Replacing juice with whole fruit in early care and education would result in increased fiber intake and decreased sugar and calories. A policy to replace juice with whole fruit in early care and education would likely cause an increased daily food cost and given the potential broad benefit of this dietary intervention, there may be reason to expand funding within nutrition assistance programs in early care and education.

Assessing the implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care in New South Wales, Australia: A cross-sectional study

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Australian children are not meeting the recommended physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) guidelines. Health behaviour practices implemented in community settings such as early education services can improve child's health outcomes and are therefore key to help meet guidelines. This study aimed to measure the implementation of HE and PA policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to examine their association with service characteristics.

METHODS

A random sample of 1122 centre-based ECEC services were invited to a cross-sectional survey measuring HE and PA policy and practice implementation. Regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between the service characteristics and implementation of policies/practices.

RESULTS

In total, 565 ECEC services completed the survey. Results show that while some practices are implemented, the implementation of practices promoting HE and PA education is low. Practices related to educator training for HE (18%) and PA (13%) were poorly implemented. The implementation of practices such as 'providing educator training around child PA', 'engaging families in activities to increase child PA' and 'encouraging supportive feeding practices' were significantly higher in services located in major cities than regional/remote services. 'Having a PA policy' and the practice of 'limiting the use of screen time' was significantly higher in long day care services than in preschools. The implementation of 'providing educator-led PA', 'providing free play opportunities' and 'having a PA policy' was significantly lower in private not-for-profit community managed services than in private for-profit services.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of various HE and PA policies and practices in regional/remote services, private not-for-profit services and preschools across NSW could be improved. SO WHAT?: Future research should be prioritised towards identifying factors influencing the implementation of these policies and practices to best tailor implementation support efforts for those who need it the most.

Lifestyle Behaviors of Childhood and Adolescence: Contributing Factors, Health Consequences, and Potential Interventions

In this narrative review, we summarized evidence from peer-reviewed articles, published before February 2024, that investigated lifestyle behaviors among children (≤12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) representing different geographic descents. These behaviors included dietary patterns, screen time, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, oral hygiene, unsafe sex, and sleep duration and quality. We documented the significant impacts of parental, school, and sociodemographic factors on the adoption of numerous lifestyle behaviors in this age category. Several health consequences could be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors during childhood and adolescence. For example, poor dietary habits can lead to a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Physical inactivity contributes to the development of musculoskeletal and psychological disorders. Excessive screen time is associated with visual acuity problems, poor sleep, and psychological and behavioral problems. Tobacco use poses a significant risk for severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Risky sexual behaviors are related to sexually transmitted infections and exposure to violence. Short sleep duration is associated with a lack of physical fitness and poor cognitive function. However, potential interventions, such as school-based health programs, community outreach initiatives, and national health policies and regulations, can improve lifestyle behaviors among children and adolescents.

Systems map of interventions to improve dietary intake of pre-school aged children: A scoping review

Implementation and sustaining impact of early childhood nutrition interventions in practice remains a challenge. An understanding of the extent to which determinants across multiple levels of the food system are being addressed may improve success. This literature review aimed to synthesise the evidence on interventions targeting dietary intake and eating behaviours in preschool children using a systems approach. Eligible studies included intervention studies targeting the dietary intake of preschool children aged 2-5 years in high income countries, published in English after January 2000. Interventions were categorised to the Determinants of Nutrition and Eating (DONE) framework for children developed and evaluated by experts across multiple fields. The framework maps and ranks 411 factors driving eating behaviours and nutrition and can be used to systematically summarise determinants. DONE ranks each determinant for its perceived research priority. A total of 160 eligible studies were identified. Most interventions targeted interpersonal (n = 101, 63.1%) and individual (n = 85, 53.1%) level determinants, with fewer targeting environmental (n = 55, 34.4%) and policy level (n = 17, 10.6%) determinants. The most frequently addressed determinants were Parental Resources and Risk Factors (n = 85) and Children's Food Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (n = 67). These determinants had a Moderate research priority rating. Home Food Availability and Accessibility at the environmental level is classified as the highest research priority, however, only 15 of 160 interventions addressed this determinant. This review highlights home food availability and accessibility as potential leverage points for future interventions to improve children's dietary intake and eating behaviours.

