Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Sample
2.2. Survey
2.3. Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Fox, M.K.; Gearan, E.; Cannon, J.; Briefel, R.; Deming, D.M.; Eldridge, A.L.; Reidy, K.C. Usual food intakes of 2-and 3-year old US children are not consistent with dietary guidelines. BMC Nutr. 2016, 2, 67. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fox, M.K.; Condon, E.; Briefel, R.R.; Reidy, K.C.; Deming, D.M. Food consumption patterns of young preschoolers: Are they starting off on the right path? J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2010, 110, S52–S59. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hess, J.; Slavin, J. Snacking for a cause: Nutritional insufficiencies and excesses of US children, a critical review of food consumption patterns and macronutrient and micronutrient intake of US children. Nutrients 2014, 6, 4750–4759. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Mello, J.A.; Gans, K.M.; Risica, P.M.; Kirtania, U.; Strolla, L.O.; Fournier, L. How is food insecurity associated with dietary behaviors? An analysis with low-income, ethnically diverse participants in a nutrition intervention study. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2010, 110, 1906–1911. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kendall, A.; Olson, C.M.; Frongillo, E.A., Jr. Relationship of Hunger and Food Insecurity to Food Availability and Consumption. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 1996, 96, 1019–1024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dunn, R.; Sharkey, J.; Lotade-Manje, J.; Bouhlal, Y.; Nayga, R. Socio-economic status, racial composition and the affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables in neighborhoods of a large rural region in Texas. Nutrition 2011, 10, 6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- de Jong, E.; Visscher, T.L.; HiraSing, R.A.; Seidell, J.C.; Renders, C.M. Home environmental determinants of children’s fruit and vegetable consumption across different SES backgrounds. Pediatr. Obes. 2015, 10, 134–140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Larsen, J.K.; Hermans, R.C.; Sleddens, E.F.; Engels, R.C.; Fisher, J.O.; Kremers, S.P. How parental dietary behavior and food parenting practices affect children’s dietary behavior. Interacting sources of influence? Appetite 2015, 89, 246–257. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bernard, K.; Peloso, E.; Laurenceau, J.P.; Zhang, Z.; Dozier, M. Examining change in cortisol patterns during the 10-week transition to a new child-care setting. Child Dev. 2015, 86, 456–471. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ziegler, P.; Briefel, R.; Ponza, M.; Novak, T.; Hendricks, K. Nutrient intakes and food patterns of toddlers’ lunches and snacks: Influence of location. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2006, 106, S124–S134. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gubbels, J.S.; Gerards, S.M.; Kremers, S.P. Use of food practices by childcare staff and the association with dietary intake of children at childcare. Nutrients 2015, 7, 2161–2175. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- The child care transition, Innocenti Report Card 8, 2008. Florence, Italy, 2008. Available online: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc8_eng.pdf (accessed on 16 July 2019).
- Kharofa, R.Y.; Kalkwarf, H.J.; Khoury, J.C.; Copeland, K.A. Are mealtime best practice guidelines for child care centers associated with energy, vegetable, and fruit intake? J. Child. Obes. 2016, 12, 52–58. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gubbels, J.S.; Raaijmakers, L.G.; Gerards, S.M.; Kremers, S.P. Dietary intake by Dutch 1- to 3-year-old children at childcare and at home. Nutrients 2014, 6, 304–318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ball, S.C.; Benjamin, S.E.; Ward, D.S. Dietary intakes in North Carolina child-care centers: Are children meeting current recommendations? J Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2008, 108, 718–721. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Benjamin Neelon, S.E.; Vaughn, A.; Ball, S.C.; McWilliams, C.; Ward, D.S. Nutrition practices and mealtime environments of North Carolina child care centers. J. Child. Obes. (Print) 2012, 8, 216–223. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Benjamin-Neelon, S.E.; Vaughn, A.E.; Tovar, A.; Ostbye, T.; Mazzucca, S.; Ward, D.S. The family child care home environment and children’s diet quality. Appetite 2018, 126, 108–113. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gubbels, J.S.; Kremers, S.P.; Stafleu, A.; Dagnelie, P.C.; de Vries, N.K.; Thijs, C. Child-care environment and dietary intake of 2- and 3-year-old children. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 2010, 23, 97–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Moore, H.; Nelson, P.; Marshall, J.; Cooper, M.; Zambas, H.; Brewster, K.; Atkin, K. Laying foundations for health: Food provision for under 5s in day care. Appetite 2005, 44, 207–213. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Neelon, S.E.; Burgoine, T.; Hesketh, K.R.; Monsivais, P. Nutrition practices of nurseries in England. Comparison with national guidelines. Appetite 2015, 85, 22–29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- School Food Trust. Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for for Early Years Settings in England – A Practical Guilde. London, England, 2012. Available online: https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/voluntary_food_and_drink_guidelines_for_ey_settings.pdf (accessed on 16 July 2019).
