'For me it's just the conversation:' responsive feeding influences among early childhood educators.

Objective: Early learning and childcare (ELCC) programmes play an important role in shaping children's eating behaviours and long-term health by establishing a responsive feeding environment that encompasses not only mealtime behaviours but also extends to play activities and language used throughout the day. Despite their potential benefits, many ELCC centres do not consistently implement responsive feeding behaviours, facing challenges with organisational and behavioural changes within these environments. This study aims to identify influences on responsive feeding behaviours among early childhood educators prior to an intervention.

CELEBRATE Feeding: A Responsive Approach to Food and Feeding in Early Learning Settings.

Early learning and child care (ELCC) settings in Canada follow nutrition standards that outline food provisions, with many also encouraging responsive feeding practices that help to create a supportive environment for children. Caregivers who lack confidence in children's ability to regulate their own intake, or those who feel stressed about mealtime, may unknowingly engage in less responsive feeding practices. The CELEBRATE Feeding Approach is a flexible framework, driven by behaviour change theory, that builds on previous definitions and concepts of responsive feeding in ELCC environments.

Dual modality feeders: a group of human milk feeders with unique practices and needs.

Objective: Dual modality feeding (DMF) - feeding human milk interchangeably from the breast and from a bottle - comes with unique practical, emotional and relational challenges, as well as support needs. Yet, there is little research that explores the experiences of individuals who use DMF in the Canadian context. The aim of this study is to explore the practices, challenges, reasons and enablers of DMF.

Relative Importance of Well-Being Determinants in Atlantic Canadian Families During the Pandemic.

Framed by the socio-ecological model of well-being, we examined the relative importance of factors contributing to three dimensions of well-being (child, parent, and family) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 536 participants from the Atlantic provinces of Canada answered a cross-sectional survey in 2021, covering experiences during the pandemic (eg, changes in family life and well-being). Well-being was assessed with 3 single-item measures on positive change in the life of children, parents, and families during the pandemic.

Influence of the 2019 Canada's Food Guide on the Food Environment in Childcare and Early Learning Centres.

This study investigated the potential influence of the 2019 Canada's Food Guide (CFG) on the eating environment and food provided in early learning and childcare centres across Canada. Directors of childcare centres were invited to complete an online survey about their awareness and adoption of the 2019 CFG and submit their menus for analysis. Twenty-five directors completed the survey, and eighteen cycle menus were analyzed.

Responsive Environments in Childcare Settings: A Scoping Review of the Factors Influencing Implementation and Sustainability.

Children benefit from responsive feeding environments, where their internal signals of hunger and satiety are recognized and met with prompt, emotionally supportive and developmentally appropriate responses. Although there is existing research on responsive feeding environments in childcare, there is little synthesized literature on the implementation practices using a behavior change framework. This scoping review sought to explore the factors influencing the implementation and sustainability of responsive feeding interventions in the childcare environment, using the behavior change wheel (BCW).

Comparison of Responsive Feeding Practices in Child Care and Home Environments in Nova Scotia.

The values, beliefs and practices between the family home and child care environment can play a role in shaping a responsive food environment for young children, but few studies have explored the differences across these settings. The purpose of this study was to compare responsive feeding practices in child care and home environments through the framework of the 2019 Canada Food Guide healthy eating recommendations. Nova Scotia families and child care providers completed an online survey on responsive feeding.

Family Feeding Practices of Parents on Prince Edward Island: A Focus on Responsive Feeding.

The home environment and parental influence are strong predictors of eating behaviours in young children and can influence healthy development. The objective of this study was to describe the feeding practices of a sample of families on Prince Edward Island. Eleven parent participants were recruited, one-on-one interviews were held, and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Early pandemic impacts on family environments that shape childhood development and health: A Canadian study.

Objectives: Changes to income and employment are key social determinants of health that have impacted many families during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aimed to understand how changes to employment and income influenced family environments that contribute to early childhood development and health.

Methods: A concurrent triangulation mixed method design was used through a cross-sectional survey on early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic involving families with young children in the Canadian Maritime provinces (n = 2158).

Responsive feeding values and practices among families across the Canadian Maritime provinces.

Children benefit from responsive feeding practices where their internal signals of hunger and satiety are valued and met with prompt, emotionally supportive, and developmentally appropriate responses. Using an online survey, this study describes responsive feeding values and practices among parents of young children (0-5 years) ( = 1039) across 3 Canadian Maritime provinces. Independent-samples t-tests and 1-way ANOVA were performed to determine the differences in survey questions related to the responsive feeding practices and values.

Food and Nutrient Intakes of Nova Scotian Children in Home and Childcare Environments.

To describe the energy (E), sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and fibre intakes of a sample of children attending regulated childcare (RCC) in Nova Scotia. Nutrient analyses from 79 food records were compiled and grouped by intakes in and outside of RCC, age, sex, location of the RCC (urban or rural), and nutrient intake data. Descriptive statistics and independent tests were conducted.

Effect of video game playing and a glucose preload on subjective appetite, subjective emotions, and food intake in overweight and obese boys.

Video game playing (VGP) is associated with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). VGP and caloric preloads in the pre-meal environment influence short-term food intake (FI) in healthy-weight children. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of pre-meal VGP and a glucose preload on subjective emotions, subjective appetite, and FI in boys with OW/OB.

Breast, Formula and Combination Feeding in Relation to Childhood Obesity in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Breastfeeding has been rigorously studied in relation to childhood obesity prevention. Few studies have examined whether combination feeding—breast milk and formula—may also be protective against obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding duration, combination feeding and overweight and obesity among Canadian school children.

Nutrition and shiftwork: evaluation of new paramedics' knowledge and attitudes.

Purpose: The effect of an oral education intervention on nutrition knowledge was evaluated in new paramedic employees. The evaluation involved measuring knowledge of and attitudes toward nutrition and shiftwork before and after the directed intervention.

Methods: A convenience sample of 30 new paramedic shiftworkers attended a 15-minute education session focused on nutrition management strategies.

Infant feeding practices and children's weight status.

Purpose: Feeding practices for young Canadian children from economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods were examined to determine adherence to infant feeding recommendations and factors associated with children's weight status.

Methods: Data for the study were collected from 1996 to 2003 as part of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a longitudinal primary prevention initiative in Ontario. Study subjects were 546 children at age three months and 483 children at age 48 months.

Adolescents' diets do not comply with 2007 Canada's food guide recommendations.

This study evaluated the eating behaviours of students in grade six and, three years later when they were in grade nine, relative to the recommendations of Canada's 2007 Food Guide. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire on eating behaviours in 2002 (n=647) and again in 2005 (n=520) as part of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a primary prevention initiative among economically disadvantaged communities. McNemar analysis and X(2) analysis were used to assess differences in compliance with the recommendations of the Food Guide.