Give junk food the boot. Choose veggies & fruit! Pledge to bring back healthy sideline snacks!

Dear Coach,

You are invited to participate in an opportunity to give junk food the boot in support of boosting veggies and fruit!

After the success of our 2016 Bring Back Healthy Sideline Snacks Challenge, we are pleased to present another opportunity for teams in the County of Middlesex to support healthy kids!

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?• Shows parents and the local community that you value the health of your team members!• Be eligible for prizes including a Grand Prize of $500 in funding to support an end of season team party or team equipment!

INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE IS: • How to pledge to bring back healthy sideline snacks• Benefits for giving the boot to junk food• Highlights of our 2016 challenge

Please join us in supporting healthy sideline snacks! We are looking forward to having a fun and healthy season. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

NADINE DEVINProject Manager, County of Middlesex Healthy Kids Community Challenge

County of Middlesex, 34 B Frank Street, Strathroy, ON N7G 2R4 T 519.245.8237 ext. 4023 | F 519. 245.8238 | ndevin@middlesex.ca | hkcc.middlesex.ca

Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/hkccmiddlesexcounty/

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddlesexHKCC

Give junk food the boot. Choose veggies & fruit! Pledge to bring back healthy sideline snacks!

HERE IS HOW TO PLEDGE!

1. Go to hkcc.middlesex.ca. Click on the Minor Sports tab then Team Pledge. Deadline for team pledges is

May 1, 2017. The pledge will take you less than 5 minutes to complete.

2. You will be asked to Share your Pledge on Facebook. If you do not have an account you will have the option to indicate this. Sharing your pledge will help raise awareness in the community of the importance of the project as well as provide you with the recognition you deserve for being a leader of change.

3. You will automatically be entered into our draw to win one of our prize packs as well as be entered into the Grand Prize of $500 in funding to support an end of season team party or team equipment!

PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:

• 5-gallon water jug

• Water bottles for each member of your team

WHAT IS NEXT?

We will then send to you Choose to Boost Veggies & Fruit Snack Cards, copies of a parent letter and a Team Snack Schedule for your use.

AT THE FIRST PRACTICE OR GAME:

1. Give the parent letter and a Choose to Boost Veggies & Fruit Snack Card to every parent.

2. Circulate the Team Schedule and ask parents if they would like to sign up to bring a fruit or vegetable. You could choose to sign up for the first week to help model the team expectation.

Throughout the season, do your best to stick to your commitment and enjoy a healthy and enjoyable season!

Give junk food the boot. Choose veggies & fruit! Pledge to bring back healthy sideline snacks!

Give junk food the boot. Choose veggies & fruit!

Pledge to bring back healthy sideline snacks!

FOR COACHES AND SPORT ADMINISTRATORS

• Shows parents and the local community that the team/league values the health of its team members.

• Shows your interest and support for healthy eating.

• Highlights the importance of how healthy food choices supports sport performance.

• Presents clear expectations of what can be provided to the team at sporting events or practices.

FOR PARENTS

• Makes sure healthy food choices will be offered to the team on a regular basis.

• Helps parents learn about healthy eating through the team/league and their own children.

• Supports families and individuals to make healthy food choices.

• Makes it easier to know what to bring for the team & makes the healthy food choice the easier choice!

FOR CHILDREN

• Increases availability of healthy food which is important for sport performance.

• Allows children to have positive role models for healthy eating. They look up to their coaches!

• Children get the same message about healthy eating that they get in school.

• Makes the healthy food choice the easier choice!

Above benefits have been adapted from the following: Benefits of a Healthy Food Choices PolicyLambton Public Health, lambtonhealth.on.

...children who play sports are more likely to eat sugary foods & drinks then children who do not play sports?

One of the factors is that team sideline snacks have become overrun with sugary and salty treats like cookies, granola bars, chips, cupcakes, Freezies, juice boxes and other sugary drinks.

Gone are the days of providing orange & watermelon slices as team snack.

As well, many children in minor sports choose to drink sports drinks despite rarely this being necessary.

Vegetables, fresh fruit and water give our kids the strength they need to run, jump and play! Well-nourished kids play better and longer, stay more alert and recover more quickly.

