The best way to stay well-fueled for sports performance is to see your food as the most premium fuel for your “sports car” athlete body and boost your performance with premium nutrition.  Getting enough sleep, staying well hydrated, and proper recovery time is also important, but more on that later.

1. Use food for fuel: Feed your kids healthy complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) and some healthy fats (nuts, avocados) throughout the day.  Protein is great after activity to help bodies rebuild.

2. Use food for recovery: It’s important to replace protein and carbohydrates used soon after a hard exercise training session or competition.  This means that within 30 minutes, your kids should be eating more healthy carbohydrates with protein to help replenish the body.  This can be done with some dried fruits, bananas, natural applesauce, or Juice Plus+ Complete products for an easy all-in one meal option.

3. Use food for protection:  Taking advantage of the thousands of amazing Micro-nutrients and antioxidants whole foods provide helps decrease muscle protein breakdown and strengthens the immune system so kids can keep training and competing well.  The Juice Plus capsules or chewables provide the nutrition and antioxidants of 30 fruits, vegetables, berries, and grains to help protect children during sports and for their lifetime. PLUS they are FREE for kids with any adult order for up to 4 years with our special Healthy Starts for Families program, sign up here to add in rich micronutrition today.

View your food differently—it’s a lot more important than pleasing tastes or simply providing calories.  Some foods may be high in calories, but have a lot of processed sugar and bad fats.  Remember, calories need to be effective to help your kids stay healthy for their best sports performance!

How do you help ensure your young athletes get the best nutrition to perform at their peak?

Here’s one of my young athletes! I sure do love watching them play. xo, Jacqi