MomsTEAM has designated October as Sports Nutrition Month, and invited some old friends and some new ones in the nutrition field to share their wisdom by responding to a series of questions. We hope their answers will offer the always on-the-go sports parents we know you are some fresh ideas and choices for healthy, easy-to-make breakfasts, lunches, dinners and between-meal snacks and to help you stretch your food dollar.
Today we hear from sports nutritionist and MomsTEAM expert, Nancy Clark:
MomsTEAM: What do recommend sports-active kids eat for breakfast?
Clark: The best breakfast is any breakfast, but clearly some breakfasts are better than others in terms of nutrient-density. I encourage student athletes to eat at least three different kinds of foods per meal, such as:
MomsTEAM: What are your top five foods for sports nutrition?
Clark:
I actually have six:
Clark: Youth and high school athletes need wholesome foods, not supplements. Within the range of 1,200 to 1,500 calories, a student-athlete can consume all the vitamins, minerals and protein they need to meet their nutriental needs. Most student athletes consume 2,000 to 3,000 and more calories, so have the opportunity to consume a LOT of vitamins. Kids need to learn to be responsible with their food choices because no amount of supplements will compensate for a lousy sports diet.
Nancy Clark, MS RD CSSD, is a sports dietitian in the Boston area, and author of the best-selling Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook (www.nancyclarkrd.com [3]).
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/node/4902
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/node/4435
[3] http://www.nancyclarkrd.com