Lucine Francis1, Nancy Perrin1, Maureen M Black2,3, Jerilyn K Allen1,4,5. 1. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2. Division of Growth and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. 4. Division of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
Background: Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs) are the second-largest childcare option in the US. Given that young children are increasingly becoming overweight and obese, it is vital to understand the FCCH mealtime environment. There is much interest in examining the impact of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal initiative to support healthy nutrition, by providing cash reimbursements to eligible childcare providers to purchase nutritious foods. This study examines the association among the FCCH provider characteristics, the mealtime environment, and the quality of foods offered to 2-5-year-old children in urban FCCHs and examines the quality of the mealtime environment and foods offered by CACFP participation. Methods: A cross-sectional design with a proportionate stratified random sample of urban FCCHs by the CACFP participation status was used. Data were collected by telephone using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care survey. Results: A total of 91 licensed FCCHs (69 CACFP, 22 non-CACFP) participated. FCCH providers with formal nutrition training met significantly more of the quality standards for foods offered than providers without nutrition training (β = 0.22, p = 0.034). The mealtime environment was not related to any FCCH provider characteristics. CACFP-participating FCCH providers had a healthier mealtime environment (β = 0.326, p = 0.002) than non-CACFP FCCHs. Conclusions: Findings suggest that nutrition training and CACFP participation contribute to the quality of nutrition-related practices in the FCCH. We recommend more research on strengthening the quality of foods provided in FCCHs and the possible impact on childhood obesity.
Background: Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs) are the second-largest childcare option in the US. Given that young children are increasingly becoming overweight and obese, it is vital to understand the FCCH mealtime environment. There is much interest in examining the impact of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal initiative to support healthy nutrition, by providing cash reimbursements to eligible childcare providers to purchase nutritious foods. This study examines the association among the FCCH provider characteristics, the mealtime environment, and the quality of foods offered to 2-5-year-old children in urban FCCHs and examines the quality of the mealtime environment and foods offered by CACFP participation. Methods: A cross-sectional design with a proportionate stratified random sample of urban FCCHs by the CACFP participation status was used. Data were collected by telephone using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care survey. Results: A total of 91 licensed FCCHs (69 CACFP, 22 non-CACFP) participated. FCCH providers with formal nutrition training met significantly more of the quality standards for foods offered than providers without nutrition training (β = 0.22, p = 0.034). The mealtime environment was not related to any FCCH provider characteristics. CACFP-participating FCCH providers had a healthier mealtime environment (β = 0.326, p = 0.002) than non-CACFP FCCHs. Conclusions: Findings suggest that nutrition training and CACFP participation contribute to the quality of nutrition-related practices in the FCCH. We recommend more research on strengthening the quality of foods provided in FCCHs and the possible impact on childhood obesity.
Entities:
Keywords:
Family Child Care Homes; childhood obesity prevention; food deserts; physical food environment
Authors: Lorrene D Ritchie; Maria Boyle; Kumar Chandran; Phil Spector; Shannon E Whaley; Paula James; Sarah Samuels; Ken Hecht; Patricia Crawford Journal: Child Obes Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 2.992
Authors: Alison Tovar; Patricia Markham Risica; Andrea Ramirez; Noereem Mena; Ingrid E Lofgren; Kristen Cooksey Stowers; Kim M Gans Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-05-11 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Sara E Benjamin; Brian Neelon; Sarah C Ball; Shrikant I Bangdiwala; Alice S Ammerman; Dianne S Ward Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2007-07-05 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Lucine Francis; Nancy Perrin; Frank C Curriero; Maureen M Black; Jerilyn K Allen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-24 Impact factor: 4.614