Exploring the feasibility of using evidence-based feeding practices to promote children’s healthy eating in holiday clubs

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Encouraging healthy eating is a public health priority in the United Kingdom (UK), given the high prevalence of poor diet and overweight/obesity among school-aged children. Holiday clubs are organisations providing childcare and activities during the school holidays and frequently provide food to children at risk of food insecurity, primarily through government-funded programmes like the Holiday Activities and Food programme. However, the research suggests that holiday clubs could do more to maximise opportunities to promote children’s healthy eating by using evidence-based feeding practices. Design: During August–September 2020, video-based interviews were conducted exploring staff perceptions of the feasibility of using four evidence-based feeding practices to promote children’s healthy eating: modelling; involvement in food choice; involvement in food preparation and cooking and involvement in meal planning. Feasibility was assessed using four dimensions of a feasibility framework (acceptability, demand, practicality and implementation). Setting: UK holiday clubs. Participants: Twenty-five staff actively involved in delivering UK holiday clubs (project leaders, coordinators, cooks and coaches/youth workers). Results: Staff generally reported good acceptability (dimension 1) and demand (dimension 2) for the feeding practices. However, the practicality (dimension 3) of using the practices was dependent on various factors (logistics, resources, staff readiness, children, peers and parents). Promisingly, in the fourth feasibility dimension (implementation), staff provided numerous practical solutions to overcome these barriers. Conclusions: Evidence-based feeding practices can be implemented in numerous ways and are therefore generally feasible in holiday clubs. Holiday clubs should be empowered to use evidence-based feeding practices through training resources, sharing networks and provision of sustainable funding.

Keywords

• Food insecurity
• Feeding practices
• Eating behaviour
• Holiday clubs
• Modelling