Sports Nutrition
So what's the big deal? Stay away from junk food, get plenty of water and rest, and you're all set, right? Well, yes...and no. An athlete has specific nutritional needs, and while the advice given above is great for just about everyone, athletes do need a little bit more.
*Do you know how many calories are necessary for an active female athlete?
A minimum of 2,200 calories per day
*Early teen years are the time when you're depositing calcium into your bones, defending your body against possible osteoporosis later on in life (so eating dairy products every day during these years is crucial!)
*You should have at least two servings of milk or low fat yogurt every day
*Carbohydrates fuel muscles, so they should be the foundation of an athlete's diet
Statistics taken from Food Guide Pyramid and Nancy Clark, RD
Looking for a great book on nutrition? Try Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook or Sports Nutrition Made Easy for Players and Parents, by Cynthia Lair