Healthy Food for the Big Game
By Donna Stark
If you have children that are involved in competitive sports, more than likely you have attended those marathon tournament weekends that start at the crack of dawn on Saturday and finish late in the evening on Sunday. Usually, they aren’t local and if they are, the schedule of the games makes it nearly impossible to head back home to recharge. So you’re kind of stuck there, which means you are also stuck with poor food choices. Either you eat at the local fast food joint or you pick your meals from the food trucks that are littered throughout the parking lots, neither of which aren’t the healthiest of choices. Instead of placing your nutrition in the hands of strangers, why don’t you take control of what you eat and pack a cooler instead?
Healthy Foods for the Big Game
Your kids are hungry after a big game (maybe even a little hangry if a win wasn’t secured), so be prepared to give them some edible satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to keep you out of the junk food line and that will assure your child is fueling their body in a healthy way.
- Peanut butter and banana sandwiches - On whole wheat bread, this becomes an excellent choice. With both complex and simple carbs, it offers a continuous and steady release of energy.
- Turkey pinwheels - Made with nitrate-free turkey, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach leaves (or whatever your favorite veggies are), wrapped in tortillas and sliced, it’s a perfect, travel-friendly sandwich to nibble on that offers protein and other nutrients.
- Apple bites - Surprise your player with a different take on those plain apple slices. After cutting your apple into bites, stick in a toothpick, dip in almond butter and roll in peanuts. It’s easy, and it’s a great snack between games that offers a burst of energy.
- Turkey and cheese sticks - Grab a cheese stick and roll two or three slices of nitrate-free turkey around it. It’s an easy, high-protein, no-napkin-necessary snack. And it’s even better when paired with those energy-boosting apple bites.
- Yogurt and berries - Consuming protein after an intense game is a smart choice. Low-fat yogurt is packed with protein and by adding berries, you can increase the energy boost that it has to offer.
- Beverages - Of course, pack plenty of water, but if you want to treat your player with a sweet treat that is still good for them, pack some chocolate milk. It’s filled with carbs and protein and it will give them exactly what they need along with some sweet-tooth satisfaction.
You will have pregame times, halftimes, postgame times, and a ton of time to kill … that’s a lot of time that you’re going to be spending sitting in your lawn chair, so keep everyone well-fed, completely nourished, and totally satisfied. It’s going to be a long weekend.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cumming, Ga.