The Effectiveness of a Healthy Snack and Beverage Handout and Interactive Education on the Youth Sport Snacking Environment

Abstract

Childhood obesity remains a pertinent problem in the United States, with dietary intake being one modifiable risk factor (Center of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022a). Thus, developing healthy dietary habits in children and adolescents is important in reducing the risk of obesity. An opportunity for this occurs in youth sport snacking behaviors. Research has indicated that snacks provided after youth sport games are often energy dense and high in sugar, sodium, and fat (Bennion et al., 2020; Irby et al., 2014; Rafferty et al., 2018). The purpose of the present study was to first observe the influences on snack choice in youth sport. Secondly, the effects of a multifactorial educational intervention guided by the social cognitive theory (SCT) on snack choice was examined. The intervention consisted of a handout, a Healthy Snack and Beverage page in the parks and recreation district guidebook, an educational booth during the first game, and an education session during the coaches’ meeting. Participants included 121 parents who had children participating in the youth soccer or volleyball league administered by a local parks and recreation district. A questionnaire was developed to determine parental perception of what is a healthy snack, after game snacking practices and influences on snack choice. The questionnaire was administered online to participants during league registration and during the last week of the season. Paired sample t-tests were performed to examine the differences in snacks purchased from pre- to post-intervention. Further, a multiple analysis was used to predict snack choice based on six identified influencing factors. There were 121 parents and coaches who responded to the pre-intervention questionnaire and 32 of those participants responded to the post-intervention questionnaire. There was a significant decrease in unhealthy snacks brought by parents (p=<0.05). The “health of the snack” (p<0.01) and “social media/advertising” (p=0.02) were independent predictors of snack choice (p<0.05). In conclusion, addressing the unhealthy snacking environment in youth sport through targeted educational interventions, could promote a healthier snacking environment.