On Halloween, I thought this would be a good topic to discuss. Candy. Sweets. Sugar. Junk food. Kids love it but is it really a smart idea to sell these items at youth sports concession stands? Sure, it sells. And it sells for a good margin. But is it really the best we can do for our kids who need energy and a healthy body to play youth sports? Look at most football concession stands, or hockey, or lacrosse, and baseball concessions, and you will be hard pressed to find any food that one would consider healthy. Nachos, hot dogs, pizza, burgers, French fries, donuts, muffins, bagels, pop-tarts, cookies, candy, salted popcorn, soda, Gatorade. Is this supposed to give our kids the long lasting nutrition and strength to go out there and physically, mentally and emotionally play their best on the field? Fortunately some concession stands are run by volunteer parents who are trying to change the image of youth sports concession stands. Popping up recently, I have seen bananas, protein bars, granola bars, apples, oranges, eggs, veggie sticks with peanut butter, oat bars, apple chips, pretzels, all natural fruit gummies, water, chili (the healthiest of the hearty foods, good for many endurance sports like rowing). I wish we could swap out all of the unhealthy food at concession stands and replace it with healthy food. It’s not so easy. It will take a lot of grass roots efforts to get it done.
Last year I started a second company for my children to run called Healthé Concessions (aka Heal The Concessions). We picked out and tested our favorite foods for youth sports concession stands with kids at local sporting events, and we selected the best received ones. Our products can be found here - http://www.healtheconcessions.com/food-products.html. We continue to brainstorm how best to get them into the market or at least to make people aware of organic packaged foods made in the USA that can be bought nationally that give kids a solid base of energy while playing sports. We always recommend fresh fruit and veggies too, whenever possible, but many of these are not feasible for concession stands because the food at concession stands needs to be stored and doesn’t always involve shopping for it that day. The best part about starting a company with the kids is that they actually ask for the healthy food now – awareness – and they pass up on the unhealthy ones (or at least pause before asking if they can buy the junk food). I remember the fun of the concession stands, especially up in Canada during the speedskating meets – Canadian foods were so interesting and different than what we saw in the US – so I know the draw that the junk food can have. But I also remember loving fresh oranges and bananas right before a race and a granola or protein bar just afterwards. Test your kids out with healthy foods next time you are at youth sports, and see if they eat them. Give them healthy foods over and over, and I can almost guarantee that, even though their minds might be tricked into thinking they like the junk food better, their tummies will request the healthy food 9 times out of 10!
Visit us at www.besporthappy.com for more info on the 35 sports available for kids in Saratoga ages 3-13. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy. Also find us at www.healtheconcessions.com and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/healtheconcessions.
Last year I started a second company for my children to run called Healthé Concessions (aka Heal The Concessions). We picked out and tested our favorite foods for youth sports concession stands with kids at local sporting events, and we selected the best received ones. Our products can be found here - http://www.healtheconcessions.com/food-products.html. We continue to brainstorm how best to get them into the market or at least to make people aware of organic packaged foods made in the USA that can be bought nationally that give kids a solid base of energy while playing sports. We always recommend fresh fruit and veggies too, whenever possible, but many of these are not feasible for concession stands because the food at concession stands needs to be stored and doesn’t always involve shopping for it that day. The best part about starting a company with the kids is that they actually ask for the healthy food now – awareness – and they pass up on the unhealthy ones (or at least pause before asking if they can buy the junk food). I remember the fun of the concession stands, especially up in Canada during the speedskating meets – Canadian foods were so interesting and different than what we saw in the US – so I know the draw that the junk food can have. But I also remember loving fresh oranges and bananas right before a race and a granola or protein bar just afterwards. Test your kids out with healthy foods next time you are at youth sports, and see if they eat them. Give them healthy foods over and over, and I can almost guarantee that, even though their minds might be tricked into thinking they like the junk food better, their tummies will request the healthy food 9 times out of 10!
Visit us at www.besporthappy.com for more info on the 35 sports available for kids in Saratoga ages 3-13. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy. Also find us at www.healtheconcessions.com and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/healtheconcessions.
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