Healthy Eating
Camp may be covered in snow, but that does not stop us from working on new projects for the upcoming summer. This year, one of the projects we are excited to announce is the new kitchen and expanded dining room we are creating. The new kitchen equipment and facilities will allow us to provide campers with more healthy meals made from scratch, as well as more variety. We know how important good nutrition and exercise are for overall well being, and we are dedicated to providing the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that people who eat healthy and lead an active lifestyle are likely to maintain a healthy weight, have increased self-esteem and energy, have improved mood and strength, and have a reduced risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, “unhealthy eating habits have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the US: about one-third of US adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese”. These statistics should be enough to get us moving and thinking mindfully about the foods we eat. Summer camp is the perfect environment to provide young people with regular physical activity and good nutrition. A typical day at camp includes countless opportunities to be active, as campers engage in a variety of land and water sports, and outdoor adventure. Campers are regularly improving strength, building healthy bones and muscles, and feeling great. And when it’s time to refuel, meals at camp offer an assortment of healthy and well balanced options. Camp food has definitely evolved over the years, and our chefs are dedicated to providing the camp community with meals and snacks that include lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Homemade soups, a fresh salad bar, and plenty of well balanced hot meals give campers the proper energy and strength to take on physical challenges and feel great in the process. Our menu is also sensitive to special diets and we are fully prepared to accommodate campers and staff with food allergies. We now have a peanut free environment, as well as menu choices for those who are vegetarian, lactose intolerant or require gluten free meals. Our expanded dining room, now designed with more of a community feel, will be the perfect place to come together as a group to talk, laugh, sing, cheer, and most importantly, fill up on nutritious and great tasting foods. Camp also provides the opportunity to learn about cooking and creating healthy meals and snacks at “Kitchen Stadium”. Campers love creating in the kitchen and using recipes that incorporate fresh healthy ingredients, like smoothies made with fresh blueberries, guacamole with ripe avocados, and pancakes with whole grain flour. Some of the recipes use fresh herbs and vegetables that are grown in our very own camp garden. Even canteen had a healthy make-over last summer, as we started providing campers with a healthy treat, like granola bars, instead of choosing regular canteen treats every night. This balance is one of the positive changes we made to encourage good nutrition and help our camp community develop healthy eating habits. Our goal at Iroquois Springs is to create a healthy environment where campers can be active, strong and successful. We are so happy to be a part of building a strong foundation in the lives of our camp family, and we can’t wait for everyone to gather in our new dining room and enjoy all that our kitchen staff whips up. Keep active, keep healthy and keep having fun!