Most population don't think too hard about what they eat. They pick something up, put it in their mouth and chew. They don't realize that what they just ate will be a part of their body within 2 hours. It is a part of their body just as bricks are a part of a wall. The whole wall is made of bricks and your body is made up entirely of the food you eat!
Certain foods are much best for you than others. Fruits, vegetables, fresh leafy greens, milk, lean meats, fish, nuts and water are all foremost in construction and re-building your body. This is true for everybody. But it is especially foremost for athletes because athletes break down their bodies faster than non-athletes and need to rebuild it faster as well. Just as foremost is what you rebuild your body with. A exquisite example of this can be seen in the tale of the "3 dinky Pigs".
You see each home of the pigs was built with something. The first house was weak and didn't stand up against the rigors of the wolf. This is what happens when you work hard (like you do while our camps) and then try to rebuild your body with candy, sweets, cookies, sugary cereals, and you leave out vegetables and fruits. Your body is going to breakdown precisely and not be very strong when it needs to be.
The second house was built a dinky bit stronger but not by much. His house was still pretty precisely taken down by the wolf. This is like drinking sugary, caffeinated drinks like Starbucks and eating greasy hamburgers and hot dogs with a few veggies on the side. Your body will still not be able to stand up to the work you put it through. You will be tired, sluggish and you won't play too well.
Now the third pig, he had one heck of a strong house. It was made of brick and iron. Nothing could take it down and it was always ready for the next challenge. This is what your body feels like when you eat lots of vegetables, fruits, lean meats like chicken (no chicken strips!!), fish, low fat dairy like yogurt and chocolate milk.
These are just a few, but here are good food choices:
Breakfast
Lunch
Wheaties w/ milk + Strawberries
Turkeysandwich
Whole Wheat Toast and Peanut Butter
Chicken salad
Yogurt + granola + blueberries
Buffalo Burger + veggie chips
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
TurkeyBurger +
Oatmeal + peaches
Tuna Salad Sandwich
Scrambled Eggs w/Salsa
Apple-Banana-Pb Smoothie
Dinner
Snacks
Chicken + Grilled Zucchini
"Ants-on-a-log" (Celery, Pb, Raisins)
Fish (not fish sticks!)
Strawberries
Black bean chicken salad + avocado
Pineapple
Whole wheat Spaghetti
Chocolate Milk
TurkeyChili
Sunflower Seeds
White bean and ground turkey Soup
Yogurt
The key to manufacture good choices is retention added sugar out and eating foods that are minimally processed. Do not eat food that is deep fried with batter, drenched in butter, no fast food and ice cream only once per week. Parents, you are the ones buying the food. Buy and prepare ability meals with whole foods. Your child's body will thank you and so will their coaches!
Athletes, food and the 3 itsybitsy Pigs