Juice bars aren’t just for big people; they’re for kids too.
I don’t know if you noticed, but the demographics of the people visiting health clubs is changing. The rising trend toward family-oriented health clubs is probably this decade’s greatest opportunity. Programs are being created to cater to all aspects of the family from racquet sports and basketball, to soccer camps and babysitting. The bottom line is this: Adults aren’t the only ones frequenting health clubs anymore. It’s wonderful that fitness centers are creating programs and a positive atmosphere for the younger crowd, but is anyone concerned about providing them with proper nutrition?
Today, parents and kids are educated and they are becoming increasingly more aware of what they are putting in their bodies. The ironic thing is that while they are now beginning to study food labels, they still have no idea how much to eat or, more importantly, when to eat. People need to understand proper diet if they are ever going to realize their fitness goals. This is where health clubs enter the picture. Think about it, the purpose of your institution is to help people achieve total fitness. Everyone knows that total fitness is achieved by practicing good exercise and healthy eating habits. If you don’t teach people how to eat, who is going to? Teach a man to fish…you know the proverb. Teach them proper nutrition and they’ll eat at your juice bar forever.
Look at the Competition
Too often, when parents are finished working out, they scoop up their kids and dash them directly to the first fast food joint they can find, loading their kids up with nutrient-deficient, calorieladen, imitation-processed food products. Why? Because it’s easy. Kids know what buttons to push. Fried food tastes yummy. They don’t know any better, but you should. I say, don’t give in. Help your members take charge.
Smell the opportunity
Those of you who have juice bars – use them wisely. Use them to provide healthy food options and to educate members on why they need nutrient-dense calories at the right times, especially immediately following their workouts. This goes for kids too. We are involved with a multitude of health clubs and, when asked about kid’s nutrition, most of them confessed that they had never considered the issue before. Kids are too often overlooked, as if their vote does not matter. The fact is, despite our best efforts to get kids outdoors and exercising, America’s children are gaining weight. Kids need nutrition as much as we do, in fact, I could argue that they need it more. All children have certain nutritional needs that are required by their growing bodies. Relative to adults, they have a higher rate of cellular and physiological responses.
Why not create a menu that kids will like so that when they are finished exercising, or even when they are picked up from daycare, parents can easily grab a nutritious meal? There are many healthy prepackaged meals that clubs can easily sell right at the counter for a low cost. What kid doesn’t love a kid’s meal? Sure, they will eat a cheeseburger and fries but they will also eat a natural peanut butter and jelly sandwich with organic applesauce. Think about what you will be doing for them in the long run. Healthy eating habits start young. Kids’ bodies are resilient now and can handle poor nutrition, but you are setting them up for disaster as their bad habits turn into poor health when they hit their late teens, early twenties and adulthood. Don’t forget, you can create a nutrientdense, delicious fruit shake that kids will love too.
Providing nutrition for kids isn’t difficult. All you need to do is inform parents that you have healthy options for their kids. Let them know why your meals are different and make them easy to access. Don’t forget to sample to the little ones. Once they taste something that’s nutritious and delicious, they will remind their mommies and daddies that you have it. Kids can be very persuasive.
Don’t have a juice bar?
What are you waiting for? This the hottest time in your club; your joint is jumping. Your membership is up, and there are hungry new faces all the time – hungry after a hard workout; hungry for nutritional information, and hungry for real food.
Juice bars are already becoming recognized as a place where folks need to recover immediately following a workout. Juice bars, when managed properly, will provide healthy food choices and education to members. This can, and will, become an essential asset to both you and your members…and, to society in general. Make a difference! CS
Dan Young is President of Performance Food Centers, Corp. He is accomplished in juice bar concept and design as well as being certified in personal training and sports nutrition. He can be contacted at 866.632.1927, or visitwww.performancefoodcenters.com.
