Sissel Heidi Helland

• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Love, Penelope & Abel, Marianne Hope [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). A Formative Evaluation of Parental Perceptions Related to Acceptability, Appropriateness, Feasibility, and Reported Use of an e-Learning Resource Targeting Diet in the First 1000 Days: Survey Study. JMIR Formative Research. 10, p. 1–13. doi: 10.2196/84277. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background In October 2022, the Nutrition Now (NN) e-learning resource was implemented within Maternal and Child Healthcare centers and Early Childhood Education and Care centers of a southern Norwegian municipality. The e-learning resource targets expectant parents, parents of children aged 0‐2 years, and Early Childhood Education and Care staff, aiming to promote healthy dietary behaviors during the first 1000 days of life. Objective This study aimed to explore parental perceptions related to the acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and reported use of the NN e-learning resource among parents. Methods From October 2022 to May 2023, expecting parents and parents of children aged 0‐2 years were recruited from 2 Norwegian municipalities, one intervention group receiving access to the NN e-learning resource, and one control. Participants in the intervention group received a web-based follow-up questionnaire 7 months after gaining access to the NN e-learning resource. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the 179 participants in the NN study intervention group, 48 completed the web-based follow-up questionnaire administered 7 months after enrollment. Parents rated the e-learning resource positively on items assessing whether they liked and appreciated the resource, perceived it as an appropriate source of information, and found it doable and easy to use. Most respondents reported visiting the resource (38/48, 79%), although only 21% (10/48) reported frequent visits. Less than half of the participants answering the web-based follow-up questionnaire reported having watched the theme films (20/48, 42%), the recipe films (17/48, 35%), or making food using recipes provided in the e-learning resource (20/48, 42%). Conclusions Parents rated the NN e-learning resource positively but reported limited use. These findings point to the need for strategies that enhance engagement with self-guided digital interventions among expectant parents and parents of young children. Future efforts should focus on identifying how to maximize potential adoption of the e-learning resource and evaluate its impact to promote healthy dietary behaviors during the first 1000 days of life.

• Lian, Henrik; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Medin, Anine Christine; Osorio, Natalie Garzon & Helle, Christine [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Implementation strategies: lessons learned during an e-learning intervention to improve dietary behaviors and feeding practices in early childhood education and care. BMC Nutrition. 11(1). doi: 10.1186/s40795-024-00990-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centers play an important role in fostering healthy dietary habits. The Nutrition Now project focusing on improving dietary habits during the first 1000 days of life. Central to the project is the implementation of an e-learning resource aimed at promoting feeding practices among staff and healthy dietary behaviours for children aged 0–3 years in ECEC. Implementing new interventions often presents challenges. This study explores ECEC staff views and experiences with selected strategies for implementing an e-learning resource in ECEC centers in a municipality in Southern Norway. Methods The study is a part of the Nutrition Now study, a hybrid type 1 non-randomized controlled trial. The implementation process followed the Dynamic Integrated Evaluation Model (DIEM). Implementation strategies were selected from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) project and included identify and prepare champions, conduct educational meetings, distribute educational materials, create a learning collaborative, and remind clinicians. ECEC teachers from participating ECEC centers in the intervention municipality were recruited as champions. Brief (5–7 min minutes), semi-structured phone interviews, covering key points, were conducted with the champions 8 times, evenly distributed over six months. The interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results In total, 29 of the invited ECEC centers (53%) participated, and 260 brief interviews (88%) were conducted with champions (n=37). An evaluation of the feedback from the champions suggests that the five selected implementation strategies were acceptable. Five main themes were developed by qualitative analysis: 1) Being a champion resembles what I already do. 2) Educational meetings are fine but take time. I prefer when peers share experiences. 3) Newsletters were helpful and reminded me, but I do not always have enough time to read. 4) Evaluations have increased my awareness, and we do them informally and formally. 5) The regular phone calls reminded me I could receive support and express my opinion Conclusion This study’s findings suggest that several implementation strategies are acceptable for stakeholders in an ECEC e-learning healthy eating intervention. However, time constraints among champions may hinder deep engagement. These results provide valuable insights into how the selected implementation strategies may function in practice and how they are perceived and experienced by the ECECs staff. Trial registration Trial registration on June 6, 2022: ISRCTN10694967.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Helle, Christine; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Wills, Andrew Keith & Osorio, Natalie Garzon [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2024). Scaling up evidence-based digital early life nutrition interventions in a county setting: an implementation trial – protocol for Phase 2 of the Nutrition Now project. Frontiers in Public Health. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1326787. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Few effective health interventions transition from smaller efficacy or effectiveness studies to real-world implementation at scale, representing a gap between evidence and practice. Recognising this, we have developed Nutrition Now – a tailored digital resource building on four efficacious dietary interventions, aiming to improve nutrition in the important first 1,000 days of life. Nutrition Now targets and guides expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds, serves as a reliable source of evidence-based information for midwives and public health nurses at maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centres, and offers pedagogical tools for early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff. The aim of this study is to implement Nutrition Now at scale and evaluate the impact of different sets of multifaceted implementation strategies on implementation outcomes. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with three study arms will be used, providing either low, medium or high implementation support, when rolled out in 50 municipalities in 2 counties in Norway. Nutrition Now will be implemented in MCH and ECEC settings and made available to expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds through social media and MCH. The implementation support builds on strategies described in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation framework and is informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Impact of the different degree of implementation support will be assessed by examining reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability using usage data generated from the Nutrition Now resource, publicly available municipal data and qualitative interviews with MCH and ECEC staff. Discussion: Nutrition Now Phase 2 will break new ground by scaling up successively delivered and complementary dietary interventions in the first 1,000 days of life in a real-life context. The project also seeks to identify what level of implementation support is most effective when implementing digital, scalable, evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in community settings. The project will inform implementation research and provide knowledge about effective implementation strategies to be used in a national scale-up of Nutrition Now. Trial registration: The study is registered prospectively (submitted 14/06/2022, registration date: 19/06/2022) in the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN): reg. Number: ISRCTN10694967, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10694967.

• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Helle, Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2024). Implementing an early-life nutrition intervention through primary healthcare: staff perspectives. BMC Health Services Research. 24(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11582-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Nutrition interventions targeting early childhood can be cost-effective and may provide lifelong, intergenerational benefits. From October 2022 to April 2023 the Nutrition Now (NN) e-learning resource was implemented within Early Childhood Education and Care centres and the Maternal and Child Healthcare Centre (MCHC) in a southern Norwegian municipality. As part of the NN project, the present study aims to explore the MCHC staff’s experiences with implementing the NN resource, to gain insights into measures important to scale up digital early-life nutrition interventions. Methods: Three group interviews were conducted among public health nurses and midwives alongside one individual interview with the department leader of a MCHC in May 2023. An inductive thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was conducted to generate the key themes and subthemes regarding the implementation process of NN within the MCHC. Results: Three main themes were generated: [1] Important resource but not always utilized; [2] Parents are interested but had issues with access; and [3] Staff and stakeholder buy-in and commitment needed from the start. Overall, the staff viewed the NN resource as a potential tool for promoting diet-related topics and believed it could support the guidance they were already providing parents. However, few staff members fully familiarized themselves with the resource. While staff perceived parents as positive when informed about NN, they believed issues such as access challenges, competing platforms, and time constraints reduced parental engagement. Lastly, staff suggested improvements for NN’s implementation, including enhanced training, better planning, assigning champions, and lowering the threshold for access. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the real-world implementation of digital evidence-based health behaviour interventions is feasible but would be enhanced by employing strategies focusing on engagement and utilization.

• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Vejrup, Kristine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2024). I’m not sure whether I will implement it”: exploring barriers and facilitators to implementing a digital “healthy eating” resource in early education and care settings - teachers’ perspectives. BMC Public Health. 24. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19014-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bjørkkjær, Tormod; Vejrup, Kristine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2024). Enhancing core components for a digital “healthy eating” resource in early childhood and care settings: staff’s perceptions and needs. BMC Public Health. 24(1), p. 1–12. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20456-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background In response to the growing need for effective programmes to promote healthy eating habits among children in real-world settings, we conducted a qualitative study. Our aim was to explore the content-related needs of early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff regarding the core components of an upcoming digital “healthy eating” resource. This resource, designed for real-world implementation through the Nutrition Now project, seeks to enhance children’s nutrition and health within ECEC settings. Methods Twelve individual semi-structured interviews with ECEC staff in a Norwegian municipality were conducted. Subsequently, we conducted two focus group discussions, involving five participants, to encourage reflection on the preliminary findings from the individual interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using Nvivo software. Data from the interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically to identify and summarise staff’s subjective experiences and reasoning. Results Six themes were identified for the development of the upcoming digital “healthy eating” resource: (1) A comprehensive recipe bank, and menu suggestions, (2) Tips for easy and quick cooking, simple hygiene and allergy management, (3) Age-appropriate food learning ideas, (4) Strategies for mealtime learning and engagement, (5) Alignment with the national ECEC curriculum, and (6) Parent-friendly access and content. Conclusions This research provides valuable guidance and informs the adaptation of an expert-led digital “healthy eating” intervention to better suit ECEC staff and the ECEC context, consequently enhancing its feasibility and effectiveness.

• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bjørkkjær, Tormod; Grasaas, Erik & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2022). Staff feeding practices, food neophobia, and educational level in early education and care settings: A cross-sectional study. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 180. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106379. Full text in Research Archive
• Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll; Wills, Andrew Keith; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2021). Effectiveness of a kindergarten-based intervention to increase vegetable intake and reduce food neophobia amongst 1-year-old children: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 65. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v65.7679. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Strømmer, Sofia & Barker, Mary Elizabeth [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Wow! They really like celeriac! Kindergarten teachers' experiences of an intervention to increase 1-year-olds' acceptance of vegetables. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 166. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105581. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Exposure to varied foods in early life is important for short- and long-term health and development. Strategically introducing toddlers to new vegetables is not a common practice in Norwegian kindergartens. Therefore, we developed, conducted, and evaluated a web-based cluster randomised kindergarten intervention, Pre-schoolers’ Food Courage 2.0. The purpose of the current qualitative study was to explore kindergarten teachers’ experience of implementing this intervention and what they thought facilitated the positive impact of the intervention re- ported in the quantitative evaluation. Ten individual telephonic interviews with kindergarten teachers who took part in the intervention study were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified: 1) One-year-olds love food and renewal of the menus was inspiring; 2) One-year-olds are surprisingly willing to try and accept novel foods; 3) Novel food at meals stimulate social interaction; and 4) The Sapere method is a fun and explorative activity for 1-year-olds. These four themes were the features perceived as the effective elements of the intervention by the kindergarten teachers. The fifth main theme was: 5) Sustained impact on kindergarten teachers’ practices and beliefs. The kindergarten teachers found the intervention easy to implement, and they were surprised by the foods 1-year- olds like and how the intervention increased their food acceptance. This age window of opportunity seems to be underused in kindergartens. By using the strategies described in the intervention, kindergarten staff effec- tively took advantage of this opportunity and consequently, child and kindergarten staff behaviour in relation to food was enhanced. Interventions targeting healthy feeding practices may potentially have a long-term public health impact by increasing food variety and vegetable intake in toddlers

• Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Simhan, Indra Laetitia & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2019). Diet and Neurodevelopmental Score in a Sample of One-Year-Old Children-A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients. 21(11). doi: 10.3390/nu11071676. Full text in Research Archive
• Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2018). A cluster randomized web-based intervention trial to reduce food neophobia and promote healthy diets among one-year-old children in kindergarten: study protocol. BMC Pediatrics. 18(232), p. 1–8. doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1206-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: A child’s first years of life are crucial for cognitive development and future health. Studies show that a varied diet with a high intake of vegetables is positive for both weight and cognitive development. The present low intake of vegetables in children’s diets is therefore a concern. Food neophobia can be a barrier for vegetable intake in children. Our hypothesis is that interventions that can increase children’s intake of vegetables should be introduced early in life to overcome children’s neophobia. This study aims to develop, measure and compare the effect of two different interventions among one-year-old children in kindergartens to reduce food neophobia and promote healthy diets. Methods: The kindergartens are randomized to one of three groups: two different intervention groups and one control group. We aimed to include a total of 210 children in the study. The first intervention group will be served a warm lunch meal with a variety of vegetables, 3 days a week during the intervention period of 3 months. The second intervention group will be served the same meals and, in addition, kindergarten staff will be asked to implement pedagogical tools including sensory lessons, adapted from the Sapere method, and advices on meal practice and feeding practices. The control group continues their usual meal practices. Parents and kindergarten staff will complete questionnaires regarding food neophobia, food habits and cognitive development at baseline and post intervention. A similar intervention among 2-year-old children in kindergarten has been implemented and evaluated earlier. We will investigate whether a digital version of this intervention has an effect, because digital interventions can be easily implemented nationwide. We will also investigate whether there are benefits of conducting such interventions in younger children, before the onset of food neophobia. Questionnaires, information videos and recipes will be digitally distributed. Discussion: Results of this study will provide new knowledge about whether a sensory education and a healthy meal intervention targeting children, kindergarten staff and parents will reduce levels of food neophobia in children, improve parental and kindergarten feeding practices, improve children’s dietary variety, improve children’s cognitive development and reduce childhood overweight.

