As the coach
schedules the practice game, in the “I’m Bringing” section, he
puts your name alongside team snacks. You are a new sports parent and
are going to be doing this for the very first time. This could be
tricky.
If you’ve been
caught in such a situation or feel the chill of getting in one,
here’s quick guide to foods you can and foods you should avoid
taking to a kids’ game.
The choice of
food will depend on the duration of the practice or game. If the
duration is going to be less, you can pick from granola bars,
oranges, bananas with some healthy beverages like juices etc. But if
the duration of the game is going to be longer, like a league or
competition wherein kids will be required to come early and hold back
until awards ceremony, then you may need to take enough food to keep
kids satiated throughout the day. Here’s a quick reference as to
what foods to choose and what foods to avoid.
Balance Carbs,
Proteins and Fats
Most parents feel
taking sugary food will do the trick as it will give the necessary
energy boost. While this is true, but it’s just partial truth. Kids
need proteins and fats too.
In fact, the type
of nutrition can be planned on the type of activity kids would be
required to do. For instance, an hour before the game, you can give
simple carbs like granola bars, juices, fresh or dried fruit etc.
Post-game focus on protein intake like milkshake. Mid-day snacks can
include berries, granola, almond butter and jam sandwiches, parfait
etc.
Healthy
Beverages
Avoid caffeine
based beverages, especially soda. Ill effects of caffeine include
dehydration, energy crashes etc. which can directly affect the kid’s
performance.
Instead, you can
take homemade lemonade, or diluted juice with sea salt and honey, or
infused water with sea salt and honey etc. These are natural sports
drinks. Avoid bottled sports drinks from the store.
Easily
Digesting Food
Avoid fatty meats
like beef or pepperoni since the digestion process is complex, and
can cause gastric distress.
Again, opt for
fruits, granola bars, pretzels and any easily digestible food.
Allergies
Food allergies
can land people in nasty situations, sometimes even life threatening
condition. It would indeed be a good idea to contact team parents in
advance and get a list of individual child’s allergy update. This
information can be updated on InstaTeam for future reference.
Lastly, just let
the common sense take over. Consider healthier options to junk food.
Do not take messy food that is oozing sauces or will leave crumbs all
over the place. Similarly, cakes and pastries with excessive cream,
cheesy treats that have cheese dripping or food that comes with
excessive packaging should be avoided. And yes, don’t forget a
lavish supply of paper towels, hand sanitizers and extra garbage
bags.
