Fuel For Your Youth Athletes

As our children begin a new semester of school,the cycle repeats again and we buy new clothes (for me uniforms YEAH!!) and begin the ritual of back to school.Many of out children will continue in a sport in the fall,but many will only causally compete until spring time.Either way fuel for working out and fuel for concentration while at  school is very,very important.

Children need proper nutrition to sustain their energy level and attentiveness throughout the day.It is up to us to make sure they leave the house in the morning with the fuel advantage every morning.

Our bodies are in a state of fasting over night.The need for water and food is very important to the way our children will grasp new concepts and process a variety of things in the classroom. Their behavior will also be effected when the proper fuel isn’t “on board” as my sister says. The habit of proper nutrition is just that, a habit .

 A habit that we as parents must cultivate and practice so our children can develop the habit in their own lives as they grow into young adults. With out proper nutrition their minds are mush. They need a well balanced breakfast that provides the mental focus needed to to start the day off right. Generally the school breakfast and lunches are very much devoid of proper nutrients for a healthy balanced meal. Just like what we do for our athletes at the track we must do for school.Plan a head and insist they(the children)follow our directions for eating at school.No junk food from the window,eat your own lunch,if it’s not finished when you get out the remaining is your snack. Of course they are not perfect and they will break these rules, but if you continue to enforce them you will see success.   

Many children will participate in after school sports.it is very important to prepare a snack and plenty of water for them to eat before practice.most children don’t eat before practice, but if you get your athlete into good habits now it will pay big down the road. The point is ,most of you already know this BUT many of you aren’t doing it for a host of reasons.Start with this new school season and plan ahead so you child can have the nutrition advantage while at school and play.

Until Next Time

Related posts:

1. Rocket Fuel Smoothies For Your Youth Athlete
2. Balancing Your Youth Athletes Diet
3. Does Your Athletes Nutrition Suck ?…
4. Training of Elite Youth Athletes….. What Age Would You Start?
5. Setting A Better Example For Your Youth Athlete