Dataset Information

Differences in preschool-age children's dietary intake between meals consumed at childcare and at home.

ABSTRACT: Preschool children need optimal nutrition, including a variety of nutrient-dense foods, for growth and development. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in foods and nutrients consumed at childcare and home environments. Children ages 3-to-5 years (n = 90, 3.8 ± 0.7 years; 56% female) from 16 childcare centers participated in this cross-sectional study from 2011 to 2014. Lunches at childcare were observed for two days; three days of dinners at home were reported by caregivers. Nutrient-dense and energy-dense foods were counted and nutrient content of meals was determined using FoodWorks®. More servings of fruit (0.92 ± 0.82 vs. 0.15 ± 0.26; p ? 0.0001), vegetables (1.47 ± 1.43 vs. 0.62 ± 0.60; p ? 0.0001), and low-fat dairy (0.83 ± 0.32 vs. 0.07 ± 0.19; p ? 0.0001) were consumed at childcare than at home. More servings of high-fat, high-sugar foods (0.08 ± 0.18 vs. 0.43 ± 0.39, p ? 0.0001) and sugary drinks (0.22 ± 0.41 vs. 0.39 ± 0.35. p ? 0.001) were consumed at home than at childcare. There were no differences between environments in whole-grains, high-fat meats, or high-fat high-sugar condiments consumed. On average, children consumed 333.0 ± 180.3 kcal at childcare and 454.7 ± 175.3 at home (p ? 0.0001). There were no differences in macronutrient profiles or in iron, zinc, folate, or vitamin B6 intake. More calcium (86.2 ± 44.6 vs. 44.6 ± 22.2 mg/kcal, p ? 0.0001) and vitamin A/kcal (56.1 ± 36.9 vs. 26.5 ± 24.2 RAE/kcal, p ? 0.0001) were consumed at childcare than at home. Preschool children are consuming more nutrient-dense foods and a more servings of fruit and vegetables at childcare during lunch than at home during dinner. Childcare and parents should work together to provide early and consistent exposure to nutrient-rich foods to ensure optimal nutrition for developing children.

SUBMITTER: Sisson SB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5318345 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Differences in preschool-age children's dietary intake between meals consumed at childcare and at home.

Sisson S B SB Kiger A C AC Anundson K C KC Rasbold A H AH Krampe M M Campbell J J DeGrace B B Hoffman L L

Preventive medicine reports 20170208

Preschool children need optimal nutrition, including a variety of nutrient-dense foods, for growth and development. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in foods and nutrients consumed at childcare and home environments. Children ages 3-to-5 years (<i>n</i> = 90, 3.8 ± 0.7 years; 56% female) from 16 childcare centers participated in this cross-sectional study from 2011 to 2014. Lunches at childcare were observed for two days; three days of dinners at home were reported by careg ...[more]

PMID: 28239540

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAway from home (AFH) meals are known to be energy-dense and of poor diet quality. Both direct and indirect exposure (for example, neighborhood restaurant density) to AFH meals have been implicated as contributors to higher body weight and adverse health outcomes.ObjectiveTo examine the association of frequency of eating AFH and fast-food meals with biomarkers of chronic disease and dietary intake.DesignThis cross-sectional study used frequency of AFH and fast-food meal and biomarker data from the NHANES 2005-2010. Information on weekly frequency of AFH and fast-food meals was collected via questionnaire during the household interview. The metabolic biomarkers examined included body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)), triglycerides, glycohemoglobin and fasting glucose (n=8314, age⩾20, National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007-2010). Biomarkers of dietary exposure included serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, E, C, B-6, B-12, folate and carotenoids (n=4162; 2005-2006). Multiple linear and logistic regression methods adjusted for complex survey methodology and covariates.ResultsAmerican adults reported a mean of 3.9 (95% confidence interval 3.7, 4.0) AFH and 1.8 (1.6, 1.9) fast-food meals/week. Over 50% of adults reported ⩾3 AFH and >35% reported ⩾2 fast-food meals/week. The mean BMI of more frequent AFH or fast-food meal reporters was higher (Ptrend⩽0.0004). Serum concentrations of total, LDL and HDL-cholesterol were related inversely with frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05). Frequencies of fast-food meals and serum HDL-cholesterol were also related inversely (P=0.0001). Serum concentrations of all examined micronutrients (except vitamin A and lycopene) declined with increasing frequency of AFH meals (P<0.05); women and ⩾50-year olds were at higher risk.ConclusionsReporters of frequent AFH and fast-food meals had higher BMI and lower concentrations of HDL-cholesterol; however, profiles of other biomarkers did not indicate higher metabolic risk. However, the serum concentrations of nutrients with mostly plant foods as sources declined with increasing AFH meal frequency.

