Food at US child-care centres lacking in nutrients - study

Washington: Nearly 13 million children eat three or more meals and snacks daily at the 117,000 regulated child-care centres across the United States.

Mounting costs of food preparation and storage have prompted more of these centres to insist on parents providing food for their children.

But lunches sent from home may not provide adequate nutrients for the growth and development of the children, according to a University of Texas Austin study and Third Coast Research and Development in Texas.

The study comprised 74 children between the age of three and five attending full-time child-care centres that required parents to provide lunches. Contents of the lunches were recorded for three consecutive days.

Researchers found more than half the lunches provided less than the required calories, carbohydrates, vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc and 96 per cent of such meals had even less than minimum recommended amounts of dietary fibre, except sodium.

When asked if lunch provided an important opportunity for their children to receive nutrients, all the 97 parents agreed. But 63 per cent admitted packing items their child was known to eat.

The researchers concluded that parents don't know how to pack nutritious lunch for children, said a university release.

"When parents do not consistently pack a nutritious lunch they miss an opportunity to teach and reinforce good dietary habits to their children," the researchers said.

When parents do not consistently pack a nutritious lunch they miss an opportunity to teach and reinforce good dietary habits to their children."

Findings of research conducted by University of Texas Austin and Third Coast Research and Development