How to Keep Child Athletes Eating Healthy During Training.

SuperKids Nutrition recently interviewed Nancy Clark M.S., RD renowned sports dietitian and author about how to keep child athletes eating healthy during training. In her interview she stresses the importance of meal planning, healthy snacking, and avoiding unnecessary sports drinks that can be loaded with sugar.

Nancy puts the bulk of the responsibility on the parents to choose healthy items for their children, but nor to be overly restrictive of the occasional sweet. “If the parent has provided a healthful food environment with the occasional treat, the child will get the nutrients he needs while not feeling like he’s deprived.”

Nancy also warns to keep an eye out for sports that encourage a specific weight or body type. “Dieting is standard among young figure skaters, dancers, gymnasts, runners and athletes in sports that emphasize leanness… As a parent, you need to downplay body size as an important currency of worth and teach your daughter or son to love her/himself from the inside out.” That’s great advice for parents of any type, nor just athletes.

_{Original article:  http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/i_clark/}