When you have a youth athlete, providing him or her with proper nutrition is of the utmost importance. But with so many diet trends and food fads, it can sometimes be hard to separate marketing tactics from reality.
And since every athlete has different needs, how can you know which foods are best for your family?
Many parents ask this same question. That’s why Youth1 rounded up 15 tips from dietitians and trainers to share some of the best advice in youth nutrition today.
Get Ahead of Their Metabolisms
Metabolisms are unique and vary across individuals. Kimberly Lackey at Empath Coaching suggests tracking your athlete’s metabolism to determine the best times for a meal or snack.
“Listen to reports from teachers, coaches, tutors and after-school staff to see if there is consistency in performance at certain times, or potential behavior issues that repeat at the same time each day,” Lackey says. “Healthy snacking during those times, and the right breakfast, could be just the cure you and your child are looking for.”