A Narrative Review of Dietary Assessment Tools for Preschool-Aged Children in the Home Environment.

Preschool-aged children in the U.S. have suboptimal diets.

"There's a Lot of Like, Contradicting Stuff"-Views on Healthy Living during Pregnancy and Postpartum.

The transition from pregnancy through early postpartum can be a particularly vulnerable time for women as they adjust to the changes of motherhood. This study aimed to provide a detailed account of additional health challenges that mothers are facing throughout motherhood during the pandemic. Data obtained can be utilized to create tailored interventions to aid women during their reproductive years.

Strengthening Nutrition Education and Behavior Research for Academicians and Practitioners.

Nutrition education and behavior research is essential for translating scientific nutrition-related evidence into actionable strategies at the individual, family, community, and policy levels. To enhance the impact of nutrition educators and researchers' efforts, there is a need for continued and directed support to sustain the rigor of research. It is the perspective of this paper that the field of nutrition education and behavior research address its inherent complexities to meet the diverse investigative strategies used by academicians as well as practitioners.

Ethnic Differences in Family Childcare Providers' Nutrition- and Activity-Related Attitudes and Barriers.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine family childcare providers' (FCCPs) attitudes and perceived barriers related to nutrition, physical activity (PA), and screen time (ST) behaviors of preschool children, exploring differences by provider ethnicity.

Design: Baseline survey data from a cluster-randomized trial. .

College Students' Views on Functional, Interactive and Critical Nutrition Literacy: A Qualitative Study.

This research aimed to uncover how the nutrition literacy domains (functional, interactive, critical) influence the dietary decisions of young adults in college. For this qualitative study, undergraduate college students aged 18-24 years old ( = 24) were recruited to participate in focus groups. The focus group transcripts were independently coded for primary and secondary themes using a grounded theory approach and a basic thematic analysis.

Dietary Contributors to Food Group Intake in Preschool Children Attending Family Childcare Homes: Differences between Latino and Non-Latino Providers.

While there are several factors that contribute to the diet quality of children in childcare, one contributing factor in Family Childcare Homes (FCCHs) is the provider's ethnicity. However, research examining the food items provided in this setting is limited; in particular, with regards to differences between FCCHs of Latino and non-Latino providers. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the food items that contribute to food group intake in preschool-aged children attending FCCHs, and to examine differences by provider ethnicity.

Food Photography as a Tool to Assess Type, Quantity, and Quality of Foods in Parent-Packed Lunches for Preschoolers.

Objective: Explore using food photography to assess packed lunches in a university-based Early Childhood Center and contextualize these photographs through parent interviews.

Methods: An explanatory sequential design was used. Packed lunches were photographed to assess the type and quantity of foods offered and consumed by Child and Adult Food Care Program components (fruit, vegetable, grain, and protein) and quality of foods offered using the Healthy Meal Index.

Farm to Early Care and Education Programming: A Descriptive Study of Challenges and Opportunities to Promote Healthful Foods to Young Children.

Interest in farm to early care and education (ECE) programming, which consists of gardening, nutrition education, and local food procurement, has been growing in the United States, as it may be a promising technique for promoting healthful foods to young children. However, there is limited information about current farm to ECE efforts in specific states, including Colorado, to support funding and resource needs. An online survey was distributed to licensed Colorado ECE providers in two phases to understand current participation in the farm to ECE as well as provider perspectives on benefits and barriers to programming.

Exploring Parenting Contexts of Latinx 2-to-5-Year Old Children's Sleep: Qualitative Evidence Informing Intervention Development.

Purpose: Poor sleep quality is associated with childhood obesity, and Latinx children have the highest prevalence of obesity in the United States. Parents are key agents to ensuring good sleep quality among children, but limited research has examined sleep parenting among Latinx working parents who may have added responsibilities.

Design And Methods: Working Latinx parents of 2-to-5-year old children participated in in-depth interviews exploring parenting and familial contexts of child sleep.

Communication With Family Child Care Providers and Feeding Preschool-Aged Children: Parental Perspectives.

Objective: To describe parent communication about child nutrition-related topics with family child care providers (FCCPs).

Design: Five focus groups conducted from December, 2016 to July, 2017.

Participants: Parents (n = 25) of 2- to 5-year-old children attending family child care homes in Rhode Island.

Nutrition-Related Practices of Family Child Care Providers and Differences by Ethnicity.

Background: Child care settings play an important role in shaping children's eating behaviors; yet few studies have included family child care homes (FCCHs). We examined provider-reported nutrition-related practices in FCCHs and observed adherence to nutrition guidelines from the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC), exploring differences by provider ethnicity.

Methods: We assessed baseline data from a cluster-randomized trial, including surveys with FCCH providers and observational data collected at the FCCH.

Community-based childhood obesity prevention intervention for parents improves health behaviors and food parenting practices among Hispanic, low-income parents.

Background: Given the current prevalence of childhood obesity among Hispanic populations, and the importance of parental feeding behaviors, we aimed to assess the impact of the evidence-based Healthy Children, Healthy Families (HCHF) intervention on responsive food parenting practices (FPPs) in a low-income Hispanic population.

Methods: This community-based pilot study used a non-experimental pre/post within-subjects design. Parents ( = 94) of children aged 3-11 years old were recruited to participate in an 8-week, weekly group-based intervention.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments of Home-Based Child Care: What Hispanic Providers Have to Say.

Background: It is important to understand the perceptions and beliefs of family child care providers (FCCPs) regarding which factors influence children's physical activity (PA), screen-time (ST), and dietary behaviors in order to develop and implement appropriate obesity prevention interventions. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the aforementioned perceptions and beliefs of FCCPs in Rhode Island.

Methods: Four focus groups (n = 30) were held with FCCPs.

Contextual and Cultural Influences on Parental Feeding Practices and Involvement in Child Care Centers among Hispanic Parents.

Background: Parental feeding practices shape children's dietary preferences and behaviors, which can influence a child's weight status. Limited research exists on the precursors and contextual influences of feeding, particularly among Hispanic parents. Therefore, this study explored two areas potentially important for obesity prevention in young children: (1) precursors and contextual influences on parental feeding and (2) parental perceptions and knowledge of the child care food environment.