Did You Know...Did You Know...Benefits Include…Benefits Include…

ILDERTON MINOR SOCCERBlair Deakin, U9 Girls Laurie Lucas, U8 BoysAmy Szabo, U8 Girls

LUCAN SOCCER ASSOCIATIONCarolyn Martin Hasket, U5 Julie and Eric Hundey, U5Julie and Eric Hundey, U7

STRATHROY UNITED FCCarol Balzer, U5

Katie Eastman, U6 Katie Eastman and Jim Lee, U4

Sandy Glanville and Mark Campbell, U4 Lloyd Mailloux, U4

Alexis, Alicia and Megan Thompson, U6Kate Topping, U5

Ilderton Minor SoccerAmy Szabo, U8 Girls

West Middlesex Youth Soccer LeagueJulie and Eric Hundey, U9 Boys

Lucan Soccer AssociationCarolyn Martin Hasket, U5

Strathroy United FCLloyd Mailloux, U4

WEST MIDDLESEX YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE

Julie and Eric Hundey, U9 BoysRyan Ralph, U9 GirlsRyan Ralph, U9 Boys

to the following teams for participating in the 2016

“Bring Back Healthy Sideline Snack” Challenge!

Thank YouThank You

You can find a video showcasing pictures taken by teams involved in the project at: https://youtu.be/OszmPIYONyg

As well, check out our Minor Sport Lead the Change video at: https://youtu.be/4cag4jQC_rk

87%HealthySideline SnacksSideline SnacksHealthyBring

BackBring Back

Minor Sport Project

During the spring/summer of 2016, 16 soccer teams participated in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge “Bring Back Healthy Sideline Snacks” Minor

Sport Challenge! The children involved ranged in age from 4 to 10 years and included both boys and girls. The following associations were represented:

Strathroy United FC, West Middlesex Youth Soccer League, Lucan Soccer Association & Ilderton Minor Soccer.

The goal of this challenge was to encourage parents and coaches to lead the change and “bring back healthy sideline snacks”. Participating teams

were challenged to provide only water and fruits or vegetables for team snacks throughout the season. This challenge was based on evidence that children

who play sports are more likely to eat sugary foods & drinks then children who do not play sports. One of the factors is that team sideline snacks have become

overrun with sugary and salty treats.

These are some highlights of the feedback from participating teams!

Top Reasons Teams Chose to Participate1. Want to have their team enjoying healthier sideline snacks instead of sugary treats.2. Already wanted to initiate the idea but were thankful for the extra support.3. The challenge provided an incentive to get children and parents on board with providing healthy sideline snacks.

“We need to lead by example” - Coach

Of the participants thought that the

challenge was a great idea when they first

heard of it.

“Fantastic Program” - Coach

For those who had doubts, they were

pleasantly surprised by the end of the season!

“The kids never complained once!” - Parent

Children reported their favourite snack was

Watermelon

87%

Reported a healthy sideline snack was

provided every week or most weeks, with over

50% reporting every week!

95%95% Over 95%95%reported children were

satisfied with the snacks with over 70% reporting

very satisfied!

“We had a very supportive team and everyone followed through

with the healthy snacks...it actually was easier because in the past I found snack was becoming a competition with "who would

bring the best snack" and the snack became bigger and less nutritious.”

- Parent

“It was a great program and I already know I will be contacting our soccer

association and encouraging them to enforce a healthy

snack for every team!” - Parent

“I wasn't sure the parents or the kids would go for it, but I thought it was a good idea to try. They ALL

went for it though!” – Coach

Most respondents reported minimal difficulty in

participating!

reported no difficulty at all.

of the participants stated they would be very

willing to recommend this project to other

teams!

reported a willingness to continue in future seasons

with over 80% reporting being “very willing”.

HealthySideline SnacksSideline SnacksHealthyBring

BackBring Back

REPORTED BARRIERS:

1. None!2. Time to prepare snacks

3. Thinking of new ideas for snacks

2. Cost of fruit and vegetables

67%67%

87%87%

98%98%

In fact,

Healthy kidsHealthy kidsstart with healthy

environments!

Thank you for giving junk food the boot & pledging to bring back healthy sideline snacks!