Five o’clock is quitting time, and that means your son or daughter is wrapping up their sports camp, too. Most likely, they’ll be hungry, tired, and ready to rest. Feeding them the right nutrition will help their bodies recover to do it all again tomorrow!
Here are some tips to ensure proper recuperation and allow your athlete to hit the drills again in the morning:
- Hydrate. Water is just as important after working out as it is before working out. If practice takes place in the sun, your child needs enough fluids to replace not only the sweat, but also the electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride that they they’ve lost throughout the day. Sports drinks are key to replacing these minerals.
- Make protein a dinner staple. Muscles need protein to repair after they’ve been put to the test all day long. Lean meats like baked chicken and turkey burgers will work quickly to help your teen rebuild damaged muscle tissue and be ready for practice the next day.
- Consume carbs. The body stores excess carbohydrates as glycogen, which the body then uses as a source of energy. Whole grains are the best, most healthy form of carbs, so incorporate whole grain breads and noodles into your meal.
By following this advice, you can be sure that your athlete is getting the right nutrition to not only help their bodies recover from the day, but also get ready to continue their training the next day. Happy campers are bound to go the distance all sports season long!
