Community policies and programs (CPPs) that targeted decreases in intakes of less healthful foods and/or aimed to modify the availability of less healthful foods and portions were associated with healthier child dietary behaviors, a recent study found. An observational study identified 4,026 nutrition CPPs occurring in 130 communities in the prior 6 years. Dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables, added sugar and sugar‐sweetened beverages, among others, were reported among 5,138 children 4–15 years of age from the communities, using a Dietary Screener Questionnaire with children aged ≥9 years (parent assisted) or parent proxies for younger children. Researchers found:

• CPPs with the highest intensity scores that targeted fast food or fat intake or provided smaller portions were associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake (0.21, 0.19, 0.23 cup equivalents/day, respectively).
• CPPs with the highest intensity scores that restricted the availability of less healthful foods were associated with lower child intakes of total added sugar (−1.08 tsp/day) and sugar from sugar‐sweetened beverages (−1.63 tsp/day).
• Similar associations were observed between CPP count and dietary outcomes.