Role of child care settings in promoting healthy eating and physical activity: What are the current challenges and opportunities?

Nationally, approximately 5 million children ages 3-5 attend licensed child care, where they receive much of their daily nutrition. Yet little is known about the nutrition and physical activity practices and policies in child care. In 2007, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided a grant to California Food Policy Advocates, UC Berkeley's Center for Weight and Health, and Samuels & Associates to determine the extent to which nutrition and physical activity practices meet needs for healthy eating and obesity prevention, and to identify challenges and opportunities for policy change to improve nutrition and physical activity practices in child care settings in California. This multi-method research project employs a self-administered survey of family day care home and center providers; stakeholder interviews of federal, state, and local officials and administrators of child care programs; and a convening of policymakers, federal and state child care experts, and child care advocates, to use the research findings to develop policy recommendations to improve the nutrition and physical activity environments in child care settings. Analysis of the data collected reveal a number of policy strategies for improving the quality of the foods and beverages and physical activity offered in child care settings. Findings from this research and the policy recommendations that emerge could significantly impact national and state efforts to provide healthier nutrition and physical activity environments to children in child care.