Assessment Methods and Tools

Benjamin SE, Neelon B, Ball SC, Bangdiwala SI, Ammerman AS, Ward DS. Reliability and validity of a nutrition and physical activity environmental self-assessment for child care. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2007;4:29.

Bennett CA, de Silva-Sanigorski AM, Nichols M, Bell AC, Swinburn BA. Assessing the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in young children: Comparison of a simple population survey with 24 hr-recall. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009;6:71.

Boles RE, Nelson TD, Chamberlin LA, et al. Confirmatory factor analysis of the child feeding questionnaire among low-income African American families of preschool children. Appetite. 2010;54(2):402-405.

Brann LS. Child-feeding practices and child overweight perceptions of family day care providers caring for preschool-aged children. J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24(5):312-317.

Bristow K, Capewell S, Lloyd-Williams F. P41 young children's food in day care settings: A qualitative study of preschool nutrition policy and practice. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010;64(Suppl 1):A49.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity prevalence among low-income, preschool-aged children - United States, 1998-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58(28):769-773.

Cesur R, Herbst CM, Tekin E. Child care choices and childhood obesity. Current Issues in Health Economics (Contributions to Economic Analysis, Volume 290), Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 2011;290:37-62.

Dawkins N, Wethington H, Khan LK, et al. Applying the systematic screening and assessment method to childhood obesity prevention. New Directions for Evaluation. 2010;2010(125):33-49.

Hecht K, Chandran K, Samuels S, Crawford P, Ritchie L, Spector P. Nutrition and physical activity environments in licensed child care: A statewide assessment of california. 2009.

Henderson KE, Grode GM, Middleton AE, Kenney EL, Falbe J, Schwartz MB. Validity of a measure to assess the child-care nutrition and physical activity environment. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(9):1306-1313.

Kranz S, Hartman T, Siega-Riz AM, Herring AH. A diet quality index for American preschoolers based on current dietary intake recommendations and an indicator of energy balance. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(10):1594-1604.

Vereecken C, Covents M, Maes L. Comparison of a food frequency questionnaire with an online dietary assessment tool for assessing preschool children’s dietary intake. Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics. 2010;23(5):502-510.

Vereecken CA, Covents M, Haynie D, Maes L. Feasibility of the young children's nutrition assessment on the web. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(11):1896-1902.

Ward D, Hales D, Haverly K, et al. An instrument to assess the obesogenic environment of child care centers. Am J Health Behav. 2008;32(4):380-386.

General - Standards and Regulations

American Dietetic Association. Position of the American dietetic association: Benchmarks for nutrition programs in child care settings. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(6):979-986.

American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care (U.S.), Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Caring for our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards : Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care. 2nd ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Public Health Association; 2002.

Benjamin Neelon SE, Briley ME. Position of the American dietetic association: Benchmarks for nutrition in child care. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(4):607-615.

Benjamin S, Gillman M, Traub A, Finkelstein J. Preventing childhood obesity in the child care setting: Enhancing state regulations. Boston, MA: Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. 2009.

Benjamin SE, Cradock A, Walker EM, Slining M, Gillman MW. Obesity prevention in child care: A review of U.S. state regulations. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:188.

Benjamin SE, Finkelstein J. Preventing obesity in the child care setting: Evaluating state regulations.

Benjamin SE, Haines J, Ball SC, Ward DS. Improving nutrition and physical activity in child care: What parents recommend. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108(11):1907-1911.

Benjamin SE, Taveras EM, Cradock AL, Walker EM, Slining MM, Gillman MW. State and regional variation in regulations related to feeding infants in child care. Pediatrics. 2009;124(1):e104-11.

Benjamin SE, Rifas-Shiman S, Taveras EM, et al. Early child care and adiposity at ages 1 and 3 years. Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):555-562.

Birch LL, Ventura AK. Preventing childhood obesity: What works? Int J Obes. 2009;33:S74-S81.

Bristow K, Capewell S, Lloyd-Williams F. P41 young children's food in day care settings: A qualitative study of preschool nutrition policy and practice. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010;64(Suppl 1):A49.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity prevalence among low-income, preschool-aged children - United States, 1998-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58(28):769-773.

