Women Potatoe chips/crips

[coach1234]

I have a gymnast who I know eats a lot of potatoe chips/crips she will have at least 1 a day if not 2 or 3

She is in no way out of shape at all, you wouldn't even know if you looked at her she is one of the tiniest girls on the team

What are your thought on this? Should I try to talk to her and get her to reduce the amount she is eating?

 

[coach1234]

Packets by the way she has at least 1 packet if not 2-3 packets a day

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I would keep your views to yourself, either :

a) her parents understand healthy eating and she has a balanced diet most of the time - you opinion would not be welcome
b)her parents understand healthy eating and she has a imbalanced diet - you opinion would not be welcome
c)her parents don't care about healthy eating - you opinion would not be welcome

that's what I have noticed

 

[MILgymFAM]

I would keep your views to yourself, either :

a) her parents understand healthy eating and she has a balanced diet most of the time - you opinion would not be welcome
b)her parents understand healthy eating and she has a imbalanced diet - you opinion would not be welcome
c)her parents don't care about healthy eating - you opinion would not be welcome

that's what I have noticed

Agree completely. Also, you don't know the whole picture. Maybe that is literally her only vice, and her diet is otherwise perfect. Maybe she really does have a terrible diet, but any way you look at it, advice would probably not be welcome. Everyone's idea of the best way to feed their kids is so different. I know that diet advice doesn't get through to me, honestly, because I feel I am already making the best choices- doesn't everyone feel that way?

 

[Faith]

I don't think it's the worst thing they can do. These kids need the calories so I wouldn't be bothered about that aspect. She isn't going to get fat on a couple of bags of crisps vs. 3 hours of gymnastics a day

So I would leave it. How old is she? You tend to find as kids get older they naturally become more aware of good food choices.

At most I might throw out some generalisations regarding making good choices so they're bodies have plenty of available energy and can repair well.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

I actively look out calorie dense food for P&F, I try and avoid sugar (teeth issues) but I feed her a very high fat diet. Loads of full fat dairy, nuts, cake, etc She still has a very low body fat but she manages - they need sufficient calories to maintain and grow.

 

[MaryA]

I would talk generally to the whole group about healthy eating and how it can affect your performance, and leave it at that.

 

[coach1234]

Thank you for all your advise, I wasn't too concerned I just don't normally see kids eat that many crips
I will talk to the whole group and not her individually makes sense don't want her feeling insecure or anything
Thanks again!

 

[hannasmom02]

I listen to my DD's diet suggestions. Mine told me that our DD needed more protein less salt to lessen the effects on her muscles. Maybe you can say it like that bc after he said that she's watching her salt intake and doing calcium chews and protein shakes (instant breakfast) and really trying to eat better. BTW my Dd weighs less than anyone on her team too. She's more muscular than the rest too. He told me that DD could go real far if she kept her body in check for less injuries.
Just say it like your helping not like your telling them you know best. Good Luck!

 

[Deleted member 14190]

We ask the kids to bring healthy snacks to the gym. That is about all you can do.

 

[txgymfan]

Try not to be too preachy about "Healthy Eating". Some kids need calories. As long as she has the strength to do her skills then her food choices are not your concern.

 

[Faith]

I listen to my DD's diet suggestions. Mine told me that our DD needed more protein less salt to lessen the effects on her muscles. Maybe you can say it like that bc after he said that she's watching her salt intake and doing calcium chews and protein shakes (instant breakfast) and really trying to eat better. BTW my Dd weighs less than anyone on her team too. She's more muscular than the rest too. He told me that DD could go real far if she kept her body in check for less injuries.
Just say it like your helping not like your telling them you know best. Good Luck!

Do you mean your DH? Not being funny but is he an trained nutritionist? Do you know where he gets this information? Unless you have proper training and know where/how to find the truth there is a lot of misinformation/bad information out there, particularly on the internet. Especially for child athletes, as most of it stems from adults seeking a quick weight loss fix (atkins, paleo, low fat etc..)

I had a meeting with a national squad nutritionist recently, who specialises in child athletes. His overall message was to ignore anything you've ever read on high carb, low carb, high protein, low salt, low fat, calorie controlled diets. It's all incorrect, and especially where children are concerned. The main advice was child athletes should have a balanced diet- the old food triangle and protein/carb/fat ratio. Food choice should just be sensible- home cooked rather than processed, watch out for so-called "healthy" snacks like cereal bars which have no nutritional value, etc. Not to restrict salt, either...