Supporting Healthy Weight in Statewide Quality Rating and Improvement Systems: A Review of 2020 Standards and Comparison to 2015 Standards

Background: Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRISs) are used to assess, improve, and communicate quality in early care and education (ECE) programs. One strategy for supporting healthy growth in early childhood is embedding nutrition, physical activity, infant feeding, and screen time content into state QRIS standards, using the Caring for Our Children high-impact obesity prevention standards (HIOPS) and the CDC Spectrum of Opportunities framework (CDC Spectrum). We assessed the number of obesity prevention standards in QRISs in 2020 and compared results to an analysis published in 2015. Methods: We collected state QRIS standards for ECE centers from March to April 2020. Two analysts coded documents for standards related to 47 HIOPS and 6 Spectrum areas. Results: Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia had statewide QRISs in early 2020. Of these, 21 QRISs (53%) embedded 1 or more HIOPS, and 26 (65%) embedded 1 or more Spectrum components. On average, 6.9% of HIOPS were embedded in QRIS standards in 2020, an increase from 4.6% in 2015. Nine QRISs included more HIOPS in 2020 than in 2015. Five QRISs added 10% or more of the 47 HIOPS between 2015 and 2020. Physical activity and screen time standards continued to be most often included; infant feeding standards were least included. Conclusion: Obesity prevention components were embedded in three-quarters of state QRISs, and more were embedded in 2020 than in 2015, suggesting that QRISs can be levers for supporting healthy weight in ECE settings.

The impact of sodium reduction on overall nutrient content in Child and Adult Care Food Program meals

OBJECTIVE

To understand the impact of Na reduction on the nutrient content of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meals served through At-Risk Afterschool Meals (ARASM) without compromising the nutritional quality of the meals served.

DESIGN

Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP) partnered with a CACFP ARASM programme from October 2016 to September 2021. We assessed changes in Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) food component scores and macro- and micronutrients using cross-sectional nutrient analyses of October 2016 and 2020 menus.

SETTING

ARASM programme sites in Indianapolis, IN, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

October 2016 and 2020 menus from one CACFP ARASM programme.

INTERVENTION

Na reduction strategies included implementing food service guidelines, modifying meal components, changing procurement practices and facilitating environmental changes to promote lower Na items.

RESULTS

From baseline in 2016 to 2020, fifteen meal components were impacted by the intervention, which impacted 17 (85 %) meals included in the analysis. Average Na per meal reduced significantly between 2016 (837·9 mg) and 2020 (627·9 mg) (P = 0·002). Between 2016 and 2020, there were significant increases in whole grains (P = 0·003) and total vegetables (P < 0·001) and significant reductions in refined grains (P = 0·001) and Na (P = 0·02), all per 1000 kcal served.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that Na content can be reduced in CACFP meals without compromising the nutritional quality of meals served. Future studies are needed to identify feasible best practices and policies to reduce Na content in the CACFP meal pattern.

Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy: overdue to address a nutrition crisis with a transformative population approach

This timely evidence synthesis supports the need for an Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy. Given epidemiological and empirical evidence and the profession's values and practice scope, the time has come for a specialty of plant-based physical therapy based on population health principles. This review connects these factors. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are largely nutrition-related resulting from unnatural elements of our diet (i.e., heart disease, several cancers, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal diseases, autoimmune diseases, renal disease, and Alzheimer's disease). Most adults, even children, have NCD risk factors or manifestations. Alternatively, plant-based nutrition can prevent, manage, as well as potentially reverse these diseases, as well as augment conventional physical therapy outcomes by reducing inflammation and pain. Proposed competencies for plant-based physical therapists include high-level competency in health and NCD risk assessments/evaluations, to establish population health-informed nutrition needs for maximal health, healing and repair, in turn, function and wellbeing; and assessment of patients' nutrition-related knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, self-efficacy, and readiness-to-change. Population-informed nutritional counseling is initiated as indicated. An Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy could advance the profession globally at this point in history and also serve as a role model to other health professions through practicing evidence-based, plant-based nutrition built upon population health principles.

Nutrition Practices of Family Child Care Home Providers and Children's Diet Quality

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the diet quality of children aged 2-5 years cared for in family child care homes (FCCHs) with provider adherence to nutrition best practices.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Family child care home providers (n = 120, 100% female, 67.5% Latinx) and children (n = 370, 51% female, 58% Latinx) enrolled in a cluster-randomized trial.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Data were collected over 2 days at each FCCH. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation tool was used to document whether providers exhibited nutrition practices on the basis of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care. Each practice was scored as either present or absent. Children's food intake was observed using Diet Observation at Child Care and analyzed with the Healthy Eating Index-2015.

