Comparative Evaluation of a South Carolina Policy to Improve Nutrition in Child Care

Neelon, Sara E. Benjamin; Mayhew, Meghan; O’Neill, Jennifer; Neelon, Brian; Li, Fan; Pate, Russell R.

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2015.10.026

Cited by 33 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Data collectors were blinded to the study aims and group assignment. Detailed information about the full Keys study design and protocols have been reported in prior publications (Benjamin Neelon, Ostbye, Hales, Vaughn, & Ward, 2016a, 2016b; Ostbye et al, 2015). Briefly, to recruit family child care homes we first contacted local community partners (e.g., Health Departments) to provide information about the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The family child care home environment and children's diet quality

et al. 2018

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The instrument has been used in numerous previous studies to assess child care environments (Benjamin Neelon et al, 2016b; Messiah et al, 2017; LaRowe et al, 2016; O’Neill, Dowda, Benjamin Neelon, Neelon, & Pate, 2017). We collected EPAO data during two-day onsite visits to family child care homes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The family child care home environment and children's diet quality

et al. 2018

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“…However, the researchers evaluated compliance with the regulation after it was enacted and did not collect baseline data prior to the implementation of the regulation. Another previous study prospectively assessed compliance with new healthy eating regulations in a single state and found some improvement in alignment with the nutrition standard after the policy took effect (Neelon et al 2016). Researchers evaluated 13 nutrition standards governing ECE centers serving low-income children in South Carolina and used North Carolina, a state not making policy changes, as the comparison (Neelon et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another previous study prospectively assessed compliance with new healthy eating regulations in a single state and found some improvement in alignment with the nutrition standard after the policy took effect (Neelon et al 2016). Researchers evaluated 13 nutrition standards governing ECE centers serving low-income children in South Carolina and used North Carolina, a state not making policy changes, as the comparison (Neelon et al 2016). They found that the new standards modestly improved nutrition practices in South Carolina centers post-policy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

State Regulations to Support Children’s Cultural and Religious Food Preferences in Early Care and Education

Looby

Frost²,

Gonzalez-Nahm

et al. 2019

Matern Child Health J

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Objective In July 2018 the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics released a benchmark encouraging early care and education (ECE) programs, including child care centers and family child care homes, to incorporate cultural and religious food preferences of children into meals. We examined the extent to which states were already doing so through their ECE licensing and administrative regulations prior to the release of the benchmark. This review may serve as a baseline to assess future updates, if more states incorporate the benchmark into their regulations. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we reviewed ECE regulations for all 50 states and the District of Columbia (hereafter states) through June 2018. We assessed consistency with the benchmark for centers and homes. We conducted Spearman correlations to estimate associations between the year the regulations were updated and consistency with the benchmark. Results Among centers, eight states fully met the benchmark, 11 partially met the benchmark, and 32 did not meet the benchmark. Similarly for homes, four states fully met the benchmark, 13 partially met the benchmark, and 34 did not meet the benchmark. Meeting the benchmark was not correlated with the year of last update for centers (P = 0.54) or homes (P = 0.31). Conclusions Most states lacked regulations consistent with the benchmark. Health professionals can help encourage ECE programs to consider cultural and religious food preferences of children in meal planning. And, if feasible, states may consider additional regulations supporting cultural and religious preferences of children in future updates to regulations.

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“…In a second study, researchers evaluated new mandatory nutrition standards governing childcare centers serving low-income children in South Carolina, and they used North Carolina-a state not making policy changes-as the comparison. 56 The policy was implemented in April 2012 and included 13 standards governing the nutritional quality of foods and beverages served to children and staff behaviors related to feeding children in care. They found that the new standards modestly improved nutrition practices in South Carolina child-care centers postpolicy, especially for three of the 13 standards.…”

Section: Centers For Disease Control and Prevention The Centers For mentioning

confidence: 99%

Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Benchmarks for Nutrition in Child Care

Benjamin‐Neelon¹

2018

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

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It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that early care and education (ECE) programs should achieve recommended benchmarks to meet children's nutrition needs and promote children's optimal growth in safe and healthy environments. Children's dietary intake is influenced by a number of factors within ECE, including the nutritional quality of the foods and beverages served, the mealtime environments, and the interactions that take place between children and their care providers. Other important and related health behaviors that may influence the development of obesity include children's physical activity, sleep, and stress within child care. Recent efforts to promote healthy eating and improve other health behaviors in ECE include national, state, and local policy changes. In addition, a number of interventions have been developed in recent years to encourage healthy eating and help prevent obesity in young children in ECE. Members of the dietetics profession, including registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered, can work in partnership with ECE providers and parents to help promote healthy eating, increase physical activity, and address other important health behaviors of children in care. Providers and parents can serve as role models to support these healthy behaviors. This Position Paper presents current evidence and recommendations for nutrition in ECE and provides guidance for registered dietitian nutritionists; nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered; and other food and nutrition practitioners working with parents and child-care providers. This Position Paper targets children ages 2 to 5 years attending ECE programs and highlights opportunities to improve and enhance children's healthy eating while in care.

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Comparative Evaluation of a South Carolina Policy to Improve Nutrition in Child Care

Cited by 33 publications

References 35 publications

The family child care home environment and children's diet quality

The family child care home environment and children's diet quality

State Regulations to Support Children’s Cultural and Religious Food Preferences in Early Care and Education

Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Benchmarks for Nutrition in Child Care

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