USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
Nutrients. 2022 Aug 18;14(16):3394. doi: 10.3390/nu14163394.
Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, USDA (US Department of Agriculture) made the first major changes in the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) meal and snack menu patterns. Childcare centers that serve low-income families qualify to participate and receive reimbursement for meals and snacks served. The purpose of this study was to assess what changes in children's dietary behaviors occurred as a result of the new CACFP meal pattern requirements. This study evaluated these changes at childcare centers operating in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, USA, areas enrolled in the CACFP, pre- (Spring 2016) and post-implementation (Fall 2016-Spring 2017) of the new meal patterns. Dietary intake was assessed via observations of children, 3-5 years old, conducted at breakfast, lunch, and snack times. Results showed improvements in adjusted means of several nutrients and food groups consumption, post-implementation of new CACFP meal guidelines compared to baseline, specifically intake of whole grains, milk, and juice. Additional studies are needed to confirm the impact of the revised CACFP meal patterns along with strategies to assist providers in meeting the new standards to increase the access to and intake of items in accordance with the CACFP meal pattern requirements in childcare settings.
通过 2010 年的《健康，无饥饿儿童法案》，美国农业部 (USDA) 对儿童和成人照顾食品计划 (CACFP) 的膳食和零食菜单模式进行了首次重大改革。为符合条件的低收入家庭提供服务的儿童保育中心有资格参与并获得膳食和零食的报销。本研究旨在评估新 CACFP 膳食模式要求实施后，儿童饮食行为发生了哪些变化。本研究在美国德克萨斯州休斯顿和圣安东尼奥的儿童保育中心评估了这些变化，这些中心参与了 CACFP，在新膳食模式实施之前（2016 年春季）和之后（2016 年秋季至 2017 年春季）进行了评估。通过对 3-5 岁儿童的观察来评估饮食摄入，在早餐、午餐和零食时间进行。结果表明，与基线相比，新 CACFP 膳食指南实施后，几个营养素和食物组的摄入量有所改善，特别是全谷物、牛奶和果汁的摄入量。需要进一步研究来证实修订后的 CACFP 膳食模式的影响，以及协助提供者满足新标准的策略，以增加在儿童保育环境中符合 CACFP 膳食模式要求的项目的可及性和摄入量。
