Progress 07/01/03 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The last submitted progress report will serve as the final report. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The last submitted progress report will serve as the final report.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. A mail survey was conducted with 271 childcare providers to identify their training interests, needs, and attitudes related to feeding, nutrition and overweight for young children, including communicating with parents about these topics. A manuscript is in progress. We completed analyzing videos of mealtimes in Head Start and childcare, focusing on adult comments that reinforce or impede children eating according to internal cues. A manuscript is in press. We examined 3 recommendations for children's serving sizes (1 tablespoon of each food per year of age, MyPyramid and Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP] approaches) to determine whether they would meet the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) of children ages 2-5 years. Fourteen days of menus were randomly selected 72 CACFP approved menus. Menus were analyzed using nutrient analysis software and mean daily nutrient contents were calculated. A manuscript is in progress. PARTICIPANTS: Janice Fletcher, EdD, Professor, University of Idaho, Samantha Ramsay, MS, RD, Research Associate, University of Idaho, Susan L. Johnson, PhD, Professor, University of Colorado-Denver, Jill Shultz, PhD, Professor, Washington State University, Satoko Chika, graduate student, Washington State University, , University of Idaho District I ENP nutrition advisors, graduate student education, undergraduate education, California Child and Adult Food Program Roundtable participants TARGET AUDIENCES: Childcare and Head Start staff and trainers, parents of two to five-year-old children, graduate students, undergraduate students in nutrition and child development, dietitians and nutrition educators, child development specialists, results disseminated through professional publications, websites, college courses, and practitioner workshops. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Training topics most frequently reported by survey respondents were physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition for young children, and handling picky eating. Respondents recognized the importance of responding to early childhood overweight, but expressed the need for support and guidelines for talking with parents about weight concerns. We are developing a website with training materials related to the requested topics. This website will include communication guidelines for use with parents related to their child being overweight. Content analysis of mealtime videos revealed that childcare staff emphasized external cues rather than internal cues of hunger and satiation. We are developing training materials that include specific words and phrases that childcare staff can use to focus children on their internal cues. Based on computer analysis of CACFP approved menus, nutrient requirements were met for the majority of nutrients by all three recommendations: 1 tablespoon of each food per year of age, MyPyramid portions, and CACFP recommended portions. Dietitians and pediatricians can be assured that the easy recommendation of 1 tablespoon of each food per year of age for young children will ensure that the child is obtaining adequate nutrients. The results of this research serve as the basis for feeding workshops and training materials for childcare and Head Start staff, as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 will eat in group settings where they are allowed to eat according to hunger and satiation cues, which can reduce the incidence of pediatric obesity.
Publications
- Ramsay, S. A., Branen, L. J., Fletcher, J., Johnson, S. L., Price, B, and Sigman-Grant, M. (2010). Are you done Child care providers' verbal communication at mealtimes that reinforce or hinder children's internal cues of hunger and satiation. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, (In press.)
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. We conducted seven focus group interviews with child care providers and six focus groups with parents to assess perspectives on healthy eating and physical activity for young children aged 2 to 5 years in both home and childcare settings. A manuscript is in progress. The Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships: An Inventory for Feeding Young Children in Group Settings was disseminated at the CACFP National Professional Association Conference. The Inventory is downloadable for no cost and is available from our website at www.ag.uidaho.edu/feeding. We completed content analysis of videos from mealtimes in child care centers, focusing on adult comments that reinforce or impede children eating according to internal cues. A manuscript is in progress. We also compared food intake and waste during snack time in a preschool program when four-year-old children are offered whole pieces versus half pieces of toast. A manuscript is in progress. PARTICIPANTS: Janice Fletcher, EdD, Professor, University of Idaho, Samantha Ramsay, MS, RD, Research Associate, University of Idaho, Kristin Hansen, graduate student, University of Idaho, Madeleine Sigman-Grant, PhD, Professor, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Susan L. Johnson, PhD, Professor, University of Colorado-Denver, Jill Shultz, PhD, Professor, Washington State University, Satoko Chika, graduate student, Washington State University Oregon Child Development Coalition University of Idaho District I ENP nutrition advisors Graduate student education Undergraduate education, including research and coursework TARGET AUDIENCES: Childcare and Head Start staff and trainers Parents of two to five-year-old children Graduate students Undergraduate students in nutrition and child development Dietitians and nutrition educators Child development specialists Results disseminated through professional publications, websites, college courses, and practitioner workshops PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results of the focus groups indicated that both parents and childcare providers identified certain information about children's eating that they want to exchange, such as ways to manage picky eaters. Also, the two groups agreed that parents want to know how providers get their children to try new foods. While providers tended to think that parents primarily want to know if their child ate alright, how the child ate when there was a current health-related reason for concern, or what was served at the site, many of the parents desired detailed information routinely to support a host of needs related to their child. Results will be used to develop trainings on effective communication between childcare staff and parents. Content analysis of mealtime videos revealed that childcare staff emphasized external cues such as time for eating rather than internal cues of hunger and satiation. Adults demonstrated an overriding effort to get children to eat. Trainings need to focus on specific words and phrases that childcare staff can use to focus children on their internal cues. The results of the portion size study revealed that children consumed significantly more toast when offered half slices compared to whole slices. The results of this research serve as the basis for feeding workshops for childcare and Head Start staff as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 will eat in group settings where they serve themselves and eat according to internal hunger and satiation cues, which can reduce the incidence of pediatric obesity.
Publications
- Sigman-Grant, M., Christiansen, E., Branen, L., Fletcher, J. and Johnson, S.L. 2008. About Feeding Children: Mealtimes in childcare centers in four western states. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 108: 340-346.
- Sigman-Grant, M., Christiansen, E., Fernandez, G., Fletcher, J., Johnson, S. L., Branen, L. J. and Price, B. 2008. Hungry Mondays: Low-income children in childcare. J. Hunger Environ. Nutr.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. The first goal is to characterize child care providers and Head Start teachers in four Western states and to describe their feeding practices. We developed two questionnaires examining childcare and Head Start staff feeding practices. We examined feeding practices used with children who are food insecure. A second goal is to develop an inventory for improving mealtimes for young children eating in Head Start and childcare programs. This inventory, Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships, has been created, evaluated, and widely disseminated. In the past year, there have been 4000 downloads of this document from the Feeding Young Children in Group Settings website. A third goal is to identify adult strategies that facilitate or impede development of hunger and satiation cues in children ages two to five. We videotaped
mealtimes for young children in group settings and completed content analysis focusing on adult comments and behaviors that reinforce or impede children eating according to internal cues. A fourth goal is to develop web-based nutrition training materials for child care staff. Modules on pediatric obesity, breastfeeding, and introducing solids have been completed: on-line text, PowerPoint presentations, and graphics portrayals of concepts have been developed. We also developed menu cards for quick and easy meals in an effort to increase family meals.
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Madeleine Sigman-Grant, Dr. Susan L. Johnson, and Dr. Janice Fletcher were co-investigators in the research on feeding food insecure children. Dr. Janice Fletcher is the co-developer of the feeding inventory, Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships.Ms. Samantha Ramsay, M.S., R.D. is a research associate who has worked on development of the nutrition modules and has completed content analysis of the videos. Mrs. Kristin Hansen is a graduate student who has helped with development of the nutrition modules and with video content analysis. Ms. Emily Crawford is an undergraduate student who has taken leadership in developing menu cards. Trainings have been presented to Head Start and childcare staff.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this research are childcare and Head Start staff, who work with low income families, and the parents of children in these programs. The ultimate target audience is children ages two to five. Training materials are available at http://www.ag.uidaho.edu/feeding/. In addition, the PI presents at trainings throughout the country.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The original proposal included translation of all materials into Spanish. Due to lack of additional funding, this will not be done.
Impacts
The results of this research serve as the basis for feeding workshops for childcare and Head Start staff, as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 will eat in group settings where they serve themselves and eat according to internal hunger and satiation cues, which can reduce the incidence of pediatric obesity. The Building Mealtime Relationships and Environments inventory is used by childcare and Head Start staff and directors, as well as program evaluators in order to improve mealtimes for children 2-5 years old who eat in group settings. The results of the food insecurity research will be used to encourage childcare providers to increase food available to hungry children, especially on Fridays and Mondays. The results also will be used to substantiate the need for CACFP at the national level to make fiscal allowances to provide more food to children from food-insecure households.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. The first goal is to characterize child care providers and Head Start teachers in four Western states. We developed two questionnaires examining factors affecting feeding practices. A manuscript based on the results of this study is in review. A second goal is to develop an inventory for improving mealtimes for young children eating in Head Start and childcare programs. This inventory, Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships, has been created, evaluated, and widely disseminated. Currently several states are using it to improve their early childhood programs; individual centers also are using the inventory. A third goal is to identify adult strategies that facilitate or impede development of young children's hunger and satiation cues. We videotaped mealtimes for young children in group settings. Content analysis
focusing on the adults' comments and behaviors that reinforce or impede children's eating according to internal cues is being conducted on this video footage. A fourth goal is to develop web-based nutrition training materials for child care staff. One module on basic concepts in pediatric nutrition has been completed. Training materials related to breastfeeding are in progress; on-line text, PowerPoint presentations, and graphics portrayals of concepts have been developed. Work also has been initiated on a pediatric obesity module.
Impacts
The results of this research serve as the basis for feeding workshops for childcare and Head Start staff as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 will eat in group settings where they serve themselves, eat according to internal hunger and satiation cues, and try new foods in a supportive environment. The Building Mealtime Relationships and Environments inventory can be used by childcare and Head Start staff and directors, as well as program evaluators in order to improve mealtimes for children 2-5 years old who eat in group settings.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. The first goal was to characterize child care providers and Head Start teachers in four Western states. We developed two questionnaires examining factors affecting feeding practices. The staff survey addressed issues such as education, training related to feeding, experience, feeding beliefs and practices, and weight history; 1210 childcare and Head Start center staff members responded. The director survey focused on center policies and practices; 470 center directors responded. Forty-eight percent of the staff respondents were over 35 years old. The majority had some higher education, with 18 percent having an undergraduate degree and 5 percent having a graduate degree. We calculated BMI based on self-reported height and weight. While 43 percent were within the normal weight range, 29 percent were overweight and 23 percent
were obese. Family style service was used in 47 percent of centers; children brought their lunches in 31 percent of centers. Results of feeding questions indicated that staff know terms such as family style service but use strategies contrary to this style. There were significant associations between past and current eating practices: picky eating, eating until too full, cleaning the plate, eating when sad, and restricting food intake to lose weight. Factor analysis of the questions about childhood food experiences of childcare providers resulted in a two-factor solution, accounting for 89 percent of the variance. The first factor included using food for non-food reasons, e.g. food as an incentive. In addition, it included weight related items such as eating too much and being teased about weight. The second factor related to adult control of the eating of the child, including adults deciding what and how much the child ate. Scores for each of these factors will be computed and
compared to current feeding practices, to determine if feeding practices are influenced by the way respondents were fed in childhood. A second goal was to develop an inventory for improving mealtimes for young children eating in Head Start and childcare programs. In the process of developing the mealtime inventory, we analyzed video footage from mealtimes in childcare centers. This showed us in great detail the gap between feeding guidelines and actual practices. In addition, we observed barriers and supports for providing optimum mealtimes for young children in group settings. The inventory includes 12 topic areas: equipment, mealtime environment, sanitation at the table, the food, preventing choking, regulation of food intake, routines and schedules, social and emotional development, mealtime motor skills, conversations, adult practices at mealtime, and community building. Each topic includes checklists of observable mealtime practices related to that topic. There are six possible
ratings, from inadequate practice to ideal practice, for each topic. We have pilot tested the instrument in 15 settings. The inventory is available in spiral bound form as well as in a downloadable form.
Impacts
Although child care staff play a significant role in feeding young children, little is known about childcare providers and the factors affecting their feeding practices. From our survey, we learned that a high percentage of childcare and Head Start staff has an above ideal BMI. This needs to be addressed, since they are role models for young children. Results also indicate that staff continue to eat the way they were fed as children, supporting the theory that food habits are established in childhood. This increases the importance of providing optimum eating environments during childhood. The results of our survey may serve as the basis for feeding workshops for childcare and Head Start staff as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 will eat in group settings where they serve themselves, eat according to internal hunger and satiation cues, and try new foods in a supportive environment. In
addition, the questionnaires can be used by researchers to learn more about childcare staff in other parts of the country. The Building Mealtime Relationships and Environments inventory can be used by childcare and Head Start staff and directors, as well as program evaluators in order to improve mealtimes for children 2-5 years old who eat in group settings.
Publications
- Fletcher, J., Branen, L., Price, E., and Matthews, S. (2005). Building Mealtime Environments and Relationships: An inventory for feeding young children in group settings, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.
- Price, B.A. (2005). Factors influencing feeding styles used by staff during meals with young children in group settings, PhD Dissertation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The overall purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge base for determining best practice for feeding young children in group settings. In the first study, we examined the reactions of young children to unfamiliar vegetables in a preschool setting. Four themes emerged: associating taste and physical characteristics of unfamiliar vegetables with familiar foods, teacher and peer modeling, exploring sensory characteristics, and trying vegetables but not swallowing them. In the second study, we examined circumstances that child care providers encounter during infant feeding. Group size and ratios had the greatest impact on the feeding relationship. Parent-caregiver communication was considered to be essential for keeping infant feeding safe and healthy. A Mealtime Rating Scale (MRS) was developed for use in childcare, Head Start programs, and preschools. The MRS includes 12 topic areas: equipment, mealtime environment, sanitation at the table, the food,
preventing choking, regulation of food intake, routines and schedules, social and emotional development, mealtime motor skills, conversations, adult practices at mealtime, and community building. Each topic includes checklists of observable mealtime practices related to that topic. There are six possible ratings, from inadequate practice to ideal practice, for each topic. We have pilot tested the instrument in 15 settings. We conducted a survey of child care and Head Start staff in four western states: Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, and California. We developed two questionnaires that examined factors affecting feeding practices of child care providers. The staff questionnaire addressed issues such as education and training related to feeding, experience with young children, feeding beliefs and practices, and weight history; 1210 childcare and Head Start center staff members responded to this questionnaire. The questionnaire for the directors focused on center policies and practices; 470
center directors responded to this questionnaire. Responses currently are being entered in SPSS.
Impacts
The results of these studies serve as the basis for feeding workshops for childcare and Head Start staff as well as for those who do trainings with these individuals. As a result of these workshops, more children ages 2-5 eat in group settings where they serve themselves, eat according to internal hunger and satiation cues, and try new foods in a supportive environment. The Mealtime Rating Scale can be used by childcare and Head Start staff and directors, as well as program evaluators in order to improve mealtimes for children 2-5 years old who eat in group settings. The questionnaires can be used by other researchers throughout the U.S. in order to identify factors that impact child care providers feeding practices and help trainers to develop more effective trainings.
Publications
- Matthews, S., 2004. Feeding infants in child care centers: Isolating characteristics of the feeding environment. MS Thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. Aardal, M., 2004. Yuck, what is that: Children's reactions to unfamiliar vegetables in a preschool setting. MS Thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.
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