Dennison BA, Faith MS. Prevention of childhood obesity in childcare settings. Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity. 2009:313-330.

D'Onise K, Lynch JW, Sawyer MG, McDermott RA. Can preschool improve child health outcomes? A systematic review. Soc Sci Med. 2010;70(9):1423-1440.

Drummond RL, Staten LK, Sanford MR, et al. Steps to a healthier Arizona. Health Promotion Practice. 2009;10(2 suppl):156S.

Drummond RL, Staten LK, Sanford MR, et al. A pebble in the pond: The ripple effect of an obesity prevention intervention targeting the child care environment. Health Promotion Practice. 2009;10:156S-167S.

Erinosho, TO, Hales DP, McWilliams CP, Emunah J, Standton Ward D. Nutrition policies at child-care centers and impact on role modeling of healthy eating behaviors of caregivers. JADA. 2012;112(1).

Fellman RC. The child care system in the United States. In: Wallace HM, Green G, Jaros KJ, eds. Health and Welfare for Families in the 21st Century. Vol 2nd. Boston: Jones and Bartlett; 2003.

Fox MK, Glanz FB, Geitz L, Burstein N. Early Childhood and Child Care Study: Nutritional Assessment of the CACFP. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Service, Office of Analysis & Evaluation; 1997.

Glanz F. Child and adult care food program, 2004. In: Fox MK, Hamilton W, Lin BH, eds. Effects of Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs and Health and Nutrition. Vol 3. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Food Assistance & Nutrition Research Program; 2004.

Healthy Eating Research. Promoting good nutrition and physical activity in child-care settings, A research brief. Healthy Eating Research; May 2007. Available at: http://www.healthyeatingresearch.org/publications-mainmenu-111/research-briefs-and-syntheses-mainmenu-114 

Heitmann BL, Koplan J, Lissner L. Childhood obesity: Successes and failures of preventive interventions. Nutr Rev. 2009;67:S89-S93.

Hesketh KD, Campbell KJ. Interventions to prevent obesity in 0–5 year olds: An updated systematic review of the literature. Obesity. 2010;18:S27-S35.

Hofferth SL. Child care in the United States today. Future Child. 1996;6(2):41-61.

Hughes CC, Gooze RA, Finkelstein DM, Whitaker RC. Barriers to obesity prevention in Head Start. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010;29(3):454-462.

Kaphingst KM, Story M. Child care as an untapped setting for obesity prevention: State child care licensing regulations related to nutrition, physical activity, and media use for preschool-aged children in the United States. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009;6(1):A11.

Kimbro RT, Rigby E. Federal food policy and childhood obesity: A solution or part of the problem? Health Aff. 2010;29(3):411.

Lanigan J, Barber S, Singhal A. Prevention of obesity in preschool children. Proc Nutr Soc. 2010;69(02):204-210.

Lanigan J, Singhal A. Early nutrition and long-term health: A practical approach. Proc Nutr Soc. 2009;68(04):422-429.

Larson N, Ward DS, Neelon SB, Story M. What role can child-care settings play in obesity prevention? A review of the evidence and call for research efforts. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(9):1343-1362.

Larson N, Story M. Promoting Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child-Care Settings. Research Brief. Princeton, NJ: Healthy Eating Research, a National Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; May 2007.

Maher EJ, Li G, Carter L, Johnson DB. Preschool child care participation and obesity at the start of kindergarten. Pediatrics. 2008;122(2):322-330. 

Monsivais P, Johnson DB. Improving nutrition in home child care: Are food costs a barrier? Public Health Nutr. 2011:1-7.

Monsivais P, Kirkpatrick S, Johnson DB. More nutritious food is served in child-care homes receiving higher federal food subsidies. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(5):721-726.

More J. Nutritional standards for preschool child care units--are there any? J Fam Health Care. 2008;18(1):6-8.

Mo‐suwan L, de Silva‐Sanigorski AM. Obesity prevention in early childhood. 2010.

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Childcare, US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Individual states' child care licensure regulations. http://nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm.

Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. 31 local and national policy-based interventions: Fo improve children’s nutrition. Pediatric Obesity: Etiology, Pathogenesis and Treatment. 2010:451.

