Supporting Healthy Eating Among Preschoolers: Challenges for Child Care Staff

2007 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Needham ◽  
John J.M. Dwyer ◽  
Janis Randall-Simpson ◽  
Elizabeth Shaver Heeney
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Individual Factor ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Child Care Setting ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Group Interviews

Purpose: The child care setting can help preschoolers develop healthy eating habits. Establishing such habits may increase preschoolers’ likelihood of carrying them into adulthood, which can decrease the risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Challenges in supporting preschoolers’ healthy eating were investigated among child care staff. Methods: Three focus group interviews were conducted with 29 child care staff members. Audiotapes of the sessions were transcribed. Results: Several themes were identified from the analysis of the transcripts. An intrapersonal (individual) factor was children's picky eating. Interpersonal factors (interactions) included perceptions that parents do not encourage their children to eat in a healthy way, and that child care staff's use of practices were inconsistent with health professional recommendations. Physical environment factors included perceptions that healthy food was not accessible at child care centres and that children have unhealthy food at home. Conclusions: Program planners and health professionals can develop and implement strategies to overcome some of the identified challenges to supporting preschoolers’ healthy eating.

scholarly journals The Child-care Food and Activity Practices Questionnaire (CFAPQ): development and first validation steps

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1964-1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica S Gubbels ◽  
Ester FC Sleddens ◽  
Lieke CH Raaijmakers ◽  
Judith M Gies ◽  
Stef PJ Kremers
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Background Characteristics ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Child Care Setting ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Scale Psychometrics ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractObjectiveTo develop and validate a questionnaire to measure food-related and activity-related practices of child-care staff, based on existing, validated parenting practices questionnaires.DesignA selection of items from the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) and the Preschooler Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PPAPP) questionnaire was made to include items most suitable for the child-care setting. The converted questionnaire was pre-tested among child-care staff during cognitive interviews and pilot-tested among a larger sample of child-care staff. Factor analyses with Varimax rotation and internal consistencies were used to examine the scales. Spearman correlations, t tests and ANOVA were used to examine associations between the scales and staff’s background characteristics (e.g. years of experience, gender).SettingChild-care centres in the Netherlands.SubjectsThe qualitative pre-test included ten child-care staff members. The quantitative pilot test included 178 child-care staff members.ResultsThe new questionnaire, the Child-care Food and Activity Practices Questionnaire (CFAPQ), consists of sixty-three items (forty food-related and twenty-three activity-related items), divided over twelve scales (seven food-related and five activity-related scales). The CFAPQ scales are to a large extent similar to the original CFPQ and PPAPP scales. The CFAPQ scales show sufficient internal consistency with Cronbach’s α ranging between 0·53 and 0·96, and average corrected item–total correlations within acceptable ranges (0·30–0·89). Several of the scales were significantly associated with child-care staff’s background characteristics.ConclusionsScale psychometrics of the CFAPQ indicate it is a valid questionnaire that assesses child-care staff’s practices related to both food and activities.

scholarly journals A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Feasibility Study of a WhatsApp-Delivered Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating Habits in Male Firefighters

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6633
Author(s):  
Winnie Wing Man Ng ◽  
Anthony Siu Wo Wong ◽  
Kin Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Cluster Randomized

This cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT)-designed study aimed to explore the feasibility of a promotion pamphlet and/or WhatsApp as a suitable mode of delivery to promote healthy eating habits with fruit and vegetables (F&V) among firefighters. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used. Forty-five firefighters from 23 fire stations were recruited and they all received the printed pamphlet, while the intervention group participants (n = 20) received additional teaching material through WhatsApp every two weeks for eight weeks. Feasibility outcomes included retention, practicality, and implementation. The participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. There were significant improvements in the mean numbers of days consuming F&V (p = 0.002; p = 0.031) in the intervention group, and for fruit consumption (p = 0.033) in the control group between the baseline (T0) and 3 months after completion of intervention (T1). High levels of participants’ satisfaction with the intervention revealed that a full-scale CRCT of the WhatsApp-delivered intervention promoting healthy eating could be feasible, especially as a means of increasing the numbers of days they consumed F&V and the numbers of servings of these consumed per day.

scholarly journals Individualized Tailor-Made Dietetic Intervention Program at Schools Enhances Eating Behaviors and Dietary Habits in Obese Hispanic Children of Low Socioeconomic Status

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Elizondo-Montemayor ◽  
Diana Moreno-Sànchez ◽  
Norma G. Gutierrez ◽  
Fabiola Monsivais-Rodriguez ◽  
Ubaldo Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Hispanic Children ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Dietetic Intervention

