Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity initiative (OSNAP)
The
OSNAP initiative works with out-of-school-time (OST) programs (such as before and afterschool programs, and summer camp) to improve practices and polices related to nutrition and physical activity. Specifically, OSNAP focuses on the following goals:
- Do not serve sugary drinks.
- Do not allow sugary drinks to be brought in during program time.
- Serve water every day.
- Offer a fruit and/or vegetable option at every meal and snack.
- Do not serve foods with trans fat.
- When serving grains (like bread, crackers, and cereals), serve whole grains.
- Eliminate broadcast and cable TV and movies.
- Limit computer and digital device time to homework or instructional.
- Provide all children with 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
- Offer 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity 3 days per week.
With community partners, OSNAP helps out-of-school programs identify and enact sustainable policy and practice strategies that promote increased physical activity and access to healthy snacks. OSNAP researchers have developed
tools to support these efforts.
The
OSNAP goals and model have been tested in a cluster-randomized controlled trial that assessed children's physical activity levels and snack and beverage intake through accelerometer wear, examination of plate waste, on-site observations, and policy analysis. The results demonstrate how OSNAP has helped afterschool and other out-of-school-time programs offer more healthy foods and beverages and more opportunities for children to be more active.
The OSNAP initiative was supported by the Prevention Research Center cooperative agreement number 5U48DP001946 from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food & Fun After School
Food & Fun After School (© President and Fellows of Harvard College and YMCA of the USA) is a curriculum designed to promote healthy habits in out-of-school programs.
Eleven teaching units help afterschool staff infuse healthy snacks and recipes, physically active games, and creative learning activities into regular program schedules.
Curriculum materials are available free of charge.
Funders: Food & Fun After School was developed under a gift from Paul and Mary Finnegan. The second edition was revised under a gift from the Donald and Sue Pritzker Nutrition and Fitness Initiative.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Prevention Research Center
The mission of the
Harvard Prevention Research Center on Nutrition & Physical Activity at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is to work with communities, community agencies, state and local government, and other partners to develop, implement, and evaluate methodologies and interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity and reduce overweight and chronic disease risk among children, youth, and their families, and to reduce and eliminate disparities in these outcomes.
