Healthy eating habits/Sports nutrition for children

Why is nutrition important for sports performance? Good nutrition is important for sports performance as it can assist with energy levels and recovery. A common issue experienced in sports people is not consuming the required amount of energy from food Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA], (2009). Eating and Drinking before Sport - Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Eating_Drinking_Before_Sport.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . Energy It is important to fuel your body with energy from food (kilojoules) to meet the demands of exercise and help with recovery after physical activity. This is due to exercise increasing energy requirements, which varies depending on the type, duration and intensity of the exercise Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA], (2009). Eating and Drinking before Sport - Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Eating_Drinking_Before_Sport.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Gollnick, P. D., & Matoba, H. (1984). Role of carbohydrate in exercise. Clinics in sports medicine, 3(3), 583-593. The higher intensity and longer duration the exercise, the higher the energy requirements from food will be Australian Sports Commission (2009) Eating before exercise - Australian Institute of Sport. Retrieved: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/competition_and_training/eating_before_exercise, Accessed on: October, 2013. The three main nutrients that supply the body with energy are: Fat Protein Carbohydrates Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are an important source of energy as when ingested, they are broken down into smaller sugars such as glucose which is the main source of 'food' for our cells. When there is more glucose than the body needs to use for energy, it converts it into glycogen (which is made up of many connected glucose molecules) and is stored in the liver or muscles. Glycogen is the major source of energy for exercising muscles, and when there are low glycogen levels (usually after 2 hours) the body switches to using fat as energy, which can result in fatigue, tiredness and is commonly referred to as athletes 'hitting the wall'. It is therefore important to eat foods high in carbohydrates to restore these glycogen stores after exercise to improve recovery. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates include cereals, breads, pasta, rice, fruit, vegetables, milk and yoghurt. Protein Protein is important to help your muscles recover, repair and rebuild after exercise and can be used as an energy source, when carbohydrate reserves are very low. Protein rich foods include chicken, red meat such as beef, pork, fish, eggs, dairy foods and nuts. Fat Fat provides energy source for long duration, low to moderate intensity exercise such as marathons Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA], (2009). Eating and Drinking before Sport - Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Eating_Drinking_Before_Sport.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . It is recommended to include moderate amounts of ‘healthy’ fats in your diet i.e. nuts, seeds, fish, reduced-fat dairy foods, lean meat and avocados. Foods high in ‘unhealthy’ fat should be limited and include foods such as chocolate, pastries, chips and deep fried foods So why are snacks important? Snacking in addition to regular planned meals, is essential to help meet energy and nutrient requirements (such as carbohydrate, protein and fats) to optimise performance. An athlete's diet should typically consist of high carbohydrate, moderate protein and low fat foods Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . Nutrition and snack ideas before exercise Foods eaten before exercise need to be digested and absorbed to maximise the energy available from the foods during physical activity. Foods typically high in fat, protein take longer to digest, and may result in stomach discomfort during exercise Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . Therefore snacks should be eaten at least 1 to 2 hours prior to exercise, that are high in carbohydrates, low in fat, to help with digestion and avoid stomach discomfort. Above all, it is important to try and test snacks as results will vary for each individual Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . thumb|150px|A 'banana' is an example of a quick and easy high carbohydrate snack that can be eaten on toast with honey before exercise Examples of high carbohydrate snacks before exercise Cereal bars Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Banana and honey sandwich Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Fruit scone with jam Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 English muffin with thick spread of topping Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 These snacks should be high in carbohydrates and low in fat Too nervous to eat? If you are too nervous to eat before exercise, experiment with a routine that works and with foods that are safe and familiar. These could include snacks that are easier to eat and that are appetizing i.e. chocolate milk, cereal bars and some sports drinks Australian Sports Commission (2009) Eating before exercise - Australian Institute of Sport. Retrieved: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/competition_and_training/eating_before_exercise, Accessed on: October, 2013.. Studies have shown that performance is improved when you are well-fueled and rehydrated [] before exercise Australian Sports Commission (2009) Eating before exercise - Australian Institute of Sport. Retrieved: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/competition_and_training/eating_before_exercise, Accessed on: October, 2013.. Nutrition and snack ideas for post-exercise recovery Post exercise nutrition and snacks are important to: Refuel muscle glycogen Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA], (2009). Eating and Drinking before Sport - Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Eating_Drinking_Before_Sport.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Repair muscle tissue for maintenance and development Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA], (2009). Eating and Drinking before Sport - Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Eating_Drinking_Before_Sport.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Therefore, recovery meals and snacks should contain carbohydrates and some protein and should be eaten 30 minutes after finishing training or a tournament Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 . thumb|150px|Vegemite on toast with cheese is a good post exercise snack High carbohydrate, high protein snacks after exercise Vegemite and cheese sandwich Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Salad sandwich with meat/chicken/tuna/cheese Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Soup in a cup + bread roll + slice of cheese Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 Chocolate milk Sports Dietitians Australia [SDA]. Food for your sport - Basketball. Available at: http://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/resources/upload/Basketball.pdf, Accessed: October, 2013 These post physical activity snacks contain a high source of carbohydrates and high/moderate source of protein Preparation of snacks Organisation and preparation of snacks is important to maintain good nutrition before and after exercise, so reliance on a sporting venue is minimal Australian Sports Commission (2009) Eating before exercise - Australian Institute of Sport. Retrieved: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/competition_and_training/eating_before_exercise, Accessed on: October, 2013.. Preparing meals and snacks the night before is often a good idea, as sporting venues often have snacks and meals that are usually not ideal such as pies, hot chips, chocolates etc. These foods should only be eaten sometimes, and are not ideal foods for before or after exercise or a tournament Australian Sports Commission (2009) Eating before exercise - Australian Institute of Sport. Retrieved: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/competition_and_training/eating_before_exercise, Accessed on: October, 2013.. Further Reading For more information on nutrition and sports performance, you can visit the Sports Dietitians Australia website and the Australian Institute of sport. External Links