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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

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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

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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:ImportanceFamily meals are a formative learning environment that shapes children's food choices and preferences. As such, they are an ideal setting for efforts to improve children's nutritional health.ObjectiveTo examine the effect of extending the duration of family meals on the fruit and vegetable intake in children.Design, setting, and participantsThis randomized clinical trial used a within-dyad manipulation design and was conducted from November 8, 2016, to May 5, 2017, in a family meal laboratory in Berlin, Germany. Included in the trial were children aged 6 to 11 years who did not follow a special diet or have food allergies and adult parents who served as the nutritional gatekeeper in the household (ie, the family member responsible for at least half of the food planning and preparation). All participants underwent 2 conditions: control, defined as regular family mealtime duration, and intervention, defined as 50% longer mealtime duration (10 minutes longer on average). Participants were randomized to the condition they would complete first. Statistical analyses of the full sample were conducted between June 2 and October 30, 2022.InterventionsParticipants had 2 free evening meals under different conditions. In the control or regular condition, each dyad ate in the same amount of time as their reported regular mealtime duration. In the intervention or longer condition, each dyad had 50% more time to eat than their reported regular mealtime duration.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was the number of pieces of fruits and vegetables eaten by the child during a meal.ResultsA total of 50 parent-child dyads participated in the trial. Parents had a mean (range) age of 43 (28-55 years) years and were predominantly mothers (36 [72%]). Children had a mean (range) age of 8 (6-11) years and included an equal number of girls and boys (25 [50%]). Children ate significantly more pieces of fruits (t49 = 2.36, P = .01; mean difference [MD], 3.32 [95% CI, 0.96 to ∞]; Cohen d = 0.33) and vegetables (t49 = 3.66, P < .001; MD, 4.05 [95% CI, 2.19 to ∞]; Cohen d = 0.52) in the longer condition than in the regular mealtime duration condition. Consumption of bread and cold cuts did not significantly differ between conditions. The children's eating rate (bites per minute over the regular mealtime duration) was significantly lower in the longer than in the regular condition (t49 = -7.60, P < .001; MD, -0.72 [95% CI, -0.56 to ∞]; Cohen d = 1.08). Children reported significantly higher satiety after the longer condition (V = 36.5, P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceResults of this randomized clinical trial suggest that the simple, low-threshold intervention of increasing family mealtime duration by approximately 10 minutes can improve the quality of children's diet and eating behavior. The findings underscore the potential for such an intervention to improve public health.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03127579.

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).

Dataset Information

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

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

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