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

ABSTRACT Background Early child care (ECE) programs may substantially influence child diet quality. Objective The Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS) describes the usual food group intake of preschool-age children attending ECE programs relative to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations, comparing intakes on child and non-child care days. Design Meal observations and parent-completed food diaries in a cross-sectional nationally representative multi-stage cluster sample of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)-participating ECE programs. Participants/Setting 1,468 children ages 3 to 5 years attending 217 CACFP-participating ECE programs (child care centers, Head Start) in 2017. Main Outcome Measures Daily energy intake, daily USDA Food Pattern Food Group intakes, and percentage of daily intakes meeting 2015-2020 DGA Food Pattern recommendations. Statistical Analyses Performed Regression-adjusted usual intakes and percentage of children meeting recommendations were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. Single-day mean intakes were used to test for statistical differences between child care and non-child care days. Results Mean usual energy intake was 1,524 kcal±19.3 on child care days and exceeded the recommended range at 1,702 kcal±30.2 on non-child care days; single-day means indicated significantly lower energy intake on child care days (p Conclusions While there is room to increase nutrient density inside and outside of child care, intakes on child care days more closely align to DGAs.