• Johannessen, Berit; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Fegran, Liv & Bere, Elling (2018). "A bumpy road": Kindergarten staff experiences of participation in an intervention to promote healthy diets in toddlers. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 127, p. 37–43. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.04.008. Full text in Research Archive
• Djupegot, Ingrid Laukeland; Nenseth, Camilla; Bere, Elling; Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). The association between time scarcity, sociodemographic correlates and consumption of ultra-processed foods among parents in Norway: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4408-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Use of ultra-processed foods has expanded rapidly over the last decades and high consumption has been positively associated with risk of e.g. overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Ultra-processed foods offer convenience as they require minimal time for preparation. It is therefore reasonable to assume that such foods are consumed more often among people who experience time scarcity. The main aim of this study was to investigate the association between time scarcity and consumption of ultra-processed foods among parents of 2-year olds in Norway. A secondary aim was to investigate the association between sociodemographic correlates, weight status and consumption of ultra-processed foods. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 497 participants. Chi-square and cross tabulations were used to calculate proportions of high vs. low consumption of ultra-processed foods in relation to time scarcity, sociodemographic correlates and weight status. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to test the relationship between independent variables and consumption of ultra-processed foods. Results: Participants reporting medium and high time scarcity were more likely to have a high consumption of ultra-processed dinner products (OR = 3. 68, 95% CI = 2. 32–5.84 and OR = 3.10, 1.80–5.35, respectively) and fast foods (OR = 2.60, 1.62–4.18 and OR = 1.90, 1.08–3.32, respectively) compared to those with low time scarcity. Further, participants with medium time scarcity were more likely to have a high consumption of snacks and soft drinks compared to participants with low time scarcity (OR = 1.63, 1.06–2.49). Finally, gender, ethnicity, educational level, number of children in the household and weight status were identified as important factors associated with the consumption of certain types of ultra-processed foods. Conclusions: Results from the present study showed that time scarcity, various sociodemographic factors and weight status was associated with consumption of processed foods. Future studies with a longitudinal design are needed to further explore these patterns over a longer period of time. Keywords: Ultra-processed foods, Processed foods, Time scarcity, Convenience, Adults, Parents

• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2017). Fremtidens barnehager – økt fokus på barns medvirkning i matlaging i barnehagen. In Wilhelmsen, Britt Unni (Eds.), Mat- og måltidsaktiviteter i barnehagen. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215027265. p. 57–67. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bere, Elling; Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2017). Food neophobia and its association with intake of fish and other selected foods in a Norwegian sample of toddlers: A cross-sectional study. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 114, p. 110–117. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.03.025. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bere, Elling & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2016). Study protocol for a multi-component kindergarten-based intervention to promote healthy diets in toddlers: a cluster randomized trial. BMC Public Health. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2952-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: There is concern about the lack of diversity in children’s diets, particularly low intakes of fruit and vegetables and high intakes of unhealthy processed food. This may be a factor in the rising prevalence of obesity. A reason for the lack of diversity in children’s diets may be food neophobia. This study aimed to promote a healthy and varied diet among toddlers in kindergarten. The primary objectives were to reduce food neophobia in toddlers, and promote healthy feeding practices among kindergarten staff and parents. Secondary objectives were to increase food variety in toddlers’ diets and reduce future overweight and obesity in these children. Methods: This is an ongoing, cluster randomized trial. The intervention finished in 2014, but follow-up data collection is not yet complete. Eighteen randomly selected kindergartens located in two counties in Norway with enrolled children born in 2012 participated in the intervention. The kindergartens were matched into pairs based on background information, and randomly assigned to the intervention or control groups. A 9-week multi-component intervention was implemented, with four main elements: 1) kindergarten staff implemented a pedagogical tool (Sapere method) in daily sessions to promote willingness to try new food; 2) kindergarten staff prepared and served the toddlers a cooked lunch from a menu corresponding to the pedagogical sessions; 3) kindergarten staff were encouraged to follow 10 meal principles on modeling, responsive feeding, repeated exposure, and enjoyable meals; and 4) parents were encouraged to read information and apply relevant feeding practices at home. The control group continued their usual practices. Preference taste tests were conducted to evaluate behavioral food neophobia, and children’s height and weight were measured. Parents and staff completed questionnaires before and after the intervention. Data have not yet been analyzed. Discussion: This study provides new knowledge about whether or not a Sapere-sensory education and healthy meal intervention targeting children, kindergarten staff, and parents will: reduce levels of food neophobia in toddlers; improve parental and kindergarten feeding practices; improve children’s dietary variety; and reduce childhood overweight and obesity. Trial registration: ISRCTN74823448 DOI 10.1186/ISRCTN74823448 Keywords: Food neophobia, Diet variety, Toddlers, Parental feeding practices, Kindergarten, Overweight

