The Eat to Compete program has youth engaged, excited, and embracing healthy eating.
Young athletes competing in sports programs at the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department are devouring the exciting new Eat to Compete program created by the dedicated staff that promotes active lifestyles and healthy eating in a fun and innovative format. The Eat to Compete initiative has sprouted into something truly special. The efforts have earned the department the prestigious Excellence in Youth Sports Award, which is sponsored by BAND and Prime Hydration.
“It means a lot to us to receive this honor,” says Quintin Terry, Athletic Program Manager at the City of Raleigh. “It’s all about the community and being able to have a positive impact with something that is new and hasn’t been done in the City of Raleigh before. We are excited about where this can go and the impact we can have on the community on an even bigger scale moving forward.”
The Excellence Award is presented by the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) to organizations for a specific initiative, process, project, campaign, element, or component of a program that goes above and beyond. This invitation-only award recognizes the innovative ways organizations that have earned the Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider designation are making their programs stand out and truly become excellent.
Powerful Parts
The initiative consists of a 3-part approach, featuring:
- The youth sports healthy eating playbook,
- Instructional programs,
- Spaces for growing and grabbing healthy produce.
The playbook is packed with nutrition facts, pre-game and post-game snack options, and price comparisons between healthy and unhealthy snack options. “It has been really exciting for us to see the kids learning these life-long skills and wanting to eat healthy so they can perform at a high level,” Terry said.
- In the summer of 2025, 1,500 playbooks were handed out to youth sports participants and their families prior to the fall sports season kicking off. Plus, there’s a Spanish version to ensure that all participants have access to this valuable information.
- To fuel learning, free seasonal classes are provided where young athletes and their families can pick up the basics of growing fruits and vegetables and gain an understanding of how consuming these foods can fuel their young bodies for physical activity.
- The third component of Eat to Compete focuses on providing accessible urban spaces within the Raleigh community for youth sports participants to grow produce. Participants gain hands-on experience in planting and cultivating fruits and vegetables in community gardens and garden boxes that are located at local community centers.
Building on Benefits
In 2026, a Wash and Learn Pavilion will be unveiled, where young athletes and their families can gather, socialize, and learn the basics of healthy meal preparation. The initiative has not only been well-received but also provides tangible benefits that further expand the impact of youth sports participation throughout the community.
"The kids have been really excited and engaged,” Terry says. “At one of our T-ball games, one of the team captains was encouraging his teammates to get their watermelon slices, so we saw the impact. It starts with the kids and that peer-to-peer learning.”
- Quintin Terry