Youth Soccer Nutrition
Healthy Eating for Youth Soccer Players
 
Proper youth soccer nutrition is a consistent challenge among player, parent and coach.
 
In todays' society both parents are on the go. This makes it challenging to maintain healthy eating habits for the proper carbohydrate, protein and water consumption.
 
Athletes now work after school before they arrive for practice or game.
 
Fast food "restaurants", corner convenience stores and simple drive "thru's" make it easy to eat the wrong foods on a daily basis. They play on the low carb weight loss angle.
 
Youth Soccer Nutrition Tips
 
1. Eat five to six meals or every 2-3 hours- to be quite honest this is a challenging thing to do regardless if you are a young athlete or a parent.
 
2. Eat a complete protein for soccer nutrition each meal. Sources for this may be chicken, turkey or fish just to name a few.
 
3. Eat a carbohydrate with each meal. The source of carbohydrates should come from fruits and vegetables.
 
4. Drink at least 1.5 to 4 litres of water a day. The amount will change according to both your activity level and weight.
 
Drink a litre of water for every 50lbs of weight. Thus someone weighing 150lbs will drink 3L of water a day.
 
Take it one day at a time. Replace tea, coffee or pop with a glass of water.
 
Another thing you can do is write down how you feel after eating. Do you feel bloated? Do you feel hungry?
 
Doing this will give you an idea of what works for you.
 
The bottom line to sports nutrition is making good choices on a daily basis that will effect you at that time and in the future.