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• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2021). Barn, matmot og måltider. Helsefremmende og pedagogisk praksis. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN 9788202709778. 164 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord (2026). Forskning til folk: Jeg liker det ikke! – om frykten for å smake og hvordan vi kan bygge matmot. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2026). UiA- forsker om mat og kresne barn. [Radio]. Sørlandsendinga - Distriktsprogram - Sørlandet - NRK Radio. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2026). Barnehagepersonalet gikk fra å servere mat de trodde barna likte, til å servere... Utdanningsdirektoratet. doi: https:/www.instagram.com/p/DaiopGeiK1V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Forsker Sissel H. Helland ved Universitetet i Agder har undersøkt hva barnehagelærere opplever når de utvider menyen for de yngste barna. Ifølge Helland tyder studien på at barnehagene har et stort potensial for å påvirke barns spisevaner 🍽💡 Les hele saken om forskningen i magasinet vårt Vetuva! Lenke i bio 📚🔗".

• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2026). Når barn får utforske mat tidlig,... - Utdanningsdirektoratet. doi: https:/www.facebook.com/Utdanningsdirektoratet/posts/pfbid02YXSk5MTJJmvaZn1CuXYtc1HdQ8Undn24ZoZU4dU4ntWqpyjGQJdwXGLZRJFkgGLgl. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Når barn får utforske mat tidlig, og møter voksne som er nysgjerrige sammen med dem, kan nye matvarer gå fra ukjente til populære 🫑🧀🫜 Forsker Sissel H....

• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2026). From food neophobia to food courage in preschool children. Research insights for everyday practice and policy development. Full text in Research Archive
• Heslien, Kaia Elisabeth Paulsen; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Helle, Christine (2025). Sammen rundt bordet i barnehagen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2025). Fra tidlig planlegging til sent etterarbeid: Syv trinn for god orden i undervisningskjøkkenet. Mat og helse i skolen. ISSN 1890-3193. 550(1), p. 11–15. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2025). Matnyttig - Barnehagedelen, forskningsbasert med brukerinvolvering. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helle, Christine & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2024). Forskerfokus: Den lange veien mot (noe) Matnyttig. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord (2024). – Et undervisningskjøkken for fremtiden. [Internet]. uia.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Lian, Henrik; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2024). Implementation strategies: Lessons learned during an e-learning intervention to improve dietary behaviors and feeding practices in Early Childhood Education and Care. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2024). Hvordan motivere barna til å spise sunt? [Internet]. Barnehagen fra Cappelen Damm. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2024). Fra pasta og kjøttboller, til fisk og sellerirot. [Internet]. Vetuva, Utdanningsdirektoratet. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2024). Fra pasta og kjøttboller til fisk og sellerirot. [Journal]. Vetuva. Forskning og ny kunnskap om barnehage. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2023). Implementering av Matnyttigs måltidsråd: Hvordan øve og veilede for felles måltidspedagogiskpraksis i avdelingen? Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bjørkkjær, Tormod; Vejrup, Kristine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). Facilitators and barriers related to the forthcoming implementation of a web-based “healthy eating” resource to support ECEC staff: A qualitative interview study with teachers. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2023). Matnyttig- å fremme gode matvaner og matomsorg de første 1000 dagene av livet. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2023). Matnyttig- Å fremme gode matvaner og matomsorg de første 1000 dagene av et barns liv. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2023). Måltidene i barnehagen: hvordan og hvorfor arbeide med matglede & matmot? Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Helle, Christine; Wills, Andrew Keith & Lamu, Admassu Nadew [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in a community setting a hybrid type 1 non-randomized trial – the Nutrition Now project protocol. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 13. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1071489. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Disappointingly few efficacious health interventions are successfully scaled up and implemented in real world settings. This represents an evidence-to-practice gap, with loss of opportunity to improve practice. Aiming to improve nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, we have combined four efficacious dietary interventions into a single adapted digital resource (Nutrition Now) for implementation in a Norwegian community setting. Nutrition Now targets pregnant women and parents of 0–2-year-olds with messages focusing on healthy dietary behaviours. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff are provided with pedagogical tools addressing healthy food exposure and child food acceptance. Objectives: a) evaluate the effectiveness of provision of the Nutrition Now resource on child diet and diet-related outcomes, with special attention to the influence of socio-economic position, b) gather information on the effectiveness of the implementation process to inform forthcoming scale-up and c) perform trial- and model-based economic evaluations. This is a hybrid type 1 implementation study, focusing on evaluation of effectiveness. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests, where one municipality gets access to the resource (n~800), while a matched non-equivalent control municipality (n~800) does not, will be used. Effectiveness will be assessed by examining e.g., diet outcomes, developmental outcomes, and feeding practices. The resource will be implemented in ECEC settings and made available to pregnant women and parents through the Norwegian system of maternal and child health (MCH) care. The implementation process includes iterative adjustments and implementation strategies from the implementation framework Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Implementation outcomes (e.g., acceptability and adoption) will be assessed through questionnaires and interviews with parents, ECEC and MCH staff, with particular attention to ethnic diverse groups. Both within-trial and modelling-based economic evaluation will be performed. Nutrition Now will bridge the existing evidence-to-practice gap through rigorous scientific effectiveness evaluation of municipal scale up and inform subsequent county scale up. The study is the first to implement efficacious nutrition interventions in early life with potential for health improvement using technology to maximise the reach and impact of both parental and MCH dietary guidance and ECEC practice.

• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). The Sapere Method in Early Childhood Education and Care. Nutrition Now project and Sensory training according to the Sapere method. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2022). Matnyttig: fagmøte med styrere i barnehager i Larvik. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2022). Matnyttig: Kick-off med styrere i Arendals barnehager. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2022). Implementering av Matnyttig: Hvordan få til gode prosesser? . Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørkkjær, Tormod (2022). Slik får du barna til å smake ny mat. [Internet]. Utdanningsnytt.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Rutter, Harry; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Helle, Christine (2022). What are the factors that influence children’s diet? A mapping session for local stakeholders in Arendal. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørkkjær, Tormod (2022). Studentene lærer for lite om mat og måltidet. [Journal]. Første steg nr. 4/2022. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2022). Matneofobi, selektivt kosthold og styrking av matmot. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2022). Kresenhet - inspirasjonsforelesning for styrere/enhetsledere i barnehager i Arendal kommune. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2021). Hvordan gi små barn variert kosthold - forskere Sissel H. Helland og Nina C. Øverby /gjest Harald Eia. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørkkjær, Tormod (2021). Ettåringer kan like all slags mat. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørkkjær, Tormod (2021). Sellerispisende ettåringer overrasket i barnehagen. [Internet]. uia.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørkkjær, Tormod (2021). Barnas matvaner overrasket barnehagelærerne. [Journal]. Barnehage.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2021). Ettåringer og mat. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandsendingen. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Helle, Christine & Vik, Frøydis Nordgård (2021). Kosthold og ernæring i de første 1000 dagene – kan vi investere klokere? Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2021). Gir bort gratis studieplasser: – Viktig at barnehageansatte har forskningsbasert kunnskap. [Internet]. Barnehage.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2020). Forskningsbasert mat- og måltidspraksis i barnehagen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2020). Måltidet kan være en maktkamp for å få barn til å smake eller spise. [Journal]. Fredrikke nr 4 / 20. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Forskning på barns matmot i barnehagen. Folkehelsen : Sanitetsforeningens blad. ISSN 0808-3878. p. 5–8. Full text in Research Archive
• Engeset, Dagrun; Bjørkkjær, Tormod; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Medin, Anine Christine (2019). Flere må ta kosthold på alvor. p. 24–25. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Vik, Frøydis Nordgård (2019). Tar samfunnet kosthold på alvor? Skolemat, barnehagemåltid og sukkeravgift. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2019). Experiences from implementing dietary interventions in kindergarten. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Matneofobi og matmot. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Vil gi barna matmot. [Journal]. Fædrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Gjør barna kjent med ny mat i barnehagen. [Internet]. Universitetet i Agder, Forskning.no, Utdanningsforskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Råd fra eksperten: Hvordan få toåringen i barnehagen til å smake på ny mat? [Internet]. Barnehage.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Vik, Frøydis Nordgård (2019). Arenaer for folkehelse og ernæring. In Engeset, Dagrun; Torheim, Liv Elin & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (Ed.), Samfunnsernæring. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215030630. p. 183–193. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Matskepsis hos små barn og spiseråd små barn. [Radio]. NRK, Sørlandssendinga. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). EVU. Helse og matglede i barnehagen. [Internet]. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Med kjøkkenhage på pensum. [Internet]. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Skal videreutdanne barnehagelærere innen mat og måltid. [Internet]. Barnehage.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2017). A cluster randomized web-based intervention trial among one-year-old children in kindergarten to reduce neophobia and promote healthy diets. A description. