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.

A Summer Nutrition Benefit Pilot Program and Low-income Children's Food Security.

Background: Federal summer meals programs serve less than one-sixth of children that receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. To address this gap in food assistance for school-aged children, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) Demonstrations provided summer food assistance in the form of electronic benefits transfer cards to households with school-aged children certified for free or reduced-price meals during the school year.

Methods: Over 2011-2013, the SEBTC demonstrations were evaluated by using a random assignment design.

Rebates to Incentivize Healthy Nutrition Choices in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Price incentives, or rebates, have been proposed as one promising strategy for improving diet quality among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. This paper explores the existing evidence on effectiveness of rebates in this program. In particular, this paper considers findings from a recent RCT of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rebates, the U.