title: Examining the nutritional quality of food and beverage consumed at Melbourne aquatic and recreation centres.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine the nutritional quality of food and beverages consumed across a sample of community aquatic and recreation centres in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviewer-administered surveys of randomly selected patrons attending four aquatic and recreation centres were conducted to ascertain food and beverage items consumed over two data collection periods (May-June 2014, January-February 2015). We selected centres in and around metropolitan Melbourne with a sit-down cafeteria and children's swimming classes. We classified items by government nutrient profiling guidelines; 'green' (best choice), 'amber' (choose carefully) or 'red' (limit).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,326 surveys were conducted (response rate 63%). Thirty-five per cent of surveyed patrons consumed food or beverages while at the centre; 54% of patrons purchased from the café and 61% brought items to the centre. More than half the food consumed from the café was 'red', increasing to 92% for children. One in five children visiting the centre consumed a 'red' item bought from the centre café.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nutritional quality of food and beverages consumed at recreation centres was generally poor, with the on-site cafés providing the majority of discretionary items consumed. Implications for public health: Community aquatic and recreation centres provide an opportunity to promote healthy eating by increasing the provision of healthy options and limiting discretionary food and drink items.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria.|Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boelsen-Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria.|Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria.|Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: YMCA Victoria.
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurzeme
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria.|Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011998:Recreation; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: aquatic and recreation centre; child; nutrition; policy; sport