stephenwinbaum
Communications Coordinator
/ Moderator
Sep 14, 2005, 9:41 AM
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New Trends at the Old Mess Hall
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“Food, glorious food!"
There will be many challenges to the camping industry to attain higher dietary standards.
Camp owners and directors should now consider revamping their priorities if they want all nutritional changes in place for 2006.
Many groups, with different concerns, are changing the demands on the summer camp palate:
- Parents
- Campers
- Staff
- Pediatricians
The well-documented growth of nut allergies has phased-out the old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and raisin and peanut snack at many camps.
Vegetarian preferences among campers and staff also have forced camps to adjust. Teenage staff are seeking healthier meals to keep up with busy schedules while staying trim.
Smart camps are breaking down the traditional table service concept and instituting salad bars; the food is more weight conscious and diners can make choices.
The pressure is on.
Parents and doctors are warning about the increase of childhood obesity – not just in schools – but now at summer camps.
This growing concern has become a focus at summer camps; good diets for children is good business for camps where parents insist on high quality.
Camp owners and directors can start recreating their food services by consulting a camp pediatrician and talking to parents about positive changes to the camp menu.
Here are a few health recommendations from Kids and Healthy Lifestyles from the ACA. - Encourage eating breakfast
- Send out parent newsletters that talk about new activities, foods, etc
- Offer baked versus fried foods
- Encourage healthy lifestyles, not just the specific food angle
- Offer desserts at camp that include fruit and healthy options
- Provide healthy options at the snack bar or camp store (juice rather than soda, granola bars instead of chocolate bars, nuts and seeds instead of candy, popcorn instead of chips)
Find out more about The Food Allergy Initiative
Kids and Healthy Lifestyles reproduced by permisssion of American Camp Association.
Stephen Winbaum is the Communications Coordinator for MySummerCamps.com
(This post was edited by stephenwinbaum on Jan 17, 2009, 5:43 PM)
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