title: Intervention leads to improvements in the nutrient profile of snacks served in afterschool programs: a group randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Widely adopted nutrition policies for afterschool programs (ASPs) focus on serving a fruit/vegetable daily and eliminating sugar-sweetened foods/beverages. The impact of these policies on the nutrient profile of snacks served is unclear. Evaluate changes in macro/micronutrient content of snacks served in ASPs. A 1-year group randomized controlled trial was conducted in 20 ASPs serving over 1700 elementary-age children. Intervention ASPs received a multistep adaptive framework intervention. Direct observation of snack served was collected and nutrient information determined using the USDA Nutrient Database, standardized to nutrients/100 kcal. By post-assessment, intervention ASPs reduced total kcal/snack served by 66 kcal (95CI -114 to -19 kcal) compared to control ASPs. Total fiber (+1.7 g/100 kcal), protein (+1.4 g/100 kcal), polyunsaturated fat (+1.2 g/100 kcal), phosphorous (+49.0 mg/100 kcal), potassium (+201.8 mg/100 kcal), and vitamin K (+21.5 μg/100 kcal) increased in intervention ASPs, while added sugars decreased (-5.0 g/100 kcal). Nutrition policies can lead to modest daily caloric reductions and improve select macro/micronutrients in snacks served. Long-term, these nutritional changes may contribute to healthy dietary habits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., RM 131, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA. beets@mailbox.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beets
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., RM 131, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Brie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turner-McGrievy
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., RM 131, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: R Glenn
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huberty
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., RM 131, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Darcy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Freedman
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D019058:Community Networks; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D062410:Snacks; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: Children; Community-based programs; Dips; Food; Fruits; Nutrition; Obesity; Policy; School; Standards; Vegetables