Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) and Wake County Council on Health and Fitness experts evaluated snacking habits of youth participating in sports in Wake County and determined that snacