Survey Results Indicate Common Threads Summer Camps Positively Affect Students

CHICAGO, Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- National non-profit organization Common Threads' evaluation findings show that their summer camps programs have positive effects on participating students in the areas of nutrition, cooking, dietary intake behavior, screen time and physical activity.

Rising third-fifth graders, who participate in the free or reduced school lunch, in Chicago, Miami and Washington, DC attended these three week camps for free.  Sponsored by Barilla, campers cooked their way around the globe, competed in healthy cooking competitions, conducted science experiments using basic kitchen items, flowed through sun salutations, and took field trips to local restaurants savoring three course meals prepared by celebrated chefs while learning basic etiquette. 

"More than one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, putting them at risk of both long-term health consequences and immediate health risks, including pre-diabetes; low self-esteem; bone and joint problems; sleep apnea; and social problems.  Our programs get kids cooking for life and gives them the skills and knowledge to take control of their health and their future," explains Founding CEO Linda Novick O'Keefe.

Common Threads engaged Dr. Alexandra Evans, PhD, MPH and her team at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health to evaluate the Common Threads Summer Camp in all three cities. The evaluation of the Common Threads Summer Camp program revealed statistically significant improvements in numerous short-term outcome measures. In the area of nutrition, child participants demonstrated significant increases in: nutrition knowledge, willingness to try new foods, preferences for eating fruits and vegetables and willingness to try out foods from other cultures. Students also reported engaging in less screen time and more physical activity, and ate more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy foods, including sugary beverages.

"These results are very promising. The fact that increases in healthy eating behaviors were observed after only three weeks of the intervention indicate the power of interventions that combine cooking, some gardening, and nutrition education. I would love to see this summer program in many more cities around the country," said Dr. Evans.

Studies have shown that low-income children gain more weight in summer months than during the entire school year.  This three-week program helps campers build healthy eating habits and learn about portion sizes. Common Threads also integrated substantial math and reading components so that students could practice essential skills to combat summer knowledge loss.  "Common Threads is a proven programmatic solution to fight childhood obesity and create lasting change for the children that participate," says Chef Michelle Bernstein who has championed growth for the Miami program.

Barilla was proud to sponsor and be a part of the camps. Jean-Pierre Comte, Barilla Group President, Region Americas explains, "As a global company, Barilla hopes to inspire, empower, and support families to share meaningful meals together at the table.  Common Threads programs have direct impact on increasing family meals and the quality of the time shared in the kitchen together and at the table.  Kids are our future and they have a voice in the family.  This program equips them with the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices in and out of the kitchen."

For more information on Common Threads, please contact [email protected] or visit the website: www.commonthreads.org

About Common Threads
Founded in 2003 by Chef Art Smith and his partner Jesus Salgueiro, Common Threads is an organization dedicated to getting America's kids Cooking for Life. 

Common Threads produces culturally-relevant cooking and nutrition curriculum for kids in underserved schools and communities that results in life-long healthy eating habits.

Common Threads Press Contact
Alison Strelitz
[email protected]
512.633.4996

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SOURCE Common Threads

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