Abstract
Garden-based interventions may increase child intake of fruits and vegetables and offset food costs, but few have been conducted in early care and education (ECE). This study assessed whether nurseries were interested in and perceived any barriers to growing fruits and vegetables. Surveys were mailed to a cross-sectional sample of nurseries in 2012–2013 throughout England. Nurseries were stratified based on socioeconomic status as most, middle, or least deprived areas. We fit logistic regression models to assess the odds of nurseries interested in growing fruits and vegetables and perceiving any barriers, by deprivation tertile. A total of 851 surveys were returned (54% response). Most nurseries (81%) were interested in growing fruits and vegetables. After adjustment, there was no difference in interest in the middle (OR 1.55; CI 0.84, 2.78; p = 0.16) or most (OR 1.05; CI 0.62, 1.78; p = 0.87) deprived areas, compared to the least deprived. Nurseries reported barriers to growing fruits and vegetables, including space (42%), expertise (26%), and time (16%). Those in the most deprived areas were more likely to report space as a barrier (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.12, 3.66; p = 0.02). Nurseries in the most deprived areas may need creative solutions for growing fruits and vegetables in small spaces.
Highlights
IntroductionRecent studies demonstrate that young children in high-income countries like the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) consume insufficient servings of fruits and vegetables [1,2,3]
Recent studies demonstrate that young children in high-income countries like the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) consume insufficient servings of fruits and vegetables [1,2,3].Children from low socioeconomic status families are at risk for poor dietary intake [4,5,6], and interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption could be tailored to reach this vulnerable population [7]
Nurseries had been in operation for a mean and standard deviation (SD) of 17.1 (12.3) years and over half (58%) of nursery managers had a 2-year degree or higher (Table 1)
Summary
Recent studies demonstrate that young children in high-income countries like the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) consume insufficient servings of fruits and vegetables [1,2,3]. Children from low socioeconomic status families are at risk for poor dietary intake [4,5,6], and interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption could be tailored to reach this vulnerable population [7]. The family has been the primary influence on young children’s dietary intake. A growing number of parents share caregiving and feeding responsibilities with early care and education (ECE) providers [9,10], and these providers can impact children’s dietary intake [11]. In high-income countries, nearly 80% of children ages 3–6 years and 25% of children ages
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