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2017). Ny metode kan hjelpe deg: Slik kan du få kresne barn til å spise maten sin. [Journal]. Aftenposten, Bergens Tidende og andre aviser v/Schibsted . Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2017). Mat og måltid i barnehagen – muligheter og utfordringer ved implementering av ny rammeplan. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2017). Hva er mat- og måltidspedagogikk? Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2017). Preliminary results from a multi component kindergarten-based intervention to promote healthy diet in toddlers. A cluster randomized trial. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit; Bere, Elling & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2017). Food neophobia and its association with intake of fish and other selected foods in a sample of 2-year-old’s. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2016). Preschoolers’ Food Courage, an intervention to promote healthy diets in toddlers: a Norwegian sample. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2016). Barns matmot i barnehagen – en pågående intervensjonsstudie. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2016). Barns «matmot» i barnehagen. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Blomkvist, Eli Anne Myrvoll (2016). Barns matmot – Mat for små barnehagemager. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Bere, Elling & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2015). Associations between toddlers' food neophobia and dietary habits. A cross-sectional study. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2015). Jakten på umami. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2015). Kresenhet og matglede hos barn. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2015). Is og kake i ferd med å forsvinne fra barnehagene: Feirer med frukt og smoothie. [Internet]. Fædrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2014). Med mot til å smake. Positive og negative trekk i barns kosthold - hva betyr det og hva kan vi gjøre?” Et foredrag med sensoriske opplevelser og introduksjon av Barns matmot. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2014). Barns matvaner. Presentasjon av prosjektet Barns matmot. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandet, Sørlandssendingen. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2014). Har du kresne barn? [Journal]. Kristiansandsavisen. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit & Helland, Sissel Heidi (2014). Livsstil, tidsnød og sånt. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2014). Barnehagebarn og mat. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit (2014). Det skal forskes på foreldre og to-åringer. [TV]. NRK, Dagsrevyen 21, Norge i dag. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bere, Elling (2014). Tidsklemma skal under lupen. [Internet]. NRK Sørlandet. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit (2014). Skal forske på tidsklemma. [TV]. NRK, TV Distriktsnyheter Sørlandet. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bere, Elling (2014). Forsker på tidsklemma. [Radio]. NRK Distriktsnyheter Sørlandet. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2014). Barns matmot. Et pågående forskningsprosjekt om smak og matglede blant to-åringer i barnehage. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Bjørnarå, Helga Birgit (2014). Please, si at det er pølse i dag. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2013). Gründercamp på UiA. [Journal]. Fædrelandsvennen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2013). Folkehelsestudenter utvikler verktøy for å møte fremtidens helseutfordringer. [Internet]. UiA, Aktuelt. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2013). Hvordan få ungdommen mer aktive. [Internet]. Ungt Entrepenørskap. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Bere, Elling (2013). Food for preschoolers. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi; Bere, Elling & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2013). FOOD FOR PRESCHOOLERS. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. ISSN 0250-6807. 63, p. 621–621. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi & Lassen, Karen (2012). Nistepakke på barnehagemenyen. Full text in Research Archive
• Helland, Sissel Heidi (2019). Matmot i barnehagen : En studie av toåringers matneofobi og kosthold og hvordan dette kan endres. Universitetet i Agder. ISSN 9788271179328. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.04.008. Full text in Research Archive

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