Development of an initiatives package to increase children's vegetable intake in long day care centres using the Multiphase Optimisation Strategy (MOST) randomised factorial experiment.

OBJECTIVE

To inform a package of initiatives to increase children's vegetable intake while in long day care (LDC) by evaluating the independent and combined effects of three initiatives targeting food provision, the mealtime environment and the curriculum.

DESIGN

Using the Multiphase Optimisation Strategy (MOST) framework, a 12-week, eight-condition ( 7 intervention, 1 control) randomised factorial experiment was conducted. Children's dietary intake data were measured pre- and post-initiative implementation using the weighed plate waste method (1× meal and 2× between-meal snacks). Vegetable intake (g/d) was calculated from vegetable provision and waste. The optimal combination of initiatives was determined using a linear mixed-effects model comparing between-group vegetable intake at follow-up, while considering initiative fidelity and acceptability.

SETTING

LDC centres in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

32 centres, 276 staff and 1039 children aged 2-5 years.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between any of the intervention groups and the control group for vegetable intake (all > 0·05). The group consumed 26·7 g more vegetables/child/day than control (ratio of geometric mean 3·29 (95 % CI 0·96, 11·27), = 0·06). Completion rates for the curriculum (> 93 %) and mealtime environment (61 %) initiatives were high, and acceptability was good (4/5 would recommend), compared with the food provision initiative (0-50 % completed the menu assessment, 3/5 would recommend).

CONCLUSION

A programme targeting the curriculum and mealtime environment in LDC may be useful to increase children's vegetable intake. Determining the effectiveness of this optimised package in a randomised controlled trial is required, as per the evaluation phase of the MOST framework.