| Picnic
Packing for Spring Sports
If your children are active in springtime sports, you may
be spending a good deal of your life these days at the softball/baseball
field, track meet or soccer tournament. Eating healthy can
be a real challenge, particularly if you rely on the soda
pop, candy and hot dog fare that is sold at the typical concession
stand.
With a bit of planning, you can improve the nutrition for
your young athlete while saving time and money. Sharpen your
child's nutrition and organization skills by enlisting his/her
help in the preparation and packing.
What
to Pack
The following are some suggestions for healthy snacks. Try
to include something from every food group. There is additional
space for you to fill in your favorites/necessities from each
category.
Just like when you pack groceries, be sure to put the more
durable items such as water bottles on the bottom and the
more fragile items such as fruits and vegetables on the top
of the cooler (another advantage: kids will see the fruits
and veggies first when opening the cooler).
Tip: Save your back by packing all perishables in an easy-tote
soft-sided cooler. Put the non-perishable items in a separate
gym or tote bag.
Keeping Food Safe
Be sure to place refreezable ice packs in your cooler and
make sure you enforce hand washing before your hungry young
athletes begin eating.
This information is reprinted with permission from the Feeding
Kids Newsletter (May 03), a bimonthly publication printed
by 24 CARROT PRESS. To view it, visit http://nutritionforkids.com/24
Carrot.htm
| Ideas
for "Fuel to go" Your Favorites |
Beverages:
water bottles, 100%
fruit |
juice
boxes, sports drinks (one
bottleper child;; |
| Remember,
water is still the best "sports drink. |
Grains:
whole grain crackers |
(e.g.
Wheat Thins, Wheatables), |
sandwiches
made with 100% whole
|
wheat
bread, baked corn tortilla chips |
Fruits:
dried apple rings, raisins, |
orange
wedges, grapes |
Vegetables:
baby carrots, celery sticks, |
grape
or cherry tomatoes |
Protein:
peanut butter, hummus, |
lean
deli meats, tuna, soy nuts |
Dairy:
string cheese (part-skim mozzarella), |
yogurt,
pudding cups |
Other
Items: Plates, napkins, spoons, |
hand
sanitizer, refreezable ice packs, |
sun
screen, bandages and other first
aid |
items
you may need |
Plant
a Pita
Spring is the perfect time to get
your garden growing. For finicky eaters who claim they don't
like vegetables: explain that this year you are not just growing
a garden, you are "planting a pizza!" Some possibilities
for delicious and healthful toppings:
Tomatoes: Plant early short-season varieties as well as later
varieties to ensure delicious vine-ripened tomatoes into early
Autumn.
Peppers: Plant a variety of colors of sweet bell peppers
(orange, yellow, purple, red, green) and if desired, a few
of the hotter varieties (jalapeno, chile, habanero).
Herbs: Sweet Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme Squash: Yellow
crookneck, Zucchini Broccoli, Cauliflower, Garlic, Onions
and your favourites.
Title:
Picnic Packing for Spring Sports
Doc Date: 2003
Journal Name: Physical & health education journal
Journal Volume: 69
Journal Publisher: Canadian Association for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance
Journal Issue: 2
Journal Dat:e Summer 2003
Journal Pages: 35-36
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