Smolensky E, Gootman JA, Committee on Family and Work Policies, National Research Council (U.S.). Working Families and Growing Kids: Caring for Children and Adolescents. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2003.

Story M, Kaphingst KM, French S. The role of child care settings in obesity prevention. Future Child. 2006;16(1):143-168.

Trost SG, Messner L, Fitzgerald K, Roths B. Nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in family child care homes. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37(6):537-540.

Whitaker RC, Gooze RA, Hughes CC, Finkelstein DM. A national survey of obesity prevention practices in Head Start. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(12):1144-1150.

Intake and Diet Quality

Breakfast skipping is associated with differences in meal patterns, macronutrient intakes and overweight among pre-school children. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(1):19-28.

Anderson LM, Anderson J. Barney and breakfast: Messages about food and eating in preschool television shows and how they may impact the development of eating behaviours in children. Early Child Development & Care. 2010;180(10):1323-1336.

Bennett CA, de Silva-Sanigorski AM, Nichols M, Bell AC, Swinburn BA. Assessing the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in young children: Comparison of a simple population survey with 24 hr-recall. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009;6:71.

Briley ME, Jastrow S, Vickers J, Roberts-Gray C. Dietary intake at child-care centers and away: Are parents and care providers working as partners or at cross-purposes? J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99(8):950-954.

Butte NF, Fox MK, Briefel RR, et al. Nutrient intakes of US infants, toddlers, and preschoolers meet or exceed dietary reference intakes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(12):S27-S37.

Cockroft JE, Durkin M, Masding C, Cade JE. Fruit and vegetable intakes in a sample of pre-school children participating in the 'five for all' project in Bradford. Public Health Nutr. 2005;8(7):861-869.

Cooke LJ, Wardle J, Gibson EL, Sapochnik M, Sheiham A, Lawson M. Demographic, familial and trait predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption by pre-school children. Public Health Nutr. 2004;7(2):295-302.

Dubois L, Girard M, Potvin Kent M, Farmer A, Tatone-Tokuda F. Breakfast skipping is associated with differences in meal patterns, macronutrient intakes and overweight among pre-school children. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(01):19-28.

Fox MK, Condon E, Briefel RR, Reidy KC, Deming DM. Food consumption patterns of young preschoolers: Are they starting off on the right path? J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(12):S52-S59.

Freedman MR, Alvarez KP. Early childhood feeding: Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices of multi-ethnic child-care providers. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(3):447-451.

Gable S, Lutz S. Nutrition socialization experiences of children in the Head Start program. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101(5):572-577.

Gubbels JS, Kremers SPJ, Stafleu A, Dagnelie PC, de Vries NK, Thijs C. Child-care environment and dietary intake of 2- and 3-year-old children. Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics. 2010;23(1):97-101.

Holub SC, Musher-Eizenman DR. Examining preschoolers' nutrition knowledge using a meal creation and food group classification task: Age and gender differences. Early Child Development and Care. 2010;180(6):787-798.

Horne PJ, Greenhalgh J, Erjavec M, Lowe CF, Viktor S, Whitaker CJ. Increasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. A modelling and rewards intervention. Appetite. 2011;56(2):375-385.

Hughes SO, Patrick H, Power TG, Fisher JO, Anderson CB, Nicklas TA. The impact of child care providers' feeding on children's food consumption. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2007;28(2):100-107.

Huh SY, Rifas-Shiman S, Rich-Edwards J, Taveras EM, Gillman MW. Prospective association between milk intake and adiposity in preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(4):563-570.

Huybrechts I, De Bacquer D, Cox B, et al. Variation in energy and nutrient intakes among pre-school children: Implications for study design. Eur J Public Health. 2008;18(5):509-516.

Kranz S, Siega-Riz AM, Herring AH. Changes in diet quality of American preschoolers between 1977 and 1998. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(9):1525-1530.

LaCombe A, Ganji V. Influence of two breakfast meals differing in glycemic load on satiety, hunger, and energy intake in preschool children. Nutrition Journal. 2010;9:53-58.

Monsivais P, Kirkpatrick S, Johnson DB. More nutritious food is served in child-care homes receiving higher federal food subsidies. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(5):721-726.