ANALYSIS

Multilevel linear regression models assessed the association between providers exhibiting best practices regarding nutrition and children's diet quality. The model accounted for clustering by FCCH and controlled for provider ethnicity, income level, and multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Children in FCCHs in which more of the best practices were implemented had higher diet quality (B = 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-1.99; P = 0.03). Specifically, children whose providers promoted autonomous feeding (B = 27.52; 95% CI, 21.02-34.02; P < 0.001) and provided nutrition education (B = 7.76; 95% CI, 3.29-12.23; P = 0.001) had higher total Healthy Eating Index scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Future interventions and policies could support FCCH providers in implementing important practices such as autonomy feeding practices, talking informally to children about nutrition, and providing healthful foods and beverages.

Policy, system, and environmental interventions addressing obesity and diet-related outcomes in early childhood education settings: A systematic review

Early childhood education (ECE) settings play an important role in child dietary intake and excess weight gain. Policy, systems, and environment (PSE) approaches have potential to reduce disparities in children at higher risk for obesity. The purpose of this review was to (1) characterize the inclusion of populations at higher risk for obesity in ECE interventions and (2) identify effective ECE interventions in these populations. Seven databases were searched for ECE interventions. Intervention characteristics and methodological quality were assessed in 35 articles representing 34 interventions. Interventions identified were mainly a combination of ECE and parent interventions (41%) or stand-alone ECE intervention (29%), with few multisector efforts (23%) or government regulations assessed (5%). Many included policy (70%) or social environment components (61%). For Aim 1, two thirds were conducted in primarily populations at higher risk for obesity (67%). Studies were rated as fair or good methodological quality. For Aim 2, 10 studies demonstrated effectiveness at improving diet or reducing obesity in populations at higher risk for obesity. Most included a longer intervention (i.e., >6 months), multiple PSE components, and formative work. Opportunities to incorporate more PSE components in ECE-based interventions and collaborate with parents and communities are warranted to improve child health.

Informing State-Wide Coalition Efforts to Implement and Integrate Nutrition Best Practices in Early Care and Education: Focus Group Insights from Child Care Providers

A healthy diet in early childhood is an important contributor to ensuring lifelong health and in reducing risk for obesity. The child care environment is critical to supporting nutrition as a majority of young children less than 5 years of age are enrolled in out-of-home care. In order to better understand barriers to implementing and integrating nutrition best practices, we conduced focus groups with child care providers (n = 25) in Illinois. Providers from low-income communities, rural communities, and communities of color were prioritized. Focus group participants reported several challenges including the high cost of nutritious food, picky eating, and their perception that parents did not set good examples at home. Many providers identified the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as a critical resource in helping them implement best practices. Providers discussed needing and wanting more training, more money for food, and more parental support. These results indicate support for additional resources and sustained training and technical assistance to address perceived challenges. The evidence of the importance of CACFP in helping providers engage in nutrition best practices indicates support for expansion and strengthening of the program.

Relationships between proximity to grocery stores and Oklahoma Early Care and Education classroom nutrition practices

The study purpose was to determine associations between proximity to grocery stores and Early Care and Education programs' (i.e., ECEs) classroom nutrition practices and barriers, by ECE context (Head Start, community-based childcare [CBC], and family child care homes [FCCHs]). A statewide cross-sectional survey was implemented in Oklahoma ECEs. Directors reported classroom nutrition practices with the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment tool, and barriers to implementation. Locations of 457 grocery stores statewide were determined by in-person audit. Geocoded ECEs were considered within a "low proximity" area if no grocery stores were available within a 0.25-mile radius for urban, or 10-mile radius for rural, ECEs. From November 2019 to February 2020, 54 Head Starts, 159 CBCs, and 160 FCCHs participated. 31.0 % were considered as low proximity. Head Starts demonstrated the highest classroom nutrition scores for mealtime practices, and nutrition education and policy. While proximity to grocery stores was not related to classroom nutrition practices for any ECE context (p > 0.05), FCCHs located within a low proximity area reported barriers to implementing those practices more often compared to FCCHs in an area within accessible proximity of grocery store. Thus, proximity to grocery stores was related to barriers in FCCHs only; those provider's experiences and perceptions may be most susceptible to influence of the community nutrition environment, compared to other ECE contexts. Contrary to studies in residential areas and schools, nutrition environments were not related to nutrition practices in ECEs. ECEs may serve as protective micro-environments supporting health for children residing in nearby low-access communities.

