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Nutritional Education Is an Effective Tool in Improving Beverage Assortment in Nurseries in Poland.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of education on improving the assortment of beverages served in nurseries in Poland. This analysis focused on beverages served to children with meals and between meals. We examined: water, tea, juices, soft/fruit drinks, compote, milk, cocoa, and coffee substitute. The study involved 93 nurseries enrolled in the Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy project and was conducted from 2015 to 2017. Nutritional education was carried out by dieticians or nutritionists and included 24 h of lectures given to the staff of nurseries. Training was conducted in a form of workshops that were divided into 12 topics. Additionally, consultations regarding infants and young children nutrition were available to the staff. Typically, education training was completed within 1-2 months in each nursery. The effectiveness of education was verified based on data on beverage supply in 186 ten-day menus, 1860 daily inventory reports before (at baseline), and 3-6 months after staff training (post baseline). Data were analyzed in a total group, and separately for public and non-public nurseries. Statistical analyses for categorical variables were done with Chi² Pearson test. The differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. After education, a significant increase in the supply of water as a beverage served with meals was observed in all nurseries (68% vs. 87%; p = 0.002), both in public (72% vs. 90%, p = 0.036) and non-public (62% vs. 84%, p = 0.017) ones. Moreover, a decrease in served tea was noted: in all nurseries (71% vs. 44%, p < 0.001) and in public nurseries (77% vs. 42%, p < 0.001). Water was available between meals in almost all nurseries. Nutritional education for staff is an important tool for improving adherence to the nutritional recommendation in the case of core beverage supply in Polish nurseries.

SUBMITTER: Harton A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8002118 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundA specialized diet could be due to an allergy or other medical needs and also religious or cultural reasons. This study aimed to assess the availability and provision of special diets in kindergartens and nurseries financed by the Municipality of Kraków.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study was based on a diagnostic survey carried out using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview method and addressed to the managers of nurseries (n = 21) and kindergartens (n = 71) and, separately, to the parents of children attending these facilities (n = 1,096). Non-parametric tests were applied for an unadjusted comparison between children at nurseries and those at kindergartens.ResultsChildren with particular dietary requirements received special diet meals in 95.2% of nurseries and 60.5% of kindergartens. The availability of special diets was associated with the type of facility (p = 0.001), the number of children who ate in the facility (p = 0.032), and the daily cost of meals served to children (p = 0.009). The cost of meals was higher in kindergartens that offered special diets vs. those that did not offer such diets (p < 0.001). According to parents, 96.4% of the total number of children ate meals served in the facilities. In nurseries, 16.1% of children were on a special diet (as per the doctor's recommendations in 11.7% of cases and according to parents' own choice in 4.4%). In kindergartens, a special diet was served to 12.7% of children (doctor's recommendations, 8.5%; parents' own choice, 4.2%). The most common reason for using a special diet was food allergy (8.2% of children in nurseries and 5.8% of children in kindergartens). It was reported more often by the parents of children attending nurseries than by the parents of children attending kindergartens (8.0% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.007). The requirement for a special diet was found to be associated with the age of children (p < 0.033) and the use of oral treatment for chronic disease (p < 0.001).ConclusionProviding special diets for children is better in nurseries than in kindergartens. Legal regulations are urgently needed to ensure equal access to adequate nutrition for all children with special dietary needs in childcare facilities.

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Nutritional Education Is an Effective Tool in Improving Beverage Assortment in Nurseries in Poland.

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