Maryland’s Building Blocks for Healthy Children: Increasing the Variety and Acceptance of Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole-Grains

Describe the nutrition and physical activity environment in CACFP child care centers. State fruit and vegetable preferences of 3-5 year olds. Describe staff demographics, and beliefs and practices about nutrition and physical activity. Describe eating habits of 3- to 5-year-olds and quality of lunches served (via meal observations). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have outlined recommendations to improve the variety and amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains, and to improve the environment of child care centers. Aligned with these recommendations, Maryland’s 2013 Team Nutrition grant recruited 22 CACFP child care centers and provided a six month course focusing on enhancing the nutrition and physical activity environment for child care directors and or the CACFP program coordinators. Also, Nutrition Navigators provided nutrition education to children and technical assistance to staff in child care centers during this time. Paper surveys were distributed to child care center staff and parent/caregivers for 3-5 year old children. These surveys gathered demographic information and nutrition and physical activity beliefs and practices. A child care environment assessment was completed utilizing the Environment Policy and Assessment Observation (EPAO) tool to objectively and effectively describe the nutrition and physical activity environment and practices of child care facilities. Children 3-5 years of age fruit and vegetable, preferences were assessed utilizing the Food Preference Computer Assessment Tool. 346 child food preference exams, and 198 parent/caregivers and 88 child care center staff were completed at baseline. 23 child care staff who are participated in the course, and approximately 363-445 children received nutrition education lessons in 29 3-5 year old classrooms in 22 centers. Conclusions and implications regarding child food preferences, lunch time eating behaviors, and the quality of lunches served will be provided. Further, an assessment of the nutrition and physical activity environments of day care centers will be shared during the poster session.