Lunch is in the Bag.
Project Overview
Project Overview
The purpose of this intervention is to encourage parents to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sack lunches for their preschool children in childcare centers. The goal for this research is the development of new strategies for the promotion of healthy eating practices in children through childcare centers.
Project Details
With 73% of US children ages 3-5 in regular non-parental care, childcare is a very important setting for encouraging parents to increase young children’s opportunities to eat and enjoy fruits, vegetables and whole grains; despite this opportunity, few studies have been conducted in childcare settings. The primary aim of this project is to evaluate Lunch is in the Bag, an intervention to encourage parents to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sack lunches for their preschool children in childcare centers.
The intervention includes 5 weekly parent handouts, along with center based parent and child activities to reinforce concepts in the handouts, followed by a booster activity three months after the initial intervention. Outcome measures include changes in:
- the amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, chips, and sweets packed in the sack lunches;
- the amounts of these foods consumed by the children;
- parent knowledge, norms and intention;
- teacher support and awareness; and
- center environment to support a healthy diet.
The ultimate goal for this research is the development of new strategies for the promotion of healthy eating practices in children through childcare centers, which will decrease their risk of cancer and other chronic diseases later in life.
Funding
Year Funded:
Funding Duration:
Funding Source: National Institutes of Health
Funding Amount: $2,230,258
Project Staff
Project personnel are listed below. Click on a name to view the individual profile.
