Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Is Associated with Healthier Nutrition Environments at Family Child Care Homes in Mississippi.

OBJECTIVE

Describe foods and beverages offered, nutrition practices, and nutrition policies of family child care homes in Mississippi and differences by participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study conducted between fall, 2015 and spring, 2016.

SETTING

Mississippi.

PARTICIPANTS

Random, stratified sample of 134 family child care homes that enroll 3- to 5-year-olds. Providers completed a modified version of the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation-self-report tool.

VARIABLES MEASURED

Foods and beverages offered at lunch, provider practices regarding nutrition, and presence or absence of written nutrition policies.

ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistics, likelihood ratio chi-square, and t tests.

RESULTS

Most homes (>75%) provided components from the fruit, vegetable, grain/bread, meat/meat alternative, and milk food groups at lunch. At some homes, the food and beverage selections offered were high in fat, sugar, and refined grains. Providers at CACFP-participating homes (P < .05) reported healthier beverage selections, more healthful nutrition practices, and more written nutrition policies compared with providers at non-CACFP homes.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Interventions and regulatory standards are needed, particularly in non-CACFP homes, to ensure that food and beverage offerings, provider practices, and policies regarding nutrition support the development of healthful dietary behaviors in early childhood.