Evaluation of the implementation of selected nutrition guidelines at daycare facilities in Bremen
- 22.12.2016
- English Articles
- Wiebke von Atens-Kahlenberg
- Tobias Möllers
- Heidegret Bosche
- Claudia R. Pischke
Peer-reviewed | Received: March 07, 2016 | Accepted: August 24, 2016
Introduction
To warrant a healthy development, a child must be provided with an enjoyable and balanced diet that is appropriate to his or her needs. Thus, the provision of high quality and balanced meals for children is an indicator of the quality of an individual daycare facility [1].
A balanced nutrition contributes to a healthy physical development and may help prevent nutrition related diseases later in life [2]. Moreover, nutritional experiences in early childhood have an impact on behavioral patterns related to eating and drinking [3]. The relevance of nutrition at daycare facilities is evident because many children benefit of it. In March 2015, approximately 2.01 million children in Germany were provided with lunch in a daycare facility [4]. In 2015 in Bremen, over 24,500 children were cared for in daycare facilities, approx. 3,900 under the age of three years [5]. Approximately 89% of children under the age of three years received lunch at daycare facilities in Bremen; for children aged three years and above (until entering school), the corresponding figure was approx. 93% [6].
Summary
One of the main carriers for daycare facilities in Bremen funded the development of a nutrition concept for children under the age of three years which was subsequently implemented at 67 daycare facilities. The objectives of this evaluation were to a) examine the implementation of selected quality standards regarding nutrition in this setting and b) to compare the implementation of quality standards at daycare facilities by catering system (‘cook and serve’ vs. ‘external catering’). The evaluation included a survey of kitchen and/or facility managers and the assessment of 54 submitted meal plans.
Twenty-six daycare facilities that accepted children from the age of 8 weeks on stated that nutrition with breast milk was possible at their facility. Twenty-two of these facilities reported that they partially or entirely considered recommendations from the nutrition concept when selecting convenience products as supplementary food. The “Bremen Checklist” was implemented in more than 80% of the examined 54 meal plans. The results indicate that the nutritional quality is similar across the different daycare facilities of the carrier. The results of the evaluation also provide important information for future implementation of the nutrition concept at daycare facilities.
Keywords: catering system, nutrition, children, daycare facility, quality standard, “Bremen Checklist”