- Nicklaus, S.; Remy, E. Early origins of overeating: Tracking between early food habits and later eating patterns. Curr. Obes. Rep. 2013, 2, 179–184. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Howard, A.J.; Mallan, K.M.; Byrne, R.; Magarey, A.; Daniels, L.A. Toddlers’ food preferences. The impact of novel food exposure, maternal preferences and food neophobia. Appetite 2012, 59, 818–825. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Harris, G.; Coulthard, H. Early eating behaviours and food acceptance revisited: Breastfeeding and introduction of complementary foods as predictive of food acceptance. Curr. Obes. Rep. 2016, 5, 113–120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Noradilah, M.; Zahara, A. Acceptance of a test vegetable after repeated exposures amoung preschoolers. Mal. J. Nutr. 2012, 18, 67–75. [Google Scholar]
- O’Connell, M.L.; Henderson, K.E.; Luedicke, J.; Schwartz, M.B. Repeated exposure in a natural setting: A preschool intervention to increase vegetable consumption. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2012, 112, 230–234. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Johnson, S.L. Developmental and environmental influences on young children’s vegetable preferences andconsumption. Adv. Nutr. 2016, 7, 220s–231s. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nekitsing, C.; Blundell-Birtill, P.; Cockroft, J.E.; Hetherington, M.M. Systematic review and meta-analysis of strategies to increase vegetable consumption in preschool children aged 2-5 years. Appetite 2018, 127, 138–154. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scherr, R.E.; Linnell, J.D.; Dharmar, M.; Beccarelli, L.M.; Bergman, J.J.; Briggs, M.; Brian, K.M.; Feenstra, G.; Hillhouse, J.C.; Keen, C.L.; et al. A Multicomponent, school-based intervention, the Shaping Healthy Choices Program, improves nutrition-related outcomes. J. Nutr. Educ. Behav. 2017, 49, 368–379.e1. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Burt, K.G.; Burgermaster, M.; Jacquez, R. Predictors of school garden integration: Factors critical to gardening success in New York City. Health Educ. Behav. 2018, 45, 849–854. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Evans, A.; Ranjit, N.; Rutledge, R.; Medina, J.L.; Jennings, R.; Smiley, A.; Stigler, M.; Hoelscher, D. Exposure to multiple components of a garden-based intervention for middle school students increases fruit and vegetable consumption. Health. Promot. Chronic Dis. Prev. Can. 2012. [CrossRef]
- Castro, D.C.; Samuels, M.; Harman, A.E. Growing healthy kids: A community garden-based obesity prevention program. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2013, 44, S193–S199. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Duncan, M.J.; Eyre, E.; Bryant, E.; Clarke, N.; Birch, S.; Staples, V.; Sheffield, D. The impact of a school-based gardening intervention on intentions and behaviour related to fruit and vegetable consumption in children. J. Ment. Health Clin. Psychol. 2015, 20, 765–773. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Savoie-Roskos, M.R.; Wengreen, H.; Durward, C. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among children and youth through gardening-based interventions: A systematic review. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet 2017, 117, 240–250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Parmer, S.M.; Salisbury-Glennon, J.; Shannon, D.; Struempler, B. School gardens: An experiential learning approach for a nutrition education program to increase fruit and vegetable knowledge, preference, and consumption among second-grade students. J. Nutr. Educ. Behav. 2009, 41, 212–217. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hodder, R.K.; Stacey, F.G.; O’Brien, K.M.; Wyse, R.J.; Clinton-McHarg, T.; Tzelepis, F.; James, E.L.; Bartlem, K.M.; Nathan, N.K.; Sutherland, R.; et al. Interventions for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged five years and under. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2018, 1, Cd008552. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lumeng, J.C.; Hillman, K.H. Eating in larger groups increases food consumption. Ar. Arch. Dis. Child. 2007, 92, 384–387. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Huys, N.; De Cocker, K.; De Craemer, M.; Roesbeke, M.; Cardon, G.; De Lepeleere, S. School gardens: A qualitative study on implementation practices. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 2017, 14. