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Health & Fitness

Strong4Life: Finally, A Winning Game Plan for Team Moms (and Dads)!

I want to help parents make the sidelines as important as the playing field so I worked with our Strong4Life experts to create an easy strategy for after game snacks.

This week's guest blogger is Linda Matzigkeit, Chief Administrative Officer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

As Chief Administrative Officer for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and mom of an active 12-year old, I know how hard it is to achieve success in work, home and everything else. So when I raised my hand to volunteer to be the team mom for my son's baseball team, I silently wondered what on earth I was thinking. While I was excited to support my child (I knew he would think it was really cool), part of the real motivation was being able to influence some of the unhealthy behaviors that have become culturally accepted in team sports. 

Team sports are a great way for our young stars to stay physically active thanks to week-long practices and playing their hearts out on game day. Yet, we've all seen our kids pouring sugar straight into their bodies via sports drinks during the game; then afterwards diving into cupcakes, candy, chips, chicken tenders and French fries only to chase that with even more sugary drinks and sodas—all provided by parents! 

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While our kids work up an appetite during the game, allowing them to eat unhealthy foods immediately after a great healthy activity does not pass the common sense test. It sends our kids a really powerful—and really misguided—message about how to be healthy and fit, but not differentiating between everyday food and "sometimes snacks" for special occasions. It’s also a tough habit to break because nobody wants to be that mom who gets rid of the fun snacks.

I want to help moms (and dads) make the sidelines as important as the playing field, so I worked with our Strong4Life experts at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to create an easy strategy, designed to give parents solid information about replacing bad snack habits.

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Here are some of the highlights:

Study your opponent (hint: it’s not the other team) 

  • The real opponent is the empty-calorie food we give our kids at practice and games. There are foods, like vegetables, fruit and whole grains that not only provide our kids with energy, but nutrients. Then, there are foods filled with sugar, fat and sodium that don’t build strong…anything. These are the empty calories that just weigh us down. So check labels. See the sugar content in soda, juice, flavored water and sports drinks, not to mention fruit snacks and candy? Notice the sugar and fat in chips, cupcakes, cookies, muffins and bars?  Whether you are bringing them as snacks or eating them at restaurants/fast-food places, these foods and drinks offer empty calories, not the long-lasting energy our little sluggers need to compete.

Two secret weapons = Innumerous benefits

Secret Weapon #1: Give 'em water

  • It’s the best source of hydration for children before, during and after physical activity. Period. Unless they’re competing at a collegiate/pro/Olympic level, they simply aren’t exercising vigorously enough to need sports drinks. Make water fun by using special re-usable bottles (think team colors or decorations).

Secret Weapon #2: Get refined sugar out of their snacks

  • Supply fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy to provide the healthy carbs and protein kids need to re-fuel. Aim for snacks that include two food groups, like fresh apple slices with peanut butter or whole-wheat crackers with cheese (make sure to check for allergies first). Click here for more healthy snacks to buy and make.

Party in moderation

  • Celebrating big wins or the season’s end is all part of the game, but try to limit ice cream or pizza outings to one per season.  

So far, as I peer into our dugout, I see mostly water. Perhaps the parents are listening. I've made a few mistakes as team mom, but one thing is for sure - I continue to cheer for healthy snacks and water! Go team.

Strong4Life is a movement created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to address the childhood obesity medical crisis that is threatening nearly one million kids in Georgia. For information about Strong4Life visit our website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Strong4Life Blog.

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