I just loved this video by Real Mom Nutrition so much, I had to share! Please share with your coaches and team mates too!
(helpful links in the video: Meal Makeover Mom’s policy letter, Real Mom Nutrition Letter to coach and team)
I remember the late 70′s going to my brother’s soccer games. When it was our turn for snacks, we would cut up a bowl full of oranges, and the players would eat them during half time. It seems times have changed. My friend Kristin’s boy is in basketball right now, and got a pre-packaged rice krispie treat and juice the other night. They get them as they leave the game, then tease little brother and sister all the way home because he got a treat and they didn’t.
So what are the alternatives? What can you bring when it’s your turn that won’t rot the teeth, yet the kids are excited to get?
I think the easy answer is the best answer! A fresh fruit and water policy just makes sense. You can’t interpret that policy to include anything except fruit and water! It’s easy to buy, and when all the parents do it, the kids expect it. Here are some ways to make it work:
Water:
- Provide a cooler of ice cold water and cups for the kids.
- Give the kids water bottles that can be refilled at the beginning of the season.
- Purchase water bottles that can be recycled at the end of the game.
Fruit:
- Send oranges by slicing them into wedges. Have a bag for the discarded peels.
- Send bananas by cutting them in halves or thirds. Again, have a bag for the peels.
- Send grapes by cutting them stems into easy to grab sizes.
- Send apples, but slicing into wedges and spritzing with lemon juice to keep them from browning. Or better yet, bring a knife to cut them when they are ready to eat.
- Send strawberries with the stems trimmed out.
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Thanks so much for sharing my slideshow and for all the great tips you provide here. In my experience, the kids have loved fruit after games. Parents expect them to grumble about the lack of sweets–but they don’t! One week a parent brought fruit kebabs, and you would’ve thought they’d brought donuts, the kids were so excited. We need to give children the chance to enjoy healthy foods by exposing them to healthy foods–not just assuming they won’t like it and falling back on kid junk food.
I love it! Fruit kebobs are a great idea!
I love Sally’s slide show!!
In 2007, I lobbied my local soccer club to switch from junk food on the sidelines to a Fruit & Water Only policy. The soccer club debated going with a “healthy” snack policy, but the term “healthy” is often hard to define. So fruit and water only was the way they went … to everyone’s joy. Parents were happy (after all, it’s pretty easy to slice up some oranges or cut up a watermelon) and the kids were thrilled. It’s been a win-win for everyone :) As for beverages, we debated whether to allow sports drinks, but given their high sugar content and the fact that it’s often very cold here in New England (i.e. nobody is sweating), we stuck with water. Parents can certainly pack what they want for their kids. The policy applies to the team snack.
GREAT info…with 2 boys ages 4 and 7 and both in sports this will be GREAT to share with coaches and parents. The last basketball game this year my 7 year old got chocolate ho ho’s for a snack. Are you kidding me?
Great info! Here’s a site to check out that can help with health and relaxation for the whole family.. http://methodalpha.com/meditation-in-5-days-introduction.html
I am SO willing to be the “uncool” mom and not bring sugar stuff. I’m not THAT concerned about what my son’s 8 year old friends think of me. ;)
Great video. Thanks for sharing.