ERIC Number: EJ1214812
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1559-5676
EISSN: N/A
Exploration of Mealtime Practices and Policies among North Carolina Head Start Organizations: Does Practice Reflect Policy?
Bandy, Kristina M.; Peterson, Amanda D.; Wilkerson, Kristi; Hegde, Archana V.; Stage, Virginia C.
Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, v43 n1 Spr 2019
Purpose/Objectives: Early childhood educators (ECEs) are encouraged to utilize supportive feeding practices (SFPs) to promote children's healthy eating. SFPs include sitting with children during mealtimes, role modeling healthy eating behaviors, encouraging children to try new foods, and addressing children's hunger cues. Although Head Start policies generally promote SFPs, recent revisions to federal standards removed the family-style meal service requirement, a key strategy for implementing SFPs. The purpose of this study was to explore current mealtime-related practices and policies being implemented in Head Start centers across North Carolina (NC) and alignment with SFPs. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data about mealtime policies, including those that support SFPs, from NC-based Head Start programs February-October 2017. A total of 24 Health/Nutrition Coordinators representing as many Head Start programs participated in the study due to their role in overseeing food and nutrition standards. Responses were measured using an online survey. Results: The final sample of 24 Health/Nutrition Coordinators represented as many Head Start programs. Coordinators reported ECEs generally follow SFPs and policies at mealtimes with 62.5-100% of programs following seven of the nine SFPs surveyed. All programs reported implementing family-style meal service, however, findings highlighted some programs used practices that did not align with family-style meal service recommendations (e.g. not helping children listen to hunger and satiety cues). Educators' personal food preferences and limited self-efficacy for handling children's negative preferences toward healthy food were cited as barriers to encouraging healthy eating in the mealtime environment. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: Future research is needed to understand best strategies for providing Head Start staff with education and training related to implementation of family-style meal service and SFPs, with an emphasis on approaches for teaching children about self-regulation. School nutrition and health professionals may represent an important resource for Head Start programs.
Descriptors: Federal Programs, Eating Habits, Policy, Food Service, Early Childhood Teachers, Nutrition, Program Implementation, Barriers, Coordinators, Educational Practices, Teacher Education, Disadvantaged Youth
School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: http://schoolnutrition.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A