Physical Activity Opportunities in US Early Child Care Programs.

Background And Objectives: Physical activity provides health and developmental benefits to young children. The Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings describes physical activity opportunities and sedentary occasions for children aged 1 to 5 years at programs participating in the US Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Methods: The Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings obtained a nationally representative sample of classrooms within Child and Adult Care Food Program-participating Head Start and child care centers via multistage cluster sampling.

Foods Served in Child Care Programs Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Alignment with Program Meal Patterns.

Objective: Assess Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) program compliance with meal component requirements for children aged 3-5 years by program type, and describe foods and beverages most commonly served.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of 1-week menu surveys during winter/spring 2017.

Setting: US CACFP-participating child care programs.

Dietary Intakes of Children Enrolled in US Early Child-Care Programs During Child-Care and Non-Child-Care Days.

Background: Early-child-care (ECE) programs may substantially influence child diet quality.

Objective: The Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings describes the usual food group intake of preschool-aged children attending ECE programs relative to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations, comparing intakes during child-care and non-child-care days.

Design: Meal observations and parent-completed food diaries in a cross-sectional nationally representative multistage cluster sample of Child and Adult Care Food Program-participating ECE programs.