Chef Tom has some tips for feeding your soccer player. For more information on Chef Tom visit
www.cookwithtom.com Proper soccer nutrition is no game! With a little planning, you're little one will have all the stuff to stay energized!
Night Before Meals:
The objective here is to fill your little tykes muscles with glycogen, and promote oxygen carrying capacity in the blood.
DO serve: complex carbohydrates, legumes, fruits and veggies
AVOID: Butter, oil, animal fat and carbonated beverages. All limit the way oxygen is stored is carried in the bloodstream.
Immediately Prior to the Game Snacks:
The goal here will be to support oxygen in the blood, the key here is light dishes, packed with fresh fruit,
DO serve: oranges, kiwi and blueberries.
Avoid: Fats and significant amounts of carbohydrates. The fats will limit oxygen, and the carbs won't absorb into the muscles in time, so they'll just slow the game.
Immediate Post Game Snack
There are a variety of beverages designed to rehydrate and replenish the lost minerals and electrolytes after a workout. For kids, electrolytes aren't as big of a worry, as a soccer game workout rarely depletes electrolytes.
The key here is to hydrate, and provide energy to the muscles.
DO: Chocolate Milk. It's used by more track teams than virtually any other beverage to do a body good. A small carton is sufficient. After that drink lots of water.
Avoid: Carbonated beverages
Post Game MealThe wee ones burn lots of energy in their game, and in doing so, may create muscle inflammation. So the best thing is to eat food that will both provide energy, and include anti-inflammatory benefits. Look for food like wild salmon, herring, tuna, grass fed beef, combined with a complex carb like quinoa or brown rice.
