To investigate adolescents’ experiences with the food selection at the sport arena.

Four focus group interviews were conducted with 4–6 participants each. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were coded in NVivo and the analysis was guided by thematic analysis.

Adolescents from handball and football clubs in Oslo and Viken, Norway, participated in the study.

A total of nine boys (11–14 years old) and ten girls (11–14 years old) participated in the study.

We identified four main themes: interest for healthy food; experiences with the food selection at the sports arena; factors influencing participants’ food choices at the sports arena and expectations related to a healthy food selection at the sports arena. Adolescents across the focus groups experienced the food selection at the sports arena as unhealthy. Price, marketing and availability of unhealthy food were important factors that influenced their food choices at the sports arena. The trainer appeared to motivate the participants to eat healthy.

Participants wished for a healthier food selection at the sports arena. Cost of food emerged as a factor that influenced their food choices. Our study also indicates that marketing of unhealthy food and beverages should be restricted, to influence adolescence food choice towards healthier alternatives.

To investigate club managers’ and parents’ experiences with food selection at handball halls in order to identify facilitators and barriers to the availability of healthy food.

Individual interviews with club managers (n 6) and focus groups (n 5) with parents (n 21) were conducted. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, transcripts were coded in NVivo and the analysis was guided by thematic analysis.

Interviews were conducted at five handball clubs with varying socio-economic user populations and sizes in the area of Oslo, Norway.

The club managers were responsible for food selection at the handball clubs. The participating parents had one or two active children between the ages of 6 and 12 years who took part in the clubs.

The club managers and parents generally described food selection at the handball halls as unhealthy and wanted a healthier selection of food. The club managers’ primary barriers to providing a healthier food selection included the potential to lose profits, limited facilities and time to prepare these foods. The parents often valued unhealthy food, as they believed that it supported the social environment and served as a reward for the children. Trainers were perceived as important role models for the promotion of healthy eating. The participants thought that national guidelines could facilitate healthy food environments in sports arenas.

Healthier food options in sports settings could be facilitated through national guidelines that describe healthy foods and establish who is responsible for providing healthy food selections.