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Carol Affleck sees her grandchildren playing sports every weekend in centres in the Saskatoon area, but doesn’t see much healthy food along with them.
“Basically at hockey rinks you would see deep fried food: french fries, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, burgers, that sort of thing.”
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are among those looking to change that.
They want to bring healthier food to the places kids go for physical activity.
Hassan Vatanparast (left) showcases healthier recipes to canteen owners at the U of S. (Albert Couillard/CBC)
Hassan Vatanparast, a professor studying nutrition and public health, leads a research team looking at food and ways to add in healthier choices.
“Traditionally we know that when you go to a recreational facility, watching a game or doing activity after [there are] hot dogs or any unhealthy items. Now, how we can change that culture?”
He said part of this comes from changing cooking methods.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan want to bring healthier food to athletic centres across the province.
“Imagine a crispy chicken, that is very common item. In recreational facilities it’s everywhere. Now how we can move it to different way of cooking it so it’s healthy?” he said.
The team is partnering with the City of Moose Jaw to bring healthier options to the Kinsmen Sportsplex’s canteen whose owner is already planning healthier options in as little as two weeks.
One canteen in a Melfort hockey arena has already been selling — and selling out — healthier options.
Regina Bautista says fresh food sells a similar amount to traditional, less healthy options. (Supplied by Regina Bautista)
Regina Bautista, owner of RR & 3A’s Cafe, says warm dishes inspired by Asian cuisines fuel hockey players and the hockey parents cheering them on.
“When people like to have some hot foods or some homemade products or homemade food that’s when I started adding them in my menu,” said Bautista whose canteen is about 50 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert.
She still serves the classics but says the homemade options — like dumplings, salad rolls and cut fruit — sell a similar amount.
“They always compliment it … Sometimes we run out of the stocks because they’re very very popular,” she said.
Some trainers and coaches are also interested in the change.
Rob Morrison, a franchise owner of Little Kickers, coordinates soccer lessons for young kids across Saskatchewan and has three kids himself.
“It is really hard to find those healthy snacks or meals for your children especially after school … or those times when you’re running between multiple games and practices.”
He said many parents like himself pack their own food. He believes sports centres are meant to promote physical health, so there should be healthier food to support that goal.
“One of the reasons we put our kids in sports is it helps them to develop as human beings, not only as athletes but as people and to be able to grow and mature.”