Project description:BackgroundBecause children often consume substantial proportions of their diets in childcare programs, it is critical to determine what they eat when served menus meeting dietary recommendations and how intake is related to individual characteristics.ObjectivesUsing weighed assessments, we characterized children's consumption across 15 daily menus and investigated the relationship between properties of the food consumed and child characteristics.MethodsIn 3 crossover trials in childcare centers that followed dietary guidelines, we provided and weighed all meals and snacks for 5 consecutive days. For this descriptive secondary analysis, we characterized primary outcomes (daily food weight, energy density, and energy intake) by including the most typical set of menus from each trial, yielding 603 daily intakes for 128 preschool children (15% with overweight or obesity). Physical activity was measured by accelerometry during childcare sessions. Children's appetitive traits were assessed by parental questionnaires.ResultsBoth food properties and child characteristics were related to daily intake. More food was consumed from menus with greater food weight, and the energy density of consumed food was greater from menus with higher energy density (both P < 0.0001); these menu differences resulted in greater energy intake (P = 0.009). Children with overweight and obesity had greater energy intake as a proportion of requirements than did children with healthy weight (113 ± 6% versus 101 ± 2%; P = 0.039). Vegetable intake was 39 ± 2% of the recommended amounts and boys had lower consumption than girls (P = 0.004). Children with appetitive traits of lower satiety responsiveness or higher food responsiveness had greater daily energy intake (both P < 0.003).ConclusionsWeighed intakes showed that when children were served daily menus with substantial portions of foods that met dietary recommendations, they selectively consumed higher-energy-dense items and ate few vegetables. A particular concern was that children with overweight ate amounts that exceeded their energy needs. The trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02963987, NCT03010501, NCT03242863).

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Childcare educators may be role models for healthy eating and physical activity (PA) behaviours among young children. This study aimed to identify which childcare educators' practices are associated with preschoolers' dietary intake and PA levels. METHODS:This cross-sectional analysis included 723 preschoolers from 50 randomly selected childcare centres in two Canadian provinces. All data were collected in the fall of 2013 and 2014 and analysed in the fall of 2015. PA was assessed using Actical accelerometers during childcare hours for 5 consecutive days. Children's dietary intake was measured at lunch on 2 consecutive days using weighed plate waste and digital photography. Childcare educators' nutrition practices (modelling, nutrition education, satiety recognition, verbal encouragement and not using food as rewards) and PA practices (informal and formal PA promotion) were assessed by direct observation over the course of 2?days, using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care tool. Associations between educators' practices and preschoolers' PA and dietary intake were examined using multilevel linear regressions. RESULTS:Overall, modelling of healthy eating was positively associated with children's intake of sugar (?=0.141, 95%?CI 0.03 to 0.27), while calorie (?=-0.456, 95%?CI -1.46 to -0.02) and fibre intake (?=-0.066, 95%?CI -0.12 to -0.01) were negatively associated with providing nutrition education. Not using food as rewards was also negatively associated with fat intake (?=-0.144, 95%?CI -0.52 to -0.002). None of the educators' PA practices were associated with children's participation in PA. CONCLUSIONS:Modelling healthy eating, providing nutrition education and not using food as rewards are associated with children's dietary intake at lunch in childcare centres, highlighting the role that educators play in shaping preschoolers' eating behaviours. Although PA practices were not associated with children's PA levels, there is a need to reduce sedentary time in childcare centres.

Dataset Information

Differences in preschool-age children's dietary intake between meals consumed at childcare and at home.

Publications

Differences in preschool-age children's dietary intake between meals consumed at childcare and at home.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets