Associations Between Community Nutrition Environments and Early Care and Education Classroom Nutrition Practices

Authors

Bethany Williams, Washington State UniversityFollow
Susan B. Sisson, University of Oklahoma Health SciencesFollow
Bryce Lowery, University of OklahomaFollow
Dipti Dev, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Diane M. Horm, The University of OklahomaFollow
Janis Campbell, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterFollow
Denise Finneran, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterFollow
Jennifer Graef-Downard, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-2021

Citation

Published in Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 5, Issue Supplement 2, June 2021, Page 994

https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab051_038

Comments

Copyright © 2021 by the authors on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition. Published by Oxford University Press. Used by permission 2021.

Abstract

Poor child diet is influenced by nutrition environments surrounding schools and homes; influence of these environments on Early Care and Education (ECE) settings is not understood. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between community nutrition environments and ECE classroom nutrition practices, by ECE context [Head Starts, community-based childcare (CBCs), and family child care homes (FCCHs)].

Conclusions: Contrary to studies in residential areas and schools, nutrition environments were not related to nutrition practices in ECEs. This suggests that ECEs may serve as protective microenvironments supporting health for children more vulnerable to the health environments of their nearby residing communities. Supporting health practices for ECEs may be achieved most effectively through within-center intervention and policy.