Healthy snacks for competition

Date: Fri Nov 16 8:37 AM, 2007

Healthy snacks for competition

Date: Fri Nov 16 8:56 AM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Here is a great topic and maybe a good way to get out to gyms, parents, cheerleaders and even the hosting venues...

How can we get the gym owners to require that their cheerleaders do not eat junk food at cheer competitions prior to competiting? I now its a hard one but I think there has to be a solution!

I think it would be a great idea for coaches to pass out a diet recommendation packet a few days before the competition. Our track coaches in high school use to tell us the types of foods to eat for optimal fuel the day(or days) before and at a track meet (until you were done competing, of course, then it was a free-for-all!). It really does matter - certain foods can make you feel jittery or sluggish, bloated, sick to your stomach, etc, for hours after you eat them.

I recently heard something that I thought this was interesting: the smell of peppermint encourages an athlete to perform better! http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0694.htm

OdysseyMom · Veteran Member

Anonymous wrote:

Here is a great topic and maybe a good way to get out to gyms, parents, cheerleaders and even the hosting venues...

How can we get the gym owners to require that their cheerleaders do not eat junk food at cheer competitions prior to competiting? I now its a hard one but I think there has to be a solution!

It is so disturbing to see the girls/guys walking around sucking down starbucks eating mcdonalds/fast food at cheer competitions. Prior to competing of course is my point. Gyms should not give kids candy etc as treats especially before competing. There is nothing worse than watching cheerleaders crash after coming down from sugar right before they compete.

At my old gym I know the owner asked that every girl eat a good breakfast and in the contract if they showed up with out eating she required the parents to pay $20 for them to feed them and $10 for gas lol and it worked only one parent must have thought she wasn't serious until they got the invoice and a letter stating their child would be sitting out of practice until the invoice was paid. Boy was that parent hot, but gladly showed up to the next competition with a fed child.

She also disouraged any junk food the night before and on the day of competition. Again she had a no starbucks/fastfood or soda rule prior to competing. another mom got her daughter starbucks one morning, she kindly went over and told the mom the cheerleaders were not allowed to have that before competing and why. The mom went off on her in front of all of us. She told the cheerleader to get rid of the drink although she had already consumed more than half the drink. MOM was pissed. You know where this is going right??? Well back in the practice room the little girl got realy sick it was her first time competiting and her nerves were getting the best of her. The owner came right out to where the parents were sitting and said your daughter is back stage getting sick and since you suppiled her with starbucks prior to competing you need to come take care of it. The mom apologized and after and kindly told all the new moms at the parent meetings her story.

Cheerleaders were to pack a healthy snack/lunch (if the venue allowed food in) at every competition. They could have water or even gateroade only.

Does anyone else have any good ideas. Our new gym doesn't have a policy on this yet but would love for the word to get out that it cane be done. Every parent stuck by this rule. My Daughters now know they can not eat junk because of it, but it conserns me to watch their squad members eating so unhealthy. I expressed my concern to the owner but would love to go in with some positive feedback to give her.

any good ideas and please I am not bashing or trying to be over the top. I know this is a concern for so many of us

On our team last year a few moms and I went to Subway and got sandwiches and then went to Safeway and got gogurts, fruit packs and the carrots with ranch and celery with peanut butter packets. It worked out well. I think parents need to be responsible for what their children eat. Coaches have enough to think about, not only that but all kids react differently to food. For instance, my daughters reaction to chocolate and sweets and soda make her feel very tired and calms her down instead of getting her hyper. I would get with some parents who have the same views as you and make yourselves some healthy food.

CharlotteASMom · Member

I completely agree with the healthy eating before comps or practices. Let's not put it in the hands of the gyms though. As just stated, they have enough to worry about and we are the PARENTS.

Date: Fri Nov 16 12:54 PM, 2007

It has always been one of our main rules at comps. No nachos, smoothies or junk food before performing. I have gone as far as taking food from people in the past. The type of food you put into your body is so important on a day like competition. I was on my way out the door to buy some trail mix and make little baggies.

Tamara · cheergyms.com Master Poster

Anonymous wrote:

It has always been one of our main rules at comps. No nachos, smoothies or junk food before performing. I have gone as far as taking food from people in the past. The type of food you put into your body is so important on a day like competition. I was on my way out the door to buy some trail mix and make little baggies.

AAAHHHH! Pix, are you reading what I'm reading!?! Attending a competition and not eating nachos (es?)?!?! Why it's craziness, it's madness, it's...oh before preforming...well, yeah, that's acceptable.

OC Mom · GURU

The joke here is.... one flyer that I know personally would tell her bases...."wow, maybe I shouldn't have eaten all those nachos just now!" just to get a reaction from them. It's been a joke ever since.