Examining school day dietary quality : an analysis of national dietary data from the 2004 and 2015 Canadian Community Health Surveys

Schools have the potential to contribute to obesity prevention by promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Since 2004, ten Canadian provinces have created policies regarding foods and beverages that can be offered in schools, yet little is known about what Canadian children eat and drink at school, the sources of the foods and beverages consumed, and how children’s dietary quality has changed, if at all, over the last decade. Drawing from nationally representative dietary surveys, this thesis includes three studies aimed at filling knowledge gaps regarding Canadian children’s dietary quality on school days. The first study characterised the dietary contributions of foods consumed during school hours relative to the overall diet, and sociodemographic factors associated with school hour dietary quality. In 2004, children age 6-17 years consumed approximately one-third of their daily calories during school hours, but energy-adjusted intake of milk products and key nutrients (for example, calcium and vitamin D) was relatively lower during school hours compared to non-school hours. Meanwhile, the school hour contribution from minimally nutritious foods was higher than the average school hour energy contribution. Differences in diet quality scores were poorly explained by sociodemographic factors, although school hour dietary quality differed by age group and province of residence. The second study evaluated associations between lunch-time food source and children’s dietary quality. In 2004, 73% of children reported bringing lunch from home, with few students obtaining lunch off-campus or at school. Children consuming foods from home had more favourable nutrient intake profiles compared to children obtaining foods off-campus. However, regardless of lunch-time food source, the quality of foods consumed was, on average, sub-optimal in relation to national dietary guidance. The third study assessed changes in dietary quality of Canadian children from 2004 to 2015. Average self-reported dietary quality of Canadian children during school hours and on school days improved modestly but remained below national dietary standards. More effective efforts are needed to improve Canadian children’s dietary quality. Initiatives that focus on increasing the consumption of vegetables, whole fruit, whole grains and dairy products have the potential to improve Canadian children’s dietary quality.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat

Of Rice and Spice: Hmong Livelihoods and Diversification in the Northern Vietnam Uplands

ISSN 1919‐0581Highland ethnic minority Hmong livelihoods in Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province, northern Vietnam resonate with adaptability, having flexed to accommodate and respond to diverse macro level political and economic circumstances through time. This paper focuses on this flexibility during the socialist and post-socialist periods. We illustrate the decisions of the State that have directly affected Hmong households in the Northern Highlands during this transition, and then, using ethnographic fieldwork data, turn to concentrate on Hmong reactions and their survival and coping strategies during these two contrasting periods. We then focus on current day Hmong livelihood portfolios, unravelling the specific features that allow Hmong households to adapt to local level political and economic transformations, including the creation of a National Park and limits to forest resource access as well as emerging market opportunities

Who Misses Lunch on School Days in Canada?

This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of not eating lunch on school days among Canadian children using dietary data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey- Nutrition (n = 2,991 children aged 6–17 years). On a given school day, more than 1 in 20 students reported eating no lunch. Students were more likely to miss lunch if they were older, lived in a food insecure household, or smoked. Sex, ethnicity, income and weight status were not associated with lunch consumption. Future research is needed to fully understand the frequency, causes and consequences of missing lunch on school days in Canada.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacult

Differences in the Quantity and Types of Foods and Beverages Consumed by Canadians between 2004 and 2015

This study examined differences in food and beverage intake estimated from nationally representative surveys of Canadians in 2004 and 2015 collected through the Canadian Community Health Surveys. Differences in mean daily energy intake and amounts of food consumed were compared between 2004 and 2015 and across age groups for all energy reporters (aged 2 years+) and among only plausible energy reporters. From 2004 to 2015, mean energy intake decreased by 228 kcal/day (all energy reporters) and 74 kcal/day (plausible energy reporters). Canadians reported consuming more daily servings of meat and alternatives but fewer servings of vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives in 2015 compared to 2004. Analyses of food subgroups revealed that Canadians reported consuming more daily servings of dark green and orange vegetables, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds, and eggs but fewer servings of potatoes, other vegetables, fruit juices, fluid milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages in 2015 compared to 2004. While some aspects of the Canadian diet have improved, daily mean intake of other nutritious foods either stagnated or worsened over time. Continued attention is needed to improve population-level intakes of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and protein foods such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and lower fat dairy products.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacult

Correction : Tugault-Lafleur C.N. and Black J.L. “Differences in the Quantity and Types of Foods and Beverages Consumed by Canadians between 2004 and 2015” Nutrients 2019, 11, 526

We would like to submit the following corrections to our recently published paper [...]Other UBCReviewedFacult

