Dietary role‐modeling behaviors of classroom staff at childcare centers in North Carolina

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess associations between dietary role-modeling behaviors of childcare classroom staff and center-level policies about staff dietary behaviors. Staff (n=148) behaviors were observed over 4 days at 50 centers. Directors reported center policies (written, unwritten but general practice, no policy) including staff dietary behaviors. At ~25% of centers, staff were observed eating fast food, candy, salty snacks, donut/pastry, and cookies at lunch/nap. At 50% of centers, staff drank a sweetened beverage at lunch/nap. At ~70% of centers, staff modeled healthful behaviors (e.g., told children fruits and vegetables taste good, sat with, ate same foods). Staff were more often observed eating less healthy foods at centers with: unwritten/no policy about food brought in by staff; written/no policy about staff role-modeling behavior, written/unwritten policy about encouraging healthy foods and discouraging unhealthy foods. Sweetened beverage consumption occurred more often with: unwritten/written policy about food brought in, encouraging healthy foods and discouraging unhealthy foods; and unwritten/no policy about staff role-modeling behavior. Staff role-modeling occurred more often at centers with written/unwritten policy about staff behaviors at mealtime. Results suggest policies alone may be insufficient to promote healthful dietary intakes among childcare staff.