Grand Slam Nutrition
Spring is finally here, bringing America’s favorite pastime to parks everywhere- baseball! Playing baseball takes teamwork, combining individual hits and defensive plays into a group victory. Fueling little leaguers requires a team approach, combining healthy food and fluid choices for that game-winning triple play.
As a sports dietitian, I know limited healthy concessions, hot weather, and middle-of-the-day doubleheaders can throw a curve ball into any nutrition plan. For players, a pre-game high-fat lunch like hot dogs or cheese nachos is slow to digest, causing stomach cramps when mixed with heat and exercise. And quick energy from sugary snacks won’t last during a game-leaving their brain and muscles sliding into a double play.
Moms- here are my grand slam nutrition ideas to power your player’s swing and keep them running the bases:
Turkey, cheddar cheese whole wheat tortilla wrap, with grapes,
PBJ whole wheat bagel, with a banana
Lean beef, Swiss cheese on whole wheat, with orange slices.
Mozzarella cheese stick with snack-sized bag of sliced apples,
Squeezable low fat yogurt and grapes
Peanut butter and graham crackers
Triple play “trail mix”: salted nuts, pretzel sticks, and raisins.
And don’t forget the fluids! Keep water and low-fat chocolate milk boxes chilling in the cooler. Water is always the best choice. After the game, grab low-fat chocolate milk to guarantee your muscles refuel and repair before the next time the umpire shouts, “Play ball!”
Consultant, speaker, author, and registered dietitian Tammy Beasley has been a certified eating disorder specialist in nutrition (CEDRD) with the International Association of Eating Disorder Professional since 1993 and received her certification in sports dietetics (CSSD) in 2007.
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