Needham L, Dwyer JJ, Randall-Simpson J, Heeney ES. Supporting healthy eating among preschoolers: Challenges for child care staff. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2007;68(2):107-110.

Padget A, Briley ME. Dietary intakes at child-care centers in central Texas fail to meet food guide pyramid recommendations. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(5):790-793.

Ramsay SA, Branen LJ, Fletcher J, Price E, Johnson SL, Sigman-Grant M. "Are you done?" child care providers' verbal communication at mealtimes that reinforce or hinder children's internal cues of hunger and satiation. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior. 2010;42(4):265-270.

Spill MK, Birch LL, Roe LS, Rolls BJ. Eating vegetables first: The use of portion size to increase vegetable intake in preschool children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1237-1243.

Spurrier NJ, Magarey AA, Golley R, Curnow F, Sawyer MG. Relationships between the home environment and physical activity and dietary patterns of preschool children: A cross-sectional study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2008;5:31.

Sweitzer SJ, Briley ME, Robert-Gray C. Do sack lunches provided by parents meet the nutritional needs of young children who attend child care? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(1):141-144.

Sweitzer SJ, Briley ME, Roberts-Gray C, et al. Lunch is in the bag: Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sack lunches of preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(7):1058-1064.

Vereecken C, Huybrechts I, Maes L, De Henauw S. Food consumption among preschoolers. does the school make a difference? Appetite. 2008;51(3):723-726.

Welsh JA, Cogswell ME, Rogers S, Rockett H, Mei Z, Grummer-Strawn LM. Overweight among low-income preschool children associated with the consumption of sweet drinks: Missouri, 1999-2002. Pediatrics. 2005;115(2):e223-9.

Wilson JF. Lunch eating behavior of preschool children. effects of age, gender, and type of beverage served. Physiol Behav. 2000;70(1-2):27-33.

Ziegler P, Briefel R, Ponza M, Novak T, Hendricks K. Nutrient intakes and food patterns of toddlers' lunches and snacks: Influence of location. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(1 Suppl 1):S124-34.

Interventions

Ammerman AS, Ward DS, Benjamin SE, et al. "An Intervention to Promote Healthy Weight: Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) Theory and Design." Preventing Chronic Disease, 4(3): A67, 2007.

Bayer O, von Kries R, Strauss A, et al. "Short-and Mid-Term Effects of a Setting Based Prevention Program to Reduce Obesity Risk Factors in Children: A Cluster-Randomized Trial." Clinical Nutrition, 28(2): 122-8, 2009.

Choi KS. "A Study on Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Attitudes and Nutrition Education Needs among Child-Care Teachers." Korean Journal of Community Nutrition, 15(1): 137-48, 2010.

de Silva-Sanigorski A, Elea D, Bell C, et al. Obesity prevention in the family day care setting: Impact of the romp & chomp intervention on opportunities for children's physical activity and healthy eating. Child Care Health Dev. 2011;37(3):385-393.

Drummond RL, Staten LK, Sanford MR, et al. "Steps to a Healthier Arizona." Health Promotion Practice, 10(2 suppl): 156S, 2009.

Drummond RL, Staten LK, Sanford MR, et al. "A Pebble in the Pond: The Ripple Effect of an Obesity Prevention Intervention Targeting the Child Care Environment." Health Promotion Practice, 10: 156S-67S, 2009.

Dunn C, Thomas C, Ward D, Pegram L, Webber K, Cullitan C. Design and implementation of a nutrition and physical activity curriculum for child care settings. Prev Chronic Dis. 2006;3(2):A58.

Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley MR, Dyer AR, VanHorn L, KauferChristoffel K. A community-based obesity prevention program for minority children: Rationale and study design for hip-hop to health jr. Prev Med. 2002;34(2):289-297.

Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley MR, Schiffer L, Van Horn L, KauferChristoffel K, Dyer A. Two-year follow-up results for hip-hop to health jr.: A randomized controlled trial for overweight prevention in preschool minority children. J Pediatr. 2005;146(5):618-625.

Gooze RA, Hughes CC, Finkelstein DM, Whitaker RC. Reaching staff, parents, and community partners to prevent childhood obesity in Head Start, 2008. Prev Chronic Dis. 2010;7(3):A54.

