Research shows that unhealthy food advertising in sporting settings has a strong influence on children’s perception of those foods. It also influences the foods they ask for and buy. This undermines the healthy behaviours that sport tries to encourage.
While unhealthy food advertising has the biggest (and most concerning) impact on children, it also influences adults who participate in sport. A Healthy Sponsorship Policy will support and build on your work to make your sporting organisation become healthier. This may mean you need to find alternative sponsors to fast food chains or businesses that supply unhealthy food.
Some alternatives to unhealthy food sponsors may include:
- Local suppliers of fresh produce, eg. fruit market
- Sporting equipment suppliers
- Local gyms or leisure centres
- Other local non-food businesses (e.g. banks, accountants, real estate companies, pharmacies)
A Healthy Sponsorship Policy may also mean providing non-food rewards on game days and presentation nights. Alternatives to fast food vouchers for achievement awards and/or presentation nights may include:
- Sport collector cards, e.g. football cards
- Music vouchers, e.g. iTunes
- Gym/swimming pool passes
- Merchandise vouchers
- Sports equipment vouchers
- Movie tickets
- Hair cut/style voucher
- Donations to a chosen charity
The link below provides more details about unhealthy food sponsorship and its influence on children. The Healthy Sponsorship template can be adapted to suit the needs of your organisation.
Obesity Policy Coalition - Unhealthy Food sponsorship in children's sporting settings