The purpose of this study was to explore parents' common experiences with healthy eating and physical activity-focused (HE-PA) programming in one Head Start (HS) program (two centers) in eastern North Carolina (NC). Researchers conducted 13 in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews November 2017-May 2018. Participants were parents of preschool children (4-5 years) enrolled in HS. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Phenomenology was used to guide study design and analysis to identify themes. Researchers identified seven emergent themes within three categories: (1) strategies to facilitate engagement; (2) motivators for engagement; and (3) barriers to engagement. HS facilitated engagement through HE-PA focused programming. Parents reported they were motivated by self-interest and their children, but engagement was challenged by poor communication and socioeconomic barriers. HS programs may benefit from new strategies that help parents overcome barriers to making HE-PA a priority amongst competing priorities. Research is also needed to explore new methods of communication that align with parent-reported motivations.