MEC is Associated With Feeding Practices and Children's Dietary Intake in Family Child Care Homes: A Validation Study.

FOOD consumption; CONFERENCES & conventions; FOOD habits; CHILD care; MEALS; DIET

Mealtime Emotional Climate (MEC) is the quality of emotional and food interactions during mealtimes. MEC and feeding practices are important components of the mealtime environment. Previous research shows positive MEC is associated with children's healthful dietary intake during family mealtimes. However, MEC has not been studied in childcare settings. To examine the associations of providers' MEC, providers' feeding practices, and children's dietary intake. The study design was cross-sectional and utilized lunchtime video recordings collected from 55 licensed FCCH settings in Nebraska. Videos were coded using Mealtime Emotional Climate in Childcare Observation Scales (MECCOS) to measure MEC and Mealtime Observation in Child Care (MOCC) tool to measure providers' feeding practices. Children's dietary intake was measured in person using the dietary intake observation in childcare protocol (DOCC). Pearson correlation tests were calculated to determine the relationship between MEC and feeding practices and between MEC and children's dietary intake. A significant positive relationship between desirable MEC (ie communication, food positive reinforcement) and providers' responsive feeding practices (ie verbal communication, praise), [r(54) =.589, p <.001] was found. There was a significant positive relationship between undesirable MEC and providers controlling feeding practices, [r(54) =.450, p <.001]. A significant positive relationship between desirable MEC and children's vegetable consumption, [r(123) =.187, p =.04] was found. There was no relationship between desirable MEC with children's fruit consumption, [r(123) =.068, p =.45] or children's calories consumed [r(123) = -.169, p =.06]. The results show a significant negative relationship between undesirable MEC and children's vegetable consumption, [r (123) = -.190, p =.04] and a positive association between undesirable MEC and children's mean calorie consumption at FCCH, [r(123) =.202, p =.03.]. There was no relationship between undesirable MEC and children's fruit consumption, [r(123) = -.019, p =.84]. The relationship between MEC and children's healthy dietary intake emphasizes the emerging importance on child nutrition. Buffett Early Childhood Institute and the Administration for Children and Families [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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