Heitmann BL, Koplan J, Lissner L. Childhood obesity: Successes and failures of preventive interventions. Nutr Rev. 2009;67:S89-S93.

Hesketh KD, Campbell KJ. Interventions to prevent obesity in 0–5 year olds: An updated systematic review of the literature. Obesity. 2010;18:S27-S35.

Horne PJ, Greenhalgh J, Erjavec M, Lowe CF, Viktor S, Whitaker CJ. Increasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. A modelling and rewards intervention. Appetite. 2011;56(2):375-385.

Jouret B, Ahluwalia N, Dupuy M, et al. Prevention of overweight in preschool children: Results of kindergarten-based interventions. Int J Obes. 2009;33(10):1075-1083.

Monasta L, Batty G, Macaluso A, et al. Interventions for the prevention of overweight and obesity in preschool children: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews. 2010.

Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. 31 local and national policy-based interventions: Fo improve children’s nutrition. Pediatric Obesity: Etiology, Pathogenesis and Treatment. 2010:451.

Sharma S, Chuang RJ, Hedberg AM. Pilot-testing CATCH early childhood: A preschool-based healthy nutrition and physical activity program. American Journal of Health Education. 2011;42(1):12-23.

Sweitzer SJ, Briley ME, Roberts-Gray C, et al. Lunch is in the bag: Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sack lunches of preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(7):1058-1064.

Vereecken C, Huybrechts I, van Houte H, Martens V, Wittebroodt I, Maes L. Results from a dietary intervention study in preschools "beastly healthy at school". Int J Public Health. 2009;54(3):142-149.

Ward DS, Benjamin SE, Ammerman AS, Ball SC, Neelon BH, Bangdiwala SI. Nutrition and physical activity in child care: Results from an environmental intervention. Am J Prev Med. 2008;35(4):352-356.

Ward DS, Vaughn A, McWilliams C, Hales D. Interventions for increasing physical activity at child care. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(3):526-534.

Williams CL, Bollella MC, Strobino BA, et al. "Healthy-start": Outcome of an intervention to promote a heart healthy diet in preschool children. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002;21(1):62-71.

Williams CL, Strobino BA, Bollella M, Brotanek J. Cardiovascular risk reduction in preschool children: The "healthy start" project. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004;23(2):117-123.

Menu

Benjamin Neelon SE, Copeland KA, Ball SC, Bradley L, Ward DS. Comparison of menus to actual foods and beverages served in North Carolina child-care centers. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(12):1890-1895.

Benjamin SE, Copeland KA, Cradock A, et al. Menus in child care: A comparison of state regulations with national standards. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(1):109-115.

Briley ME, Roberts-Gray C, Rowe S. What can children learn from the menu at the child care center? J Community Health. 1993;18(6):363-377.

Briley ME, Roberts-Gray C, Simpson D. Identification of factors that influence the menu at child care centers: A grounded theory approach. J Am Diet Assoc. 1994;94(3):276-281.

Crepinsek MK, Burstein NR, Lee EB, Kennedy SD, Hamilton WL. Meals offered by tier 2 CACFP family child care providers: Effects of lower meal reimbursements. A report to congress on the family child care homes legislative changes study. Washington, D.C.: Economic Research Service; 2002;E-FAN-02-006.

Fleischhacker S, Cason KL, Achterberg C. "You had peas today?": A pilot study comparing a head start child-care center's menu with the actual food served. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(2):277-280.

Horne PJ, Greenhalgh J, Erjavec M, Lowe CF, Viktor S, Whitaker CJ. Increasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. A modelling and rewards intervention. Appetite. 2011;56(2):375-385.

Oakley CB, Bomba AK, Knight KB, Byrd SH. Evaluation of menus planned in Mississippi child-care centers participating in the child and adult care food program. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995;95(7):765-768.

Romaine N, Mann L, Kienapple K, Conrad B. Menu planning for childcare centres: Practices and needs. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2007;68(1):7-13.

Sweitzer SJ, Briley ME, Roberts-Gray C, et al. Lunch is in the bag: Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sack lunches of preschool-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(7):1058-1064.