Increased physical activity increases some of your food needs. You require more energy, water, and possibly salt (sodium chloride).

An athletic teenage boy may need 5,000 calories a day, compared to the 3,000 calories required daily by his non-athletic friends. Water lost through sweating is not easily replaced. Low water-intake during strenuous exercise leads to dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, heatstroke, and death.

Sports can be a positive experience for your child’s body and mind. Sport reduces stress, tones up muscles and strengthens bones, builds a good immune system thus promoting good health and makes a child more disciplined.

The importance of physical activity in young children is of common knowledge (even though not practised enough!), but are we as knowledgeable on the food intake we must provide to our young athletes?

A healthy child’s diet should provide adequate energy and nutrients to support normal growth as well as the increased energy needs for training. Are we providing these nutrients to our young athletes?