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Robinson-O’Brien, R.; Story, M.; Heim, S. Impact of garden-based youth nutrition intervention programs: A review. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2009, 109, 273–280. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Davis, J.N.; Spaniol, M.R.; Somerset, S. Sustenance and sustainability: Maximizing the impact of school gardens on health outcomes. Ethiop J. Public. Health. Nutr. 2015, 18, 2358–2367. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Monsivais, P.; Rehm, C.D. Potential nutritional and economic effects of replacing juice with fruit in the diets of children in the United States. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2012, 166, 459–464. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Benjamin, S.E.; Neelon, B.; Ball, S.C.; Bangdiwala, S.I.; Ammerman, A.S.; Ward, D.S. Reliability and validity of a nutrition and physical activity environmental self-assessment for child care. nt J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2007, 4, 29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ward, D.; Hales, D.; Haverly, K.; Marks, J.; Benjamin, S.; Ball, S.; Trost, S. An instrument to assess the obesogenic environment of child care centers. Am. J. Health Econ. 2008, 32, 380–386. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Whitaker, R.C.; Gooze, R.A.; Hughes, C.C.; Finkelstein, D.M. A national survey of obesity prevention practices in Head Start. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2009, 163, 1144–1150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Benjamin Neelon, S.E.; Mayhew, M.; O’Neill, J.R.; Neelon, B.; Li, F.; Pate, R.R. Comparative evaluation of a South Carolina policy to improve nutrition in child care. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2016, 116, 949–956. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Davis, K.L.; Brann, L.S. Examining the benefits and barriers of instructionalgardening programs to increase fruit and vegetable intake among preschool-age children. Eur. J. Environ. Public Health 2017, 2017, 2506864. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- van de Kolk, I.; Goossens, A.J.M.; Gerards, S.; Kremers, S.P.J.; Manders, R.M.P.; Gubbels, J.S. Healthy nutrition andphysical activity in childcare: Views from childcare managers, childcare workers andparents on influential factors. Int J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lee, R.E.; Parker, N.H.; Soltero, E.G.; Ledoux, T.A.; Mama, S.K.; McNeill, L. Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE): Results from two feasibility pilot studies. BMC Public Health 2017, 17, 242. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Namenek Brouwer, R.J.; Benjamin Neelon, S.E. Watch me grow: A garden-based pilot intervention to increase vegetable and fruit intake in preschoolers. BMC public health 2013, 13, 363. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Soltero, E.G.; Parker, N.H.; Mama Dr, P.S.; Ledoux, T.A.; Lee, R.E. Lessons learned from implementing of garden education program in early child care. Health Promot. Chronic Dis. Prev. Can. 2019. [CrossRef]
- Sharma, S.V.; Hedberg, A.M.; Skala, K.A.; Chuang, R.-J.; Lewis, T. Feasibility and acceptability of a gardening-based nutrition education program in preschoolers from low-income, minority populations. J. Early Child Res. 2015, 13, 93–110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kos, M.; Jerman, J. Preschool children learning about the origin of food, on local farms and in the preschool garden. J. Clin. Nutr. Food Sci. 2012, 42, 324–331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ohly, H.; Gentry, S.; Wigglesworth, R.; Bethel, A.; Lovell, R.; Garside, R. A systematic review of the health and well-being impacts of school gardening: Synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence. BMC Public Health 2016, 16, 286. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hoffman, J.A.; Agrawal, T.; Wirth, C.; Watts, C.; Adeduntan, G.; Myles, L.; Castaneda-Sceppa, C. Farm to family: Increasing access to affordable fruits and vegetables among urban Head Start families. J. Hunger Environ. Nutr. 2012, 7, 165–177. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Farfan-Ramirez, L.; Diemoz, L.; Gong, E.J.; Lagura, M.A. Curriculum intervention in preschool children: Nutrition Matters! J. Nutr. Educ. Behav. 2011, 43, S162–S165. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Dawson, A.; Richards, R.; Collins, C.; Reeder, A.I.; Gray, A. Edible gardens in early childhood education settings in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Health Promot J. Austr. 2013, 24, 214–218. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Total Sample (n = 846) | Least Deprived (n = 229) | Middle Deprived (n = 219) | Most Deprived (n = 398) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nursery Characteristics | Number (%) | |||
