Research Design, Protocol, and Participant Characteristics of COLEAFS: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Childcare Garden Intervention

Nilda Graciela Cosco, Nancy M. Wells, Muntazar Monsur, Lora Suzanne Goodell, Daowen Zhang, Tong Xu, Derek Hales and Robin Clive Moore
Additional contact information
Nilda Graciela Cosco: Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Nancy M. Wells: Department of Human Centered Design, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Muntazar Monsur: Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Lora Suzanne Goodell: Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Daowen Zhang: Department of Statistics, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Tong Xu: Department of Human Centered Design, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Derek Hales: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400, USA
Robin Clive Moore: Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Childcare garden interventions may be an effective strategy to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and physical activity among young children. The objective of this paper is to describe the research design, protocol, outcome measures, and baseline characteristics of participants in the Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systems (“COLEAFS”) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the effect of a garden intervention on outcomes related to diet and physical activity. Fifteen childcare centers in low-income areas were randomly assigned to intervention (to receive garden intervention in Year 1), waitlist control (to receive garden intervention in Year 2), and control group (no intervention). The garden intervention comprised six raised beds planted with warm-season vegetables and fruits, and a garden activity booklet presenting 12 gardening activities. FV knowledge and FV liking were measured using a tablet-enabled protocol. FV consumption was measured by weighing FV before and after a snack session. Physical activity was measured using Actigraph GT3x+ worn by children for three consecutive days while at the childcare center. Of the 543 eligible children from the 15 childcare centers, 250 children aged 3–5 years received parental consent, assented, and participated in baseline data collection. By employing an RCT to examine the effect of a garden intervention on diet and physical activity among young children attending childcare centers within low-income communities, this study offers compelling research design and methods, addresses a critical gap in the empirical literature, and is a step toward evidence-based regulations to promote early childhood healthy habits.

Keywords: children; childcare; gardening; randomized controlled trial; healthy eating; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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