THIS SECTION IS ALL ABOUT WHAT,WHEN AND WHY THE FOOD YOU EAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS AN ATHLETE.
Diet and hydration are important, not just for athletes of course, but your increased activity levels and recovery put you outside the normal range of your non-sporty friends. You have to work with your parents to find a balanced diet throughout the whole week that takes account of your training as well as main competition times.
WHAT NUTRITION IS NOT.
- It does not mean you have to eat raw carrots all week!
- It does not mean you dieting or buying expensive foods that advertise special sports enhancing properties (eg vitamin water) which are often a total waste of money.
- It does not mean that fat is bad for you, after all 80% of your brain is fat. You need fuel to keep those muscles going as well as for resting including thinking.. Some highly processed fats are less desirable but they are not evil and chips and chocolates in the right amount is just what a growing body needs.
- It does not mean taking vitamins or other tablets but instead eating fresh fruit and vegetables regularly.
- It does not mean eating a special diet but a whole range of food that is balanced -and tasty!
HOW TO ACHIEVE GOOD NUTRITION
- If you are an elite athlete then keep a diary of your food intake including amounts and types of food.
- Understand the food groups and what they do.
- Understand what calories are. Do you know how many apples equals the energy of one Mars bar? Do you know how many extra calories you need being an athlete?
- Link your food intake to the training plan you are on so that increased training is fueled properly
- Let your parents know what you like and how it will help you as an athlete.
- NATURE KNOW BEST. Highly processed food has to stay on the supermarket shelves for a long time so can have very high levels of salt and sugar as well as chemicals. Try to eat fresh and simply cooked food. It does not have to be bland either. You may not like porridge but CoCo pops are unnecessary for an athlete.
- Trying to restrict food intake to stay thin is a BIG mistake for any teenager and harmful for an endurance athlete.
- Find a selection of healthy comfort foods - you deserve it!
- Drink water regularly and remember that fruit juice does not re-hydrate you.
MORE ON THIS FASCINATING SUBJECT WILL FOLLOW INCLUDING TOP ATHLETES FAVORITE RECIPES. YUMYUM!
TIM SNOWDEN PRESENTED A TALK ON NUTRITION TO AN EXCELLENT TURN OUT AT STRODE COLLEGE
HERE IS HIS PRESENTATION IN ATTACHMENTS BELOW
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