Kid athletes

I found this little article online. It caught my eye so I though I'd share it with you.

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Health Tip: Feeding a Child Athlete

(HealthDay News) -- It's especially important that young athletes get enough calories and nutrients to keep up their energy, and maintain a healthy body weight.

The Nemours Foundation recommends feeding your athletic child a diet rich in:
• Vitamins and minerals -- in foods such as spinach, carrots, squash and peppers.
• Proteins -- in foods such as fish, lean red meat and poultry, dairy products, nuts, soy products and peanut butter.
• Carbohydrates -- in foods such as pasta, brown rice, whole-grain bread and cereal.

Meals should include healthy, natural foods, and exclude processed foods. The athletic youngster may need to eat more frequently, and will need to drink plenty of fluids to stay well-hydrated and avoid heat illness.

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I've seen kids I coach just be physically drained of energy because they aren't eating right. Then I've seen those same kids become a totally new athlete once they start consuming the proper fuel. Often time parents think kid athletes can eat whatever they want because they "just burn it off." Well, yes and no. They will burn more calories, however the quality of the food is important for nutrition. Proper nutrition leads to a stronger body, which in turn will lead to improved athletic performance. So if your kids are resistant to the idea of eating better, come at them at the angle of it helping them perform better in their sport/s. For some kids anyway, that's all that matters in life.

Train smart,

RL