Study to Improve Young Childrens Eating Habits and Feeding Practices in Rural Family Child Care Homes

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to find out if the Healthy Children, Healthy Communities program can help young children in rural areas eat healthier and improve their health. It focuses on children aged 3 to 5 attending family childcare homes in rural communities, especially in low-income areas where children face higher risks of poor diets and obesity. The study also evaluates whether childcare providers can use positive mealtime practices to encourage healthy eating. The study involves about 120 licensed family childcare providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program CACFP and about 240 children they care for. Providers are randomly assigned to one of two groups the EAT Family Style group, which completes 7 online training modules over 16 weeks on healthy feeding practices plus 7 coaching sessions via Zoom, records mealtime videos for feedback, and receives printed materials or the Better Kid Care group, which completes 10 online modules about general childcare topics unrelated to nutrition. Some providers may join Zoom interviews to share their experiences. Participants will be assessed at the start, after 16 weeks, and again after 24 weeks to see if changes last. Researchers will observe and record childrens mealtimes, measure height and weight, and use a painless skin scanner to check fruit and vegetable intake. Providers will fill out surveys about mealtime practices and childrens eating habits. The study also looks at childrens diet quality, BMI scores, and the mealtime emotional climate in family childcare homes.

Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: Effectiveness of a Multilevel Rural Community Engagement Model for Improving Children's Dietary Intake in Family Child Care Homes