Grocery and convenience stores offer better sports nutrition choices at all-day events or tournaments than the concession stand [1], which typically offers high-fat, high-cost foods (e.g. nacho chips, cheese fries, hot dogs).
Most supermarkets have a soup and salad bar with a variety of healthy foods. With guidance from parents and coaches, young athletes can find healthy, high carbohydrate [2], low fat foods in every aisle of the store.
As a general rule, a snack that contains at least 4 grams of carbohydrate for every gram of fat is considered high in carbohydrates, and low in fat. For more information on specific foods, read the label.
Healthier |
Not As Healthy |
Snack Aisle: Chips |
Chips |
Among low fat crunchy snack choices are:
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The following chips are high in fat:
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Snack Aisle: Nuts/Seeds |
Nuts/Seeds |
Though full of nutrients, nuts and seeds are even higher in fat and calories than chips. |
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Snack Aisle: Cookies |
Cookies |
Cookies provide lots of calories, primarily from fat and sugar. Healthy options include:
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Snack Aisle: Candy Bars |
Bars |
Candy bars are, of course, a favorite snack choice. Most are high in simple carbohydrates and low in fat.
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Bread Aisle: Pastries |
Pastries |
Most pastry items contain more fat than carbohydrates, because of the fat added in frying or in the fillings.
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Bread Aisle: Bread |
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Because breads are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates and B-vitamins, they are a good choice:
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Cereal Aisle |
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Like bread, most cereals are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates and B-vitamins:
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Dairy Aisle |
Dairy |
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Fruits And Vegetables |
Fruits And Vegetables |
Fresh fruit is another healthy choice. Fruit is nearly 100% carbohydrate and supplies vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
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Cold Drinks |
Cold Drinks |
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In a qualitative study [5] by researchers at the University of Minnesota published in 2012 [1] many parents reported in focus group discussions being disatisfied with the food options available at concession stands and that the food enviroment promoted unhealthful nutrition habits.
But many found it challenging to plan ahead to pack healthy snacks during travel team and tournament play because of busy schedules and a time crunch, which increased their perceived need for convenience food. They also reported that nutrition messages from mass media influenced the types of food and beverages children consume in conjunction with sports, which were also affected by their own dietary habits and established eating norms at home. Parents suggested that, because their children look up to their coaches and listen when they make suggestions about eating, it makes coaches important allies in sending positive messages about healthful food and beverages.
Parents can help create real changes in behavior by working to make healthy food and beverage choices for young athletes the easy choice. They can lead on this issue by hitting the grocery store instead of the concession stand, by volunteering to help make more fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy beverages available at concession stands, and asking for them when they are not available.
"Parents can lead on this issue by making healthy choices available, volunteering to have more fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy beverages in concession stands, and asking for them where they are not available, says Toben F. Nelson, ScD., author of the University of Minnesota study. "Most youth sports organizations are run by parents, so parents can take on these roles and create the change they want to see. I think there is more support out there for healthy choices than some realize."
In fact, a 2014 study [6] by researchers at the University of Iowa, working with a booster club in Muscatine, Iowa, found that unhealthy food choices youth athletes are offered at concession stands can be gradually replaced with healthier items without a loss of revenue, profits, or customer satisfaction, suggests a first-of-its-kind pilot study. (Laroche 2014).
Researchers at the University of Iowa worked with the booster club in Muscatine, Iowa to add eight new healthy foods (apples, carrots and dip, chicken sandwiches, granola bars, pickles, soft pretzels, string cheese and trail mix) to the concession stand menu durning the 2009 fall season at Muscatine High football games, volleyball matches and swim meets.
At the same time, the booster club replaced unhealthy ingredients in certain existing food offerings, substituting canola oil for coconut oil bars in the popcorn, and swapping the cheese in the nachos, eliminating trans fat from the products.
The group advertised the new offerings in a poster and marketing campaign with the slogan, "Great taste, more variety."
1. Thomas M, Nelson TF, Harwood E, Neumark-Sztainer D. Exploring Parent Perceptions of the Food Environment in Youth Sport. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2012;44(4):365-371.
Revised July 1, 2012
Links:
[1] https://momsteam.com/node/5030
[2] https://momsteam.com/node/243
[3] https://momsteam.com/node/1979
[4] https://momsteam.com/node/863
[5] https://momsteam.com/node/4983
[6] https://momsteam.com/concession-stand/concession-stand-food-doesnt-need-be-unhealthy-sell-study-finds
[7] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-away-from-home/general/healthy-eating-for-the-youth-athlete-away-from-home
[8] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/sports-nutrition-basics/game-day/refueling-during-exercise
[9] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-challenge-youth-sports-athletes-parents-say
[10] https://momsteam.com/concession-stand/concession-stand-food-does-it-have-be-unhealthy
[11] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/youth-athletes-need-high-carbohydrate-diet-for-sports
[12] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/healthy-meals-snacks/meals/high-carbohydrate-meals-some-examples
[13] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/healthy-meals-snacks/meals/high-carbohydrate-menu-a-sample-breakfast-lunch-and-dinner