Soccer and Snacks!

Today I want to talk about soccer and snacks!!

Okay so this is a bit of a Mom rant! But here it goes! My daughter has played soccer now for 5 seasons now and my son played one season back when he was in the 5th grade. Over the seasons I have seen and observed so much.

After each game a Mom or Dad takes turns providing snack and drink for the girls. So far they have received donuts (see image on the right!!), cupcakes and high sugar drinks. I get it who wants to be the parent to bring the boring snack. Now I’m not bashing on these parents. Maybe they don’t understand what we are doing to our kids.

At practice a few weeks ago the girls took a water break like normal but this time they all enjoyed a cookie! This just blew me away. These girls are running around, exercising all activities that lead to a happy, healthy and strong life.

But once again they are being treated or rewarded with junk. I’m not saying that they can’t have cookies, cake or donuts but these are a special treat and only on an occasion.

This is sending our kids the wrong message. Exercise and you will get a treat. This is sending them the wrong message. We need to fuel their fast growing bodies with nutritious whole foods.

With the kids obesity rising higher than ever we need to make changes. We need to be the change and the example for our kids!

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What Can We Do About It?

Let’s provide our kids with healthy choices. I’ve included a list of better choices in case you have to sign up for snack duty for your child’s sports. And note that I realize many organizations probably won’t let you make your own goodies to bring, though how great would that be??

Whole Food Snacks

Cuties (Clementines)
Carrot sticks (in baggies*)
Frozen YoGurts
Apple slices (in baggies*)
Peanut Butter and Apple Slices
Watermelon
Celery and Peanut Butter
Whole-wheat pretzels
Lara Bars
Sliced Cucumbers
Bananas
Squeezable applesauce
Unsweetened applesauce cups
Strawberries
Oranges
Bags of popcorn
Small bag of almonds or other variety of nuts
Raisins
Kiwi halves, served with plastic spoons for scooping

Drinks

Water
Honest Kids

What About Sports Drinks?

What most kids need after sports is water and nutritious food. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that water is “the appropriate first choice for hydration before, during, and after most exercise”. Electrolytes lost during kid sports practices and games can be replaced with the next snack or meal. Most bottled sports drinks contain a lot of sugar, plus artificial flavors, food dyes, and other additives. Encourage players to bring their own filled water bottle instead!

Do Kids really need an after Game Snack?

No not really! What we need to focus on it feeding them a healthy balanced meal before their game and feed them lunch after the game. What they do need after the game is to rehydrate with water.

Please share your thoughts. Have you encountered this? And if so, how did you handle it?

Kristin McConnell

Hi!! I’m Kristin McConnell, I am so glad you are here! I am a wife to my amazing husband and a Mom of two fabulous kids. I love gardening, raising chickens, bee keeping and baking sourdough bread!

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