“Please Bring a Healthy Snack”: An Exploratory Study on Parent Experiences with Post-Game Snacks and Beverages in Youth Sports

Spruance, Lori Andersen; Vaterlaus, J. Mitchell; Haines, Amanda; Walker, Joseph T.

doi:10.18666/jpra-2019-9985

Cited by 2 publications

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“…While the intervention did not intend on eliminating the snack and beverage offerings, this finding may be an indication that some parents took the initiative to not offer snacks or beverages at all as a way of changing culture. Previous qualitative studies indicate that parents feel pressured about providing snacks/beverages, feel conflicted about the types of beverages and amounts to provide, and want further guidance from organizations on what to constitutes a healthy snack [ 16 , 17 ]. An unintended consequence of this intervention was a reduction in the number of items served at games.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another qualitative study, parents indicated that team snacks are a large part of the reason their children play [ 16 ]. Parent participants described that unhealthy snacks are common at games because they are inexpensive, easy to prepare, and appealing to children [ 16 , 17 ]. In other studies, parent participants indicated they were interested in receiving specific nutritional guidelines for recreational sports [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are a limited number of interventions that focus on changing the dietary behaviors of children participating in youth recreational sports. Some studies suggested that local parks and recreation departments increase education efforts towards parents on maintaining healthy eating behaviors [ 8 , 17 ]. One study found that healthy snacks were more likely to be sold in sports facilities when signs were used to advertise, taste testing was offered, and price was discounted by 30% [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

An Educational Intervention for Improving the Snacks and Beverages Brought to Youth Sports in the USA

Spruance

Bennion

Ghanadan

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test a small-scale intervention and its ability to decrease total sugar intake and number of calories offered at youth sports games. Methods: This study was a pre/post-test quasi-experimental design. A flier was developed and distributed to parents. The flier aimed to decrease the sugar-sweetened beverages and increase the nutritional quality of food brought to games. Baseline data were collected in 2018 (n = 61). The flier was distributed prior to the start of the league, once during the league, and posted online in 2019. Postintervention data were collected in the intervention group (n = 122) and a comparison group (n = 74). Nutritional information was collected through direct observation. Results: The average amount of total sugar provided per game per child was 25.5 g at baseline when snacks/beverages were provided at games. After the intervention, the average amount of total sugar provided significantly decreased (16.7 g/game/child, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The intervention reduced total sugar offered and the number of sugar-sweetened beverages brought to games. It was low-cost and could be easily implemented by public health practitioners and/or parks and recreation administrators. Further, considerations could be made to implement policies relative to snacks and beverages at youth sports games.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

An Educational Intervention for Improving the Snacks and Beverages Brought to Youth Sports in the USA

Spruance

Bennion

Ghanadan

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Convenience Over Nutrition for Recreation League Youth Sport Team Snack and Mealtime Choices

Ashley,

Weaver,

Ramsey

et al. 2023

JJSE

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Fifty-six percent of school-aged children participate in team sports, yet there is limited evidence on how participation in youth sports impacts the dietary behaviors of participants and their families. Our team surveyed parents and caregivers of children participating in recreation league youth sports (n = 178) to assess the foods and beverages offered as team snacks and factors that influence team snack choices. Juice was the most popular beverage, and crackers were the most popular snack reported by parents. Convenience, followed by cost and child preference, were the most frequently reported factors influencing team snack choices. Survey items also included factors that influence mealtime behaviors on game and practice days. Convenience, followed by nutrition and taste, were most frequently reported as factors that influenced mealtime behaviors. Almost half of parents said their family’s eating habits changed as a result of recreational youth sports activities, and more than half said their family often or always eats dinner outside of the home on game and practice days. Professionals who work with this age group and their parents, including extension agents, can tailor education to encourage healthy team snacks and promote strategies to make healthy meals accessible on evenings with youth sports.

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“Please Bring a Healthy Snack”: An Exploratory Study on Parent Experiences with Post-Game Snacks and Beverages in Youth Sports

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

An Educational Intervention for Improving the Snacks and Beverages Brought to Youth Sports in the USA

An Educational Intervention for Improving the Snacks and Beverages Brought to Youth Sports in the USA

Convenience Over Nutrition for Recreation League Youth Sport Team Snack and Mealtime Choices

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