Salt is actually necessary for muscle function as sodium and chloride ions are essential for nerve impulses- restrict salt in an athlete who works out hard and loses salt through sweating = big problem. High protein in a child can affect kidneys. This might be OK in an adult who is not training 20 hours a week, but not a child who is.

There is so much cr*p out there regarding food these days!

 

[emorymom]

This is what I sent her swim team practice group when they proposed talking about "healthy" versus "unhealthy" snacks.
---
I'm pretty darn uncomfortable about you giving a lecture on nutrition IF it's going to discuss anything being "bad." If you want to talk only about some cool foods and drinks you like, great.

If you're going to talk about certain things being "bad," let me know so I can pull [DD] that day.

If you're even going to come CLOSE to discussing avoiding foods or drinks, let me know so I can pull [DD] that day.

The rate of eating disorders among female athletes is too high for me to be comfortable with this idea at all.

We already, in my household, have to be aware of EVERYTHING we eat (gluten) and while I definitely could benefit from restricting other things, my daughter cannot afford to start avoiding things. At 10 she is already leaning pretty heavy on the salads.

Please confirm that you understand this request.

 

[Aussie_coach]

The best way to go is to set a rule that only healthy snacks are to be brought to the gym and to competition.

 

[hannasmom02]

Do you mean your DH? Not being funny but is he an trained nutritionist? Do you know where he gets this information? Unless you have proper training and know where/how to find the truth there is a lot of misinformation/bad information out there, particularly on the internet. Especially for child athletes, as most of it stems from adults seeking a quick weight loss fix (atkins, paleo, low fat etc..)

I had a meeting with a national squad nutritionist recently, who specialises in child athletes. His overall message was to ignore anything you've ever read on high carb, low carb, high protein, low salt, low fat, calorie controlled diets. It's all incorrect, and especially where children are concerned. The main advice was child athletes should have a balanced diet- the old food triangle and protein/carb/fat ratio. Food choice should just be sensible- home cooked rather than processed, watch out for so-called "healthy" snacks like cereal bars which have no nutritional value, etc. Not to restrict salt, either...

Salt is actually necessary for muscle function as sodium and chloride ions are essential for nerve impulses- restrict salt in an athlete who works out hard and loses salt through sweating = big problem. High protein in a child can affect kidneys. This might be OK in an adult who is not training 20 hours a week, but not a child who is.

There is so much cr*p out there regarding food these days!

.


I asked her Coach bc he graduated as a Nutritionist from college.
He was telling me salt dehydrates you bc I told him that she eats soup before practice everyday. It wasn't about diet it was about the way they train and how bad it is one their bodies. He never ever suggested to cut anything fat out or sugars. Just how to make her stronger.

 

[cbifoja]

Try not to be too preachy about "Healthy Eating". Some kids need calories. As long as she has the strength to do her skills then her food choices are not your concern.

So this!!!! It makes me so mad when a coach fusses at my child for eating chips and then lets another less fit gymnast go without a word. Someone ALWAYS gets on her if she dares to buy a bag of chips. If she were out of shape, then yeah, I get it. But when she is one of the thinnest and strongest but you're letting weaker gymnasts who are carrying excess weight eat them in peace, then that makes mothers angry.

 

[cbifoja]

The best way to go is to set a rule that only healthy snacks are to be brought to the gym and to competition.

And if you don't want your gymnasts eating it, then don't stock it in the cantina when they are 90% of your revenue.

 

[Frase]

At dd's first ever grades (and her clubs too) she had a 8am reg time. She was so nervous she refused to eat and trust me I tried everything! Coach sat them down and asked them what they had had for breakfast. 'nothing' went down like a sack of spuds and she got the "if you don't eat you don't compete" warning.

We have been given a sheet of meal planning ideas but in no way is their eating monitored. They have joint birthday lunches in the cafe for squad girls and they will be fed pasta with plates of carrot sticks and cucumber - when they go, out comes the cake.

They are not allowed to eat during training at all so I always try and get something in her (pasta, soup, edamame beans etc). She herself would never dream of walking into gym with a bag of crisps though I do allow her to have them at home occasionally -shes on the 2nd centile for weight for goodness sakes it's not going to kill her.

The coaches just like them to have a healthy mix - that said the other day dd and 2 others were at county training and their coach told them if they all got their upstart hand stands into the pit (new skill) she'd buy them a bag of sweets - it's amazing what a bitof sugar can do ;-)

 

[Frase]

I should just add -it was sweets or a play in the park but it was raining - we are in England afterall!

 

[Galadriel]

Lol my son got a small chocolate bar from the coach for being the first to get a muscle up on p bars.