My son’s day camp at the local university had everything going for it: Flexible drop-off for working parents, after-care swim lessons, a full day of sports and activities that made bedtime blessedly early.
But alas: The snacks.
The first day, the campers were given Fruit Roll-Ups and Powerade. The next, it was Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Bars and Powerade. Then cookies and Powerade. (To be fair, the kids were also offered bottled water, but that wasn’t what my child–and I’m sure many others–chose every day.)
So I called the camp office.
And I told them that while I thought they were doing a great job with the camp, I was unhappy with the snacks. I thought they were too sugary and too lacking in nutrients to help kids through a long day of physical activity.
They said the snacks were “the healthiest options available from their vendor” and that the kids needed the calories and electrolytes in Powerade after so much exercise.
I said I’d prefer parents simply be asked to pack a snack for their child each day (what many camps already do). And that the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t actually think most children need sports drinks–that water is best and electrolytes can be replaced through food. I also suggested that they forgo bottled water and let the campers fill their reusable water bottles at the fountain to save money (and landfill space).
They admitted that other parents had called with the same concern. And they said they would consider using the remaining Powerade and not ordering more.
My next step is to write a follow-up letter to the camp director, reiterating my concerns and offering any help I can provide.
Why make a fuss? As I’ve said before, I don’t mind my child having this kind of stuff sometimes. But this is the snack that’s supposed to fuel them through an afternoon of flag football, swimming, and playing outdoors in the heat. And while my child only attended the camp for a week, some kids are there every weekday, all summer. That’s 225 teaspoons of added sugar from the Powerade alone.
If you run up against bad snacks, don’t be afraid to be That Mom. My advice:
- Be kind and complimentary first.
- State your concerns politely and objectively. Have specific suggestions, not just complaints.
- Offer your help in some way.
- Follow up.
As parents, we can change the snack culture at our child’s school, camp, daycare, club, and sports team.
But we have to speak up.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Sally, you know you and I are very much on the same page on this issue. Just this week my son came home from basketball camp “fueled” by a full-sized Snickers bar. And when he told me the other choices made available to him, that wasn’t the worst choice by far. Sigh. Keep up the “snacktivism!”
Great title, great tips and great job speaking up! Glad to see more people are seeing through the sports drink marketing hype: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryhusten/2012/07/19/guest-post-the-bmjs-amazing-shock-and-awe-assault-on-sport-drink-science/
Good one! I am proud of this mom!! Water should be the only choice..kids will always pick the sugary option…I know mine would. Thanks for the good read.
You know this stuff terrifies me, right?
Because my oldest is only five, and we haven’t had to do the camp thing yet…I’ve just gotten through the DAYCARE snack thing. Sigh! I think you did absolutely the best you could do, and yes, it’s probably what I would do, as well. What is frustrating, however, is that on some level (having worked in organized camps and so forth for a while), I see how many camps feel that they’re restricted in what they can do. Given budgetary constraints and tried-and-true vendors, many of whom offer only junk (with, of course, marginally “healthier” options to make things look better), only the most creative and budget-savvy of camp directors is going to think far enough outside the box to give his/her bosses a cogent proposal that shows a better way to do things. Add to the mess the fact that sometimes those vendors, along with corporations, provide freebies for snacktime, and that often the relationships between large camps and their vendors can have some personal/political strings attached that no intelligent camp director wants to mess with, and…sigh. It’s an uphill battle for sure, but good for you and good for your camp! It sounds like they are willing to at least open their ears to the discussion.
Bri, thanks for your insight and behind-the-scene info. This reminds me lot of the bind that public schools are often in over school lunches–the pull between healthy food and budget constraints. I think, as you said, we do need to start thinking creatively and out of the box. Clearly, what institutions are doing with feeding kids isn’t working. Again, thanks for your comment!
I agree Sheri. My kids will choose the sugary drink, so I’d rather that not be an option.
That article is great reading and very compelling evidence that not only do kids not need sports drinks, but that the hype about sports drinks is about marketing and money–not athletic performance or proven research findings.
Thanks Bettina. At least the Snickers bar has some nuts in it!
My son was pretty much given refined flour and added sugar, with a side of food dye!
BRILLIANT! Thank you. I tell my clients to do the same you state here when they come to me with these complaints. Above all, you have to be kind first…and then offer to help. These camp directors really need the help. I will share this with as many as I can.
Thank you Melanie!
Powerade and cereal bars??? Awful!
I am impressed that you managed to influence their decision as to stop serving them the powerade.
To be honest I rarely speak up about the everpresent snacks as it seems to me that almost every single parent I see brings the local children cheezits, cheeseballs, and most common one – goldfish, to the games. Sometimes it seems to me that if I say out loud, even gently, what I think about all that, let’s be honest -> poison, I will be thrown eggs at.
As far as I know, from my stepson’s descriptions, he is the only child in school that eats slices of cucumber with a little bit of dressing, crunchy peppers etc, for lunch. Other children make fun of him. The amount of ridicule he got one time made him stop taking his favourite peaches to lunch. I wish it was as easy to convince people to change their eating habits, as it seems to be for you.
Thanks for your comment Monika. And they said they would *consider* not ordering more Powerade–so not sure what will end up happening! They may have just been trying to placate me.
No, it’s never easy to convince people to change what they’re doing–I’ve definitely gotten push-back. One thing I would recommend, if you’re trying to change the snacks at your child’s games, is to talk to the coach–preferably at the start of the season. If the recommendation for healthier snacks (or no snack at all) comes down from the coach, parents are much more likely to listen. And I’ve learned a lot along the way about how people easily feel judged–judged about their parenting, especially–when talk of changing snacks (or not bringing birthday cupcakes or whatever it is) comes up. We have to be respectful of each other–but also have our kids’ best interests in mind. In my opinion, there needs to be a cultural shift in how we feed our kids if we want the childhood obesity and diabetes rates to reverse, if we want our kids to grow up healthier than they are expected to. Change is uncomfortable, but necessary. Good luck and keep the faith! You can make a difference.
I’m trying to eliminate “snacktime” from our elementary school this yr. The parents are supposed to take turns sending healthy snacks but all the kids end up with is the mandated milk(which most kids pick the chocolate) and junk food snacks! I personally think the kids would be fine to wait until lunch and then after school at home snacks. I don’t like not knowing what my boys are eating everyday : (
Any tips or suggestions?
Hi Kari–I would suggest talking to the teacher first. Find out what he/she has to say about the kids’ needs for a snack. I talked with my son’s kindergarten teacher, who said she didn’t think the children needed anything to eat. If the teacher doesn’t think the kids need a snack, it will be easier to approach the parents about it. Or better yet, perhaps the suggestion could come from the teacher himself/herself. I think parents are so used to having a toddler/preschooler who snacks frequently, they don’t think their kindergartener can go more than an hour or two without something. At our school, another dietitian developed a healthy snacks list for parents. And suggesting fruit is always good because it eliminates the allergy risk for most children, which is a big issue these days. Good luck and please let me know how it goes!
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