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Nutrition is an important part of a child’s life, especially if he or she is a young athlete. Before sending your sports enthusiast off for practice, consider these ideas for incorporating healthy, energizing and easy snack ideas for your child.

• Pita and Hummus
• Fresh Fruit, including apples, grapes, berries, banana, orange slices
• Apple Sauce
• Veggies, including carrots, cucumbers, peppers and celery (consider some peanut butter on top, if you like!)
• String Cheese
• Cheese and Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Nuts, including almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts (great for protein and healthy fat)
• Trail mix with dried fruit
• Yogurt (try adding fruit!)
• Half a bagel with butter, peanut butter & jelly, cream cheese

If your family is preparing for a competition or sporting event, consider adding a few of these nutritious foods into meals before your child competes.

Day Before Competition:

• 2-3 servings of fruit
• 3-5 servings of vegetables
• Glass of milk

Carbohydrates:

• Breakfast – cereal, toast, bagel
• Lunch – sandwich
• Dinner – rice, pasta, potatoes

Protein:

• Lunch or dinner meats
• Beans
• Peas
• Nuts
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Lentils
• Sweet Potato
• Plenty of water at each meal AND in between meals

Day of Competition:
Light breakfast that is easy to digest, such as:

• Toast with Jam
• Fruit
• Applesauce
• Cereal
• Oatmeal

Don’t forget to bring some snacks to have during the competition or event. And of course, BRING WATER!

By: Haley Blair, Team Director of Gymtime Gymnastics