fit tackles football! The National Youth Sports Health and Safety Institute (NYSHSI) and Sanford fit have joined together to promote the importance of making healthy choices as well as proper body mechanics for young athletes. Follow along with our fitSports video series for coaches and parents which provide wellness tips and interactive drills for skill development and motivation!
It’s important for all kids to follow a healthy diet and eat a variety of foods. But should the requirements change for kids who play sports? After all, skill development, similar to that shown in our video series, can require a good amount of focus and motivation. According to the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute (NYSHI), “Despite higher energy requirements, recommended food sources for youth athletes do not deviate far from general recommendation for optimal health. Parents and coaches should guide youth to obtain adequate calories from fruits and vegetables, whole-grain carbohydrates, and lean animal and vegetable protein, such as beans and legumes. Beyond meeting energy needs, these healthy food choices can provide the vitamins and minerals that are essential for regulating energy, growth, and repair processes.”
Ensuring your young athlete is consuming a well-balanced meal can, at times, be challenging with a busy schedule. Games, practice, and carpool duty can have everyone feeling short on time.
Here are some tips for properly fueling players on the run!
- Plan meals ahead! This can be both convenient and beneficial, especially with the help of MyPlate to ensure you and your players are getting enough nutrients at mealtime. Encourage children to contribute by asking them what healthy foods they would like at mealtimes with the MyPlate Meal planner.
- Pack a power snack! Plan for the day and have healthy snacks easily accessible, especially if you will be in a time-crunch.
What snack should you pack? Here are some options!
- Apples with nut butter
- Celery and hummus
- String Cheese
- Vegetables and Fresh Fruit
In this edition of the Sanford fitSports video, we’ll see how food as fuel, proper mechanics, and body movements are influential when tackling in football. Think fit. Be fit!
For additional information concerning Power Academies please visit Sanford SPORTS.