Hispanic children and those from low-socioeconomic status are predisposed to unhealthy eating habits and obesity.Aim. to implement an individualized, face-to-face, parent supported, and school-partnership dietetic intervention to promote healthy eating habits and decrease body mass index. Prospective school year dietetic intervention of 101 obese, Hispanic, low-socioeconomic school-age children representative of Monterrey, Mexico, consisted of anthropometrics, dietetic assessment, energy-restriction tailor-made daily menus, and parental education every three weeks. Student’st-test was used for means comparison. A significant decrease was found in body mass index percentile(96.43±3.32to93.42±8.12/P=0.00)and energy intake/day of −755.7 kcal/day(P=0.00). Among other energy dense foods with significant decline in servings/day and servings/week were processed meats(3.13 ± 1.43to2.19 ± 1.04/P=0.00and5.60 ± 1.75to4.37 ± 2.10/P=0.00, resp.), saturated fat(1.47 ± 1.08to0.78 ± 0.79/P=0.00and2.19±2.18to1.1±1.36/P=0.00), sweetened beverages(2.79±1.99to1.42±1.21and6.21±1.72to3.89±2.80/P=0.00), and desserts and refined-grain bakery(1.99±1.54to1.32±1.59and2.85 ± 2.54to1.57 ± 2.20/P=0.00). There was a significant increase in servings/day and servings/week of water(2.98 ± 2.02to4.91 ± 2.37and6.62 ± 2.03to6.87 ± 0.91/P=0.00, resp.) and nutrient dense foods such as fruits(1.31 ± 0.89to1.66 ± 0.96and3.34 ± 2.24to4.28 ± 2.43/P=0.00)and fish and poultry(3.76 ± 2.15to4.54 ± 2.25/P=0.00). This intervention created healthy eating habits and decreased body mass index in a high risk population. Trial registration number:NCT01925976.

scholarly journals PICTURE BOOKS AND HEALTHY EATING HABITS: AN INTERVENTION STUDY IN A GREEK PRESCHOOL SETTING

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Tympa ◽  
Vasiliki Karavida
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Parental Modeling ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Group Interviews

Experiences with food preferences begin in infancy and continue to develop on children transition to solid food. Children’s food preferences are influenced by availability and familiarity with foods as well as parental modeling and health related picture books. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether picture-books regarding healthy lifestyle can influence children’s eating preferences. A questionnaire related to the use of picture-books at home and lifestyle habits was distributed to all parents. Picture-books were provided to all parents. At the same time children were allocated in two groups: the intervention group, which took part in further activities (cooking), and to a comparison group. Interviews were addressed to the parents after the program. The ethical concern included confidentiality assurance and the choice to withdraw. Findings revealed that the daily reading of books about food was increased in both groups. Most of the families of the intervention group reduced fast food and sweet consumption and increased outdoor activities. Implications on the influence of books and additional activities on promoting child attitudes on healthy food will be discussed. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0740/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Family farming products on menus in school feeding: a partnership for promoting healthy eating

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 2267-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélida Ventura Barbosa Gonçalves ◽  
Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha ◽  
Elke Stedefeldt ◽  
Veridiana Vera de Rosso
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Family Farming ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Feeding ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Feeding Program

The aim of this study was to characterize the process of buying Family Farming (FF) food for the Brazilian School Feeding Program (BSFP) and compare the quality of menus served to the schoolchildren before and after the implementation of Law n. 11,947/09. This is an observational cross-sectional study developed with application of semi-structured questionnaire and evaluating menus. Eighty-two cities from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil participated of the study. Of these cities reported, 74.1% performed the purchase of products of FF for BSFP. The lack of interest of farmers and the deficient hygienic and sanitary conditions were the main difficulties reported. The quality of the menus offered to the schoolchildren improved significantly after the implementation of FF purchases. The partnership between FF and BSFP can contribute greatly to the development of healthy eating habits, not only by offering better nutritional quality menus, but also by implementing of nutritional education activities guided by the sustainable production and consumption of food.

Teachers’ self-perception of their dietary behavior and needs to teach healthy eating habits in the school

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1019-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Vio ◽  
Marisol Yañez ◽  
Carmen Gloria González ◽  
Gabriela Fretes ◽  
Judith Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Information And Communication

Through focus groups, we explored 22 third- to fifth-grade teachers’ perceptions about their eating habits, including barriers and facilitators to healthy eating. It also explored teachers’ thoughts about how to teach students healthy eating habits. The information was transcribed and treated using the content analysis technique. Results were evaluated using the concept of majority and minority group and presented in a sequential way: teachers’ perceptions about eating habits, barriers to healthy eating, teacher’s culinary habits, abilities to teach students healthy eating habits through Information and Communication Technologies, and cooking activities. Teachers’ eating habits were poor, with lack of time, money, and will to improve. They had culinary habits skills and the desire to instruct and guide their students in eating healthier food. They need a program with Information and Communication Technologies and cooking workshops to apply in the classroom.

Ready, steady, cook!

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Sarah Scotland
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Healthy Eating Habits ◽  
Insight Into

Healthy eating is one of the most important habits to encourage from an early age. In this article nutritionist Sarah Scotland gives us insight into a case study promoting healthy eating habits in the early years.

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