Background
Park and recreation agencies (PRAs) are the health/wellness leaders in their communities. PRAs provide a safe place for children during summers, provide millions of nutritious meals, and teach children about eating healthily.
Methods
Commit to Health (C2H) interventions help PRAs provide nutritious meals, and implement nutrition standards and nutrition education. During the summer of 2014, C2H operated in 557 locations (∼257,000 children grades K-6). An evaluation of impact included pre-June and post-August surveys of a nationwide representative sample including 426 children, 92 staff, and 116 parents.
Results
Results show significant improvements in nutrition knowledge and eating behaviors. Children: statistically significant improvements in correct responses regarding nutrition knowledge topics: main antioxidants/vitamins found in fruits/vegetables (14.8% to 34.0%, McNemar Test; p=0.000), which type of cereal is best (57.7% to 72.3%; p=0.000), type of food that is a protein (64.1% to 72.5%,; p=0.000), foods with most fiber (43.9% to 65.3%; p=0.000), organ that regulates sugar (39.7% to 51.9%; p=0.002). Child eating behavior improvement: increases in fruits (z-2.801; p=0.005), bell peppers (z-2.483; p=0.013), spinach, and low-fat dairy; decrease in consumption of sugary beverages. Parents: increases in consumption vegetables (z-score -2.22; p=0.026), bell peppers (z-2.166; p=0.030), spinach (z-3.213; p=0.001), summer squash (z-2.867; p=0.004), and fish (z-2.553; p=0.011). Smaller increases in consumption of tropical fruits, stone fruits, and low-fat dairy. Staff reported similar increase in consumption of bell peppers, spinach, tropical fruits, stone fruits, summer squash, and lean proteins.
Conclusion
C2H shows child and adult healthy eating behaviors can be improved via summer camp programming.