Examining school day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Understanding how dietary intakes vary over the course of the school day can help inform targeted school-based interventions, but little is known about the distribution or determinants of school day dietary intakes in Canada. This study examined differences between school hour and non-school hour dietary intakes and assessed demographic and socio-economic correlates of school hour diet quality among Canadian children. Nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed using 24-h dietary recalls falling on school days in 2004 (n = 4827). Differences in nutrient and food group densities during and outside of school hours and differences in School Heathy Eating Index (School-HEI) scores across socio-demographic characteristics were examined using survey-weighted, linear regression models. Children reported consuming, on average, 746 kcal during school hours (1/3 of their daily energy intakes). Vitamin A, D, B12, calcium, and dairy products densities were at least 20% lower during school hours compared to non-school hours. Differences in School-HEI scores were poorly explained by socio-demographic factors, although age and province of residence emerged as significant correlates. The school context provides an important opportunity to promote healthy eating, particularly among adolescents who have the poorest school hour dietary practices. The nutritional profile of foods consumed at school could be potentially improved with increased intake of dairy products, thereby increasing intakes of protein, vitamin A, D, calcium and magnesium.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Identifying and predicting food parenting practice profiles among Canadian parents

Background: Food parenting practices (FPP) can affect children’s eating behaviours, yet little is known about how various FPP co-occur. The primary aim was to identify profiles of FPPs use among Canadian parents. Secondary aims included examining sociodemographic correlates of FPP profiles and evaluating whether children’s eating behaviours differed across FPP profiles. Methods: Parents (n = 799) of 5–12-year-old children completed a validated FPP Item Bank and the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify distinct FPP profiles. Regression analyses were used to explore associations between FPP profiles, sociodemographic variables (race, sex and education) and children’s eating behaviours (emotional overeating, food responsiveness, food fussiness and satiety responsiveness). Results: LCA revealed 6 FPP profiles: healthy eating environment, high engagement, reactive, high structure, controlling and low engagement. Relative to their non-White counterparts, White parents were more likely to belong in the healthy eating environment, high structure and low engagement profiles. Relative to fathers, mothers were more likely to fall in the healthy eating environment compared to low engagement profile. Parents with some post-secondary education were more likely to belong in the healthy eating environment, high structure and reactive profiles compared to the controlling profile. Emotional overeating and food responsiveness scores were lowest for healthy eating environment, high structure, low engagement profiles. Parents in the healthy eating environment profile also reported lower food fussiness scores compared to parents in the high engagement, high structure, reactive and controlling profiles. Conclusions: Findings suggest that a continuum of 6 FPP profiles may be present among Canadian parents, representing parents who use either all (high engagement), some (healthy eating environment, reactive, high structure, controlling) or little (low engagement) of the FPP examined. Future longitudinal research should evaluate how various FPP profiles influence the development of children’s eating behaviors, dietary intakes and weight status.Medicine, Faculty ofOther UBCNon UBCPopulation and Public Health (SPPH), School ofReviewedFacult

Factors associated with physical activity policy and practice implementation in British Columbia’s childcare settings: a longitudinal study

Abstract Background In 2016–17, the government of British Columbia (BC) enacted a mandatory policy outlining Active Play Standards (AP Standards) alongside a capacity building initiative (Appetite to Play) focused on implementing policies and practices to support physical activity in childcare centres. We aimed to identify factors at the provider and organizational levels as well as attributes of the Standards hypothesized to influence implementation (i.e., changes in policies and practices). Methods We conducted surveys before (2016–2017) and after (2018–2019) enforcement of the AP Standards among 146 group childcare centres across BC. The 2018–19 surveys measured theoretically based constructs associated with implementation of policies and practices (9 childcare- and 8 provider- level characteristics as well as 4 attributes of the licensing standards). Characteristics that were associated in simple regression models were entered in multivariable regression models to identify factors associated with policy and practice changes related to fundamental movement skills (FMS), screen time, total amount of active play (AP) and total amount of outdoor AP from baseline to follow-up. Results In multivariable analyses, higher staff capacity (OR = 2.1, 95% 1.2, 3.7) and perceived flexibility of the standards (OR: 3.3, 95% 1.5, 7.1) were associated with higher odds of a policy change related to FMS. Higher staff commitment to the AP standards was associated with a higher odds of policy changes related to screen time (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.4) and amount of AP (OR: 1.5, 95% 1.0, 2.3). Higher institutionalization of PA policies was associated with a higher odds of policy changes related to the amount of AP (OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 1.5, 20). Higher self-efficacy was associated with a higher odds of policy changes related to outdoor AP (OR = 2.9, 95% 1.1, 7.8). Appetite to Play training was a positively associated with practice changes related to FMS (β = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.9). Conclusions A hierarchy of theoretically defined factors influenced childcare providers’ implementation of the AP Standards in BC. Future research should test the feasibility of modifying these factors to improve the implementation of PA policy and practice interventions in this setting