Abstract
Objective
To describe parental perceptions of team snacks, factors that motivate snack choice,
and perceptions of healthy snacking guidelines in youth sports.
Methods
Six in-depth group interviews were conducted among parents (n = 22) of children aged
4–12 years in 2 Los Angeles County Baseball Little Leagues. Interviews were audio-recorded,
transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Parents perceived fruit as the ideal snack; this ideal was balanced with competing
priorities, including children's preferences, cost, time, and social norms regarding
snacks as rewards and team bonding. Although parents were supportive of promoting
healthy snacks, they believed that snacking guidelines should not be mandated.
Conclusions and Implications
Developing messages that align with parents' motivations when choosing snacks could
promote healthier snacking in youth sports. Future studies are warranted to explore
drivers of snacking with a broader sample and to examine how to promote healthy snacks
effectively.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 25, 2018
Accepted:
April 18,
2018
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
