title: Compliance With the Healthy Eating Standards in YMCA After-School Programs.
abstract: In 2011, the YMCA of the US adopted Healthy Eating standards for all of their after-school programs (ASPs). The extent to which YMCA ASPs comply with the standards is unknown.
  
  
  
  Twenty ASPs from all YMCA ASPs across South Carolina (N = 102) were invited to participate. Direct observation of the food and beverages served and staff behaviors were collected on 4 nonconsecutive days per ASP.
  
  
  
  One ASP did not serve a snack. Of the remaining ASPs, a total of 26% served a fruit or vegetable and 32% served water every day; 26% served sugar-sweetened beverages, 47% served sugar-added foods, and only 11% served whole grains when grains were served. Staff members sat with the children (65%) or verbally promoted healthy eating (15%) on at least 1 observation day. Staff drank non-approved drinks (25%) or foods (45%) on at least 1 observation day. No ASPs served snacks family-style every day.
  
  
  
  Additional efforts are required to assist YMCA-operated ASPs in achieving these important nutrition standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Electronic address: beets@mailbox.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beets
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: R Glenn
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turner-McGrievy
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beighle
authors.affiliation: Department of Family & Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, College of Education, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Collin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Mahmud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000072001:Diet, Healthy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011634:Public Health; D012574:Schools; D062410:Snacks; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: YMCA; child; community; nutrition; policy