The 4 Food Trends Prospective Families are Asking About at Camp

As people become more aware of what they are eating and plant-based meat alternatives are taking over fast food restaurants, parents’ ideas about feeding kids is changing too. Parents are taking notice as schools move towards healthier menus, local ingredients, more fresh produce and higher quality foods. Their expectations and desires for what foods their kids’ eat are changing. These same parents are no longer content with just knowing that their kids are eating “something” at camp. Here are some of the things parents are asking about when selecting a camp:

General healthier food. Whether that means more fresh fruits and vegetables, less “junky” snacks, more organic foods or better types of ice cream, parents want better quality food. As one parent put it “I don’t want my child eating food that just fell off of a distributor’s truck”.

Ability to feed kids with food allergies and gluten intolerance. While this was originally difficult for many families to find, more and more camps are recognizing the growing need for accommodating these campers. Some camps are well-versed in serving kids with allergies and parents are taking notice of their diverse menus and understanding of the management involved.

Foods without artificial colors and flavors. What started as a move initially by parents of kids with ADHD has reached much further. People are realizing that these foods aren’t good for kids and food companies are responding. As parents buy less of these foods at home, they expect to see the same at camp.

Less “kids” foods. While most parents know chicken fingers and pizza are always a win and want their kids to be offered those foods, kids are eating out at more types of restaurants than ever. And, many parents want camp to be a place where kids are exposed to more sophisticated foods and flavors along with staples like pasta and hamburgers.

Jodi Greebel, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian and nutrition consultant for camps. Amongst other things, Jodi helps camps improve healthfulness of their menus, save money on food, cater to campers with food allergies and create specialized menus for different diets.

Posted on Tue, February 4, 2020 by Jess Michaels