Facility Type | ||||
Based in workplace | 312 (43) | 86 (43) | 82 (41) | 144 (44) |
Run by non-profit | 180 (25) | 57 (29) | 50 (25) | 73 (22) |
Part of corporation or chain | 238 (33) | 57 (29) | 68 (34) | 113 (34) |
Located in urban area | 691 (82) | 152 (66) | 157 (72) | 382 (96) |
Mean (SD) | ||||
Years in operation | 17.1 (12.3) | 19.0 (12.8) | 17.9 (11.6) | 15.5 (12.2) |
Number of children enrolled | 49.9 (37.3) | 46.9 (33.9) | 46.4 (37.9) | 53.6 (38.5) |
Number of full-time staff | 8.5 (7.3) | 7.9 (7.4) | 7.8 (7.6) | 9.1 (7.0) |
Number of classrooms | 2.5 (1.8) | 2.3 (1.6) | 2.6 (1.9) | 2.7 (1.8) |
Manager Characteristics | Number (%) | |||
Gender, female | 797 (97) | 219 (97) | 205 (96) | 373 (96) |
Education | ||||
Less than 2-year degree | 331 (42) | 89 (42) | 97 (47) | 145 (39) |
2-year degree or higher | 459 (58) | 122 (58) | 109 (53) | 228 (61) |
Mean (SD) | ||||
Age, years | 43.0 (11.1) | 43.3 (10.8) | 42.9 (11.6) | 42.9 (11.1) |
Years worked in child care field | 17.2 (9.3) | 16.5 (9.1) | 17.1 (9.3) | 17.7 (9.5) |
Years worked in nursery | 9.9 (7.4) | 9.5 (7.3) | 10.3 (7.3) | 9.9 (7.4) |
Total Sample (n = 846) | Not Interested in Growing (n = 154 a) | Interested in Growing (n = 675 a) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Already (n = 268) | Not yet (n = 407) | |||
Number (%) | ||||
Deprivation Level | ||||
Least deprived | 229 (27) | 45 (29) | 74 (28) | 107 (26) |
Middle deprived | 219 (26) | 33 (21) | 75 (28) | 106 (26) |
Most deprived | 398 (47) | 76 (49) | 119 (44) | 194 (47) |
Barriers | ||||
Space | 281 (42) | N/A | 74 (28) | 207 (51) |
Expertise | 178 (26) | N/A | 41 (15) | 137 (34) |
Time | 106 (16) | N/A | 29 (11) | 77 (19) |
Cost | 9 (1) | N/A | 1 (0) | 8 (2) |
Ownership/shared use | 24 (4) | N/A | 5 (12) | 19 (5) |
Seasonality/growing conditions | 19 (3) | N/A | 9 (3) | 10 (3) |
External threats | 11 (2) | N/A | 3 (1) | 8 (2) |
No barriers | 165 (25) | N/A | 93 (35) | 72 (18) |
Odds Ratio (95% CI) | P-value | |
---|---|---|
Time | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 1.71 (0.71, 4.14) | 0.23 |
Most deprived | 1.24 (0.55, 2.83) | 0.60 |
Expertise | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 1.26 (0.64, 2.49) | 0.51 |
Most deprived | 1.68 (0.91, 3.11) | 0.10 |
Space | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 1.43 (0.75, 2.71) | 0.28 |
Most deprived | 2.02 (1.12, 3.66) | 0.02 |
Cost | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 1.22 (0.19, 7.82) | 0.84 |
Most deprived | 0.49 (0.07, 3.75) | 0.50 |
External Threats | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 0.44 (0.04, 5.01) | 0.51 |
Most deprived | 0.98 (0.17, 5.69) | 0.98 |
Ownership/Shared Use | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 1.32 (0.35, 4.95) | 0.68 |
Most deprived | 0.71 (0.18, 2.81) | 0.62 |
Seasonality/Growing Conditions | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 0.72 (0.13, 3.99) | 0.71 |
Most deprived | 0.22 (0.02, 2.25) | 0.20 |
No Barriers | ||
Least deprived | Ref | Ref |
Middle deprived | 0.54 (0.24, 1.22) | 0.14 |
Most deprived | 0.51 (0.25, 1.06) | 0.07 |
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Benjamin-Neelon, S.E.; Hecht, A.A.; Burgoine, T.; Adams, J. Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries. Nutrients 2019, 11, 2925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122925
Benjamin-Neelon SE, Hecht AA, Burgoine T, Adams J. Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries. Nutrients. 2019; 11(12):2925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122925
Chicago/Turabian StyleBenjamin-Neelon, Sara E, Amelie A Hecht, Thomas Burgoine, and Jean Adams. 2019. "Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries" Nutrients 11, no. 12: 2925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122925
APA StyleBenjamin-Neelon, S. E., Hecht, A. A., Burgoine, T., & Adams, J. (2019). Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries. Nutrients, 11(12), 2925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122925