Foods Served in Child Care Programs Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Alignment with Program Meal Patterns

OBJECTIVE

Assess Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) program compliance with meal component requirements for children aged 3-5 years by program type, and describe foods and beverages most commonly served.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of 1-week menu surveys during winter/spring 2017.

SETTING

US CACFP-participating child care programs.

PARTICIPANTS

Nationally representative multistage cluster sample of 664 programs: 222 child care centers, 247 Head Start programs, 195 family child care homes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Percentage of meals including required components; frequently served foods and beverages.

ANALYSIS

Mean percentages; 2-tailed t tests; alpha = 0.05 significance level.

RESULTS

Most breakfasts (97%), lunches (88%), and afternoon snacks (97%) included all required CACFP meal components. Most breakfasts included fruits (96%), but not vegetables; 16% included a meat/meat alternate. Most lunches (81%) included both fruits and vegetables. Afternoon snacks were mostly grains/breads (80%) and fruits (57%). Most frequently served foods included 1% unflavored milk and fresh fruits such as apples and bananas. Most menus limited juice, offered low-sugar cereal, and did not include flavored milk; very few menus included noncreditable foods with added sugar.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Most CACFP meals provided required components, but there is room for improvement, particularly for increasing vegetables served and limiting foods high in added sugar and fat.

A multi-component tailored intervention in family childcare homes improves diet quality and sedentary behavior of preschool children compared to an attention control: results from the Healthy Start-Comienzos Sanos cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Childcare settings are important environments for influencing child eating and physical activity (PA). Family childcare homes (FCCH) care for many children of low-income and diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds who are at greater risk for poor diet quality, low PA, and obesity, but few interventions have targeted this setting. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention conducted in FCCH on the diet quality and PA of 2-5 year old children in their care.

TRIAL DESIGN

Cluster randomized trial.

METHODS

The cluster-randomized trial, Healthy Start/Comienzos Sanos (2015-2019) evaluated an 8-month nutrition and PA intervention that included four components: (1) monthly telephone calls from a support coach using brief motivational interviewing, (2) tailored reports, newsletters and videos, (3) group support meetings, and (4) active play toys. After completing baseline measurement, FCCH were randomized into intervention or comparison groups in matched pairs. Both groups received the same intervention components but on different topics (intervention: nutrition/PA vs. comparison: reading readiness/literacy). Evaluation staff were blinded to group assignment. Child primary outcome measures collected at baseline and 8-months included: 1) Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores calculated from diet observation, and 2) accelerometer measurement of PA. Process measures were collected from field data and provider surveys. Generalized Estimating Equation Models assessed changes in HEI-2015 scores and PA over time by experimental condition.

RESULTS

Ethnically diverse FCCH providers (n = 119) and 2-to-5-year-old children in their care (n = 377) were included in the final analysis. Process evaluation showed high participation in all intervention components except for group meetings. Compared to children in comparison group FCCH, children in intervention FCCH increased total HEI-2015 scores by 7.2 points (p < .001) including improvement in component scores for vegetables (0.84 points, p = .025) and added sugar (0.94 points, p = .025). For PA, compared to children in the comparison group, children in intervention FCCH decreased sedentary time by 5.7% (p = .021).

CONCLUSIONS

The multicomponent Healthy Start intervention was effective in improving diet quality and sedentary behavior of children in FCCH, which demonstrates the promise of obesity prevention interventions in this setting. Future research could include enhancing the Healthy Start intervention to strengthen the PA component, considering virtual peer support, and determining how to best translate and disseminate the intervention into FCCH nationally.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

National Institutes of Health, NCT02452645 . Registered 5 May 2015.

Preschool Healthy Food Policy Did Not Increase Percent of Food Wasted: Evidence from the Carolinas

This research evaluates the effects of a South Carolina (SC) policy, which changed the nutrition standards for foods served in early care and education (ECE) settings, on wasted food. A two-group pre-test/post-test evaluation was performed in ECE centers serving children age 3-5 from households with lower incomes in SC (n = 102 children from 34 centers, intervention) and North Carolina (NC; n = 99 children from 30 centers, comparison). Direct observation was performed to assess the quantity and kcal of food served and quantity and percent of food discarded, by food group and nutrient, enabling assessment of waste in the absence of intervention. Mixed-effects linear models were fit to estimate, by state, differences in change from baseline to post-implementation at the center level. Covariates were selected a priori, including center enrollment, racial composition, director educational attainment, years in operation, for-profit status, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participation. Waste of food was high across states and time points. The policy was not associated with a change in percent of food discarded in SC compared to NC in adjusted analyses.