Posted in Healthy Eating

Grassroots Nutrition

 Published Date: August 1, 2021

Nutrition in children is something that is too commonly forgotten about when it comes to sport and exercise. With obesity rates more than doubling in children in the last two decades it is now more important than ever that we take more of an interest our kids diet. Not only is a good healthy and balanced diet a major contributing factor in how your child performs during exercise but it is also important for general good all round health.

Healthy Eating

All kids need to eat a variety of healthy foods, and athletes are no different. Everybody needs foods that include:

  • protein (found in meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, nuts, and dairy foods)
  • carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the best sources)
  • vitamins (as found in fruits and vegetables, for instance) and minerals like calcium (found in dairy products)

Kids need some fat, too, but that’s not usually difficult to get. It’s found in meats, cheeses, nuts, oils, and butter, just to name a few.

Eating for Sports.

So what makes athletes different when it comes to eating? The main thing is that athletes might need more food. Why? They burn more calories by practicing and playing so much.

School-age kids (ages 6 to 12) generally need between 1,600 and 2,200 calories a day. An athlete who is more active than a typical active kid might need to eat more. Calorie needs go up during puberty, so that can make a difference, too.

But each kid is different. It’s important to consider how much time they are actually spend being active and training. Attending a football practice can be an intense or light workout, depending on a variety of factors. Do they practice 2 hours a week or 12? It will make a difference.

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