Residential summer camp intervention improves camp food environment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects on fruit and vegetable (FV) intake of a camp-based intervention to improve the food environment. METHODS: The intervention was evaluated in a variant of the recurrent institutional cycle design in a sample of 311 youth aged 7 to 13 years. FV intake and targeted environmental variables were assessed among youth who received the intervention relative to those who attended the camp before the program was implemented. RESULTS: Improvements occurred in the frequency and variety of FVs served, counselor informational and instrumental support for FV consumption, and in older youth who received nutrition education lessons, perceived peer attitudes towards eating FVs and FV intake. CONCLUSIONS: Improving the camp food environment can improve FV intake among youth in this setting.