Public recreation facilities are the heart of a community. They offer supportive environments for families to socialize, be active and participate in cultural activities. Research from across Canada, indicates that the food and beverages commonly offered in these environments do not always support good health. Research also indicates a high presence of unhealthy food and beverage marketing that can also negatively impact health. The products served or sold, how they are priced, placed and marketed, make up the food environment. There is a movement across the country to recognize the importance of healthy food environments in public recreation facilities.

The Eat Healthy, Play Healthy initiative is conducting research and producing resources to help the recreation sector build capacity to take action. By partnering with Saskatchewan recreation and health leaders, the Eat Healthy, Play Healthy initiative aims to support healthy food environments in public recreation facilities so healthy choices are the easy choice.

Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting

Healthy Foods for My Recreation Setting is a series of tools to support recreation settings in providing nutritious foods and drinks.
  • Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting – Nutrition Standards - Click Here
    • The Nutrition Standards help you determine the nutritional quality of foods and drinks. 
  • Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting – Getting Started - Click Here
    • The Getting Started document provides ideas for small changes that can have a big impact on the nutrition you provide to your recreation customers. 
  • Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting – Step by Step Guide - Click Here
    • The Step-by-Step Guide provides ideas and tools to offer tasty and nutritious foods and drinks and meet changing consumer preferences.

Eat Healthy, Play Healthy Video Series

This three part video series introduces you to nutrition resources that support recreation facilities in Saskatchewan. 
  • Nutrition Standards for SK and Getting Started Guide Video - Watch  (52 min.)
    • This video introduces you to two Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting documents; Nutrition Standards and Getting Started.   The Nutrition Standards helps you determine the nutritional quality of foods and drinks.  The Getting Started document provides ideas for small changes that can have a big impact on the nutrition you provide to your recreation customers.  
  • A Step-By-Step Guide Video - Watch  (49 min.)
    • This video introduces you to the Healthy Foods for my Recreation Setting: Step-By-Step Guide. This guide provides ideas and tools to offer tasty and nutritious foods and drinks and meet changing consumer preferences.
  • Food Marketing in Recreation Setting Video - Watch  (1:19 min.)
    • This video speaks about the prevalence and impact of food marketing in recreation settings.  

Eat Healthy, Play Healthy Posters

Recreation settings play a vital role in keeping the people of Saskatchewan active, healthy and connected. The Eat Healthy, Play Healthy Posters support this message by providing facility users and fans with valuable nutrition tips for success. These posters can be printed, or you can order hard copies by emailing: publichealthnutrition@saskhealthauthority.ca
  • Hydrate for the Win - Click Here
  • Nutrition on the Go - Click Here
  • Rethink Your Sports Drink - Click Here
  • Snack for Success - Click Here

My Menu - Vending Machines and Concessions -Snack Food and Drink List

My Menu - Snack Food and Drink List is a practical resource that helps simplify choosing healthier foods and drinks to offer in your concession and vending machines. The list contains commonly offered snack foods and drinks and tips on what to look for in a product (i.e. fibre, sugar, fat, etc.) - Click Here

Research Findings - Infographics

The facilitators, barriers, and opportunities for healthy eating and purchasing of foods and beverages in public recreation facilities were investigated and supported by multiple funders and partners, including the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the VNELab. The following two infographics summarize the key findings from the perspectives of recreation leaders and food providers, as well as patrons of the facilities.

EHPH Infographic_Leaders

EHPH Infographic_Patrons

Research Findings – Community Report & Academic Manuscript

“A need for multi-sector and multi-pronged solutions to address the many barriers inhibiting change from unhealthy food environments in publicly funded recreation facilities: a mixed-method study” reviews research which characterizes the food environments of Saskatchewan public recreation facilities. The results of this research serve as a call for collective action to address the high prevalence of unhealthy foods in recreation facilities and the barriers to healthy eating.

To read the community report – Click Here

To read the academic manuscript - Click Here