June 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 60

R E C R E AT I O N A L P R O G R A M S

NRPA Program Managers Kellie
May and Allison Colman, three focus groups addressing children,
Regarding policy
parents and park and recreation
recommendations for
staff were held in each city.
nutritious snacks, " we've
Through conversations with
these groups, the healthy imnoticed [children] cutting
pact of Commit to Health
out chips and cheeseballs
was illustrated, over and
and bringing fruits now
over again, in cases across the
instead. "
United States.

- Staff, Jackson, Tennessee

So, what did we learn in 2015? Below, we share the latest results of the
Commit to Health initiative, as well as
explain how this type of park and recreation programming makes such an
incredible difference in children's lives.
Healthy Eating, Healthy Behaviors
To understand the nuances of Commit to Health's impact on children
and their parents, focus groups were
held in 10 cities as part of a nationwide evaluation by Healthy Networks Design and Research. Led by

The Child's View
Children involved in Commit to
Health programming learned a lot
about food, changed their eating and
physical behaviors, and taught their
parents to be healthier. Nutrition
education - particularly fun activities like blindfolded food tastings -
proved especially impactful, as did
cooking lessons, classes about organs
of the body, reading and creating
new recipes and studying the USDA
MyPlate guidelines. Children tried
new foods and inculcated healthy
consumption habits, reporting that
they were eating new fruits and vegetables and whole grains - as well as
eating according to the MyPlate recommendations - because of lessons
learned at camp. They also learned
that eating too much sugar is unhealthy and began drinking fewer
sugar-sweetened beverages than
before camp.
Many children said they

" We took
away the
options to buy
sodas or Gatorade
and we don't allow it
on site. "
- Staff, Jackson,
Tennessee

58 Parks & Recreation

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asked their parents for certain
fruits and vegetables they first
tried at camp, and began asking
for larger portions of fruits and
vegetables, having realized they
were previously not eating enough.
Children requested healthier food
preparations and shared new recipes learned at camp, thus having
a positive impact on the health of
their entire family.
Becoming advocates for their own
health, participating children told
their parents everyone - adults and
children - needs to eat and drink
less sugar, drink more water, consume
fewer fast foods and cut down on the
candy. They also told their parents
that they need 60 minutes of exercise
daily, which reportedly took many
parents by surprise. Families then began taking more walks together, doing
calisthenics and playing in the park.
The Parent's View
Taking cues from the Commit to
Health lessons brought home by their
children, parents began buying more
nutritious foods, preparing them in
healthier ways and increasing their
own physical activity levels.
Parents took their children to the
grocery store to shop for nutritious
foods and found it easier to convince their children to eat healthier snacks and reduce their portion
sizes. Family meals included fewer
processed foods, more fresh fruits
and vegetables and were accompanied by tall glasses of water, rather
than sugary soda.
Physical activity also increased for
the entire family. Campers learned
they need a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise a day, and that they
should walk 10,000-14,000 steps per
day - goals that parents, caregivers
and children can strive to meet together through walks and playtime at
their local park.

June 2016 - Parks & Recreation

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