Healthy eating in summer day camps: the Healthy Lunchbox Challenge

To describe the development and evaluation of Healthy Lunchbox Challenge, a nutrition program targeting staff, parents, and children in summer day camps (SDCs).

A single-group, pre/post-assessment design was used during summer, 2011(baseline) and 2012 (intervention). Four community-based SDCs in South Carolina participated. Intervention components were applied over the 11-week SDC program (2012) and consisted of (1) parent/staff education on Building a Better Lunchbox, and (2) a child/staff incentive program. Child and staff foods and beverages were assessed via direct observation (1,977 children and 241 staff). Percentages of foods and beverages brought by children and staff during the intervention were compared with baseline measures using mixed-effects regression models.

The percentage of children bringing fruits, vegetables, and water increased from 31% to 42% (P = .01), 5% to 16% (P = .01), and 47% to 60% (P = .01) from baseline to post-assessment. Staff fruits and vegetables increased from 30% to 47% (P = .03) and 9% to 22% (P = .03). A slight decrease was observed for staff water (64% to 58%); however, this was not statistically significant. Decreases in low-nutrient-dense foods and beverages were also observed.

The Healthy Lunchbox Challenge represents a low-cost, innovative way to influence the nutritional content of child and staff foods and beverages in SDCs.