O20 Family Child Care Home Menu Quality: Happy Healthy Homes Baseline

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited understanding of nutrition quality of food served in Family Child Care Homes (FCCH).ObjectiveDescribe FCCH menu quality by examining nutrients, variation in foods served, and compliance with Child and Adult Care Food program (CACFP) meal pattern requirements and best practices.Study Design, Setting, ParticipantsCross-sectional analyses of a randomized controlled baseline characteristics of FCCH providers caring for children ages 2-to-5 years, participating in the CACFP, and residing in and around the Oklahoma City metropolitan.Measurable Outcome/AnalysisDaily nutrients were calculated across 1 week's menu using Food Processor. Nutrients were compared to two thirds Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) values for key macro and micronutrients. Menu variety was quantified using frequencies of different exposures to fruits, vegetables, high sugar, and high fat foods across the week's menu. Compliance with 2017 CACFP meal pattern requirements and best practices was determined using a measurement index.ResultsThe majority of the 49 FCCHs menus’ nutrient exceeding two thirds of DRI. However, the energy, total fiber, vitamin D, and iron content of menus for children ages 4 to 8-years was less than two thirds of the DRIs. The average number of different exposures to fruit, vegetables, high sugar, and high fat food categories per week were 7.1, 5.5, 0.9, and 3.8, respectively. Average CACFP score percentages for meal pattern requirements, best practices, and total score were 65.9%, 66.8%, and 66.3%, respectively.ConclusionMenus met several nutrient recommendations, are high in variety, and met the majority of CACFP requirements and best practices, which is desirable for children's health. Menus indicated a variety of nutrient-dense and high-quality foods are served in these FCCHs. Quality of menus can be improved by reducing sodium and saturated fat and increasing total fiber, vitamin D, and iron; increasing fruit and vegetable variation; and increasing compliance with CACFP requirements and best practices. There is limited understanding of nutrition quality of food served in Family Child Care Homes (FCCH). Describe FCCH menu quality by examining nutrients, variation in foods served, and compliance with Child and Adult Care Food program (CACFP) meal pattern requirements and best practices. Cross-sectional analyses of a randomized controlled baseline characteristics of FCCH providers caring for children ages 2-to-5 years, participating in the CACFP, and residing in and around the Oklahoma City metropolitan. Daily nutrients were calculated across 1 week's menu using Food Processor. Nutrients were compared to two thirds Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) values for key macro and micronutrients. Menu variety was quantified using frequencies of different exposures to fruits, vegetables, high sugar, and high fat foods across the week's menu. Compliance with 2017 CACFP meal pattern requirements and best practices was determined using a measurement index. The majority of the 49 FCCHs menus’ nutrient exceeding two thirds of DRI. However, the energy, total fiber, vitamin D, and iron content of menus for children ages 4 to 8-years was less than two thirds of the DRIs. The average number of different exposures to fruit, vegetables, high sugar, and high fat food categories per week were 7.1, 5.5, 0.9, and 3.8, respectively. Average CACFP score percentages for meal pattern requirements, best practices, and total score were 65.9%, 66.8%, and 66.3%, respectively. Menus met several nutrient recommendations, are high in variety, and met the majority of CACFP requirements and best practices, which is desirable for children's health. Menus indicated a variety of nutrient-dense and high-quality foods are served in these FCCHs. Quality of menus can be improved by reducing sodium and saturated fat and increasing total fiber, vitamin D, and iron; increasing fruit and vegetable variation; and increasing compliance with CACFP requirements and best practices.