Christopher D. Jensen, PhD, MPH, RD
Heading off to high school is a big step. You’re no longer the big fish at middle school. The classes in high school are tougher, and the sports are definitely more challenging. You no doubt played recreational sports growing up, but that was one or maybe two practices a week and a game on the weekends. The physical commitment to high school sports is in another league altogether. There may be daily practices – sometimes in the morning and afternoons, separate weight-training workouts, and one or even two competitions in a week depending upon the sport.Gone are the days of orange slices at half-time and a glazed doughnut as the post-game snack. Many teenage athletes get hit with this stark reality the first week of the preseason. You drag yourself home after 6 or 7 periods of class and an exhausting practice, and you can barely find the energy to make it through dinner, let alone tackle a night of homework. Sound familiar?
As a teenage athlete, you face the challenge of keeping pace with the nutritional demands of your sport, while also consuming the nutrients required to fully grow and develop. In this article, you’ll learn what you need nutritionally to be healthy and to support the growth spurt that is transforming your body. You’ll also gain expertise on the key principles of sports nutrition and how to apply them so that you can be at your best when training and competing. Visit site for more information