Parents put such high expectations on their kid’s performance but many of those same parents do not put as strong of an emphasis on their diet. That’s not fair for those kids. They spend money on trainers, skill camps, or extra coaching thinking that’s going to be the difference in making the team or that scholarship to college. They definitely will help, but physical fitness isn’t the only thing needed. Let’s start by removing that old notion, that you’re young enough to eat whatever you wanted, and it won’t affect you. Not true then and not true now.
Showing up to practice or a game and having pizza, chocolate milk, or chips as a pregame meal or even worst nothing at all is the worst thing your kids can do. It happens more than one might think. We know because many of the teens we coach do this. They will use what they ate for energy during that practice and game. How would you perform if you ate that? Athletes should eat like athletes at any age. But kids are not responsible for their nutrition, we as parents are.
Shouldn’t kids have the same expectations of their parents as well? Definitely, if they knew any better, but they don’t. A good place to start
- Start a conversation with your kids and ask what they like to eat
- Explain the benefits of healthy eating to your child
- Eat together, make it a family affair
- Start introducing new vegetables to your meals
- Include your kids in preparing new and nutritious snacks and meals
- Limit the sugar before practices and games
- Ask for help from your child’s coach on healthy food ideas
CrossFit is tough for adults, but it shouldn’t be so tough for teen athletes. If they ate better, it wouldn’t be. We understand that parents are busier than ever during these times and it can be overwhelming at home. But try to start with simple changes to get the ball rolling. If you would like more information or need healthy tip ideas, please feel free to contact us. We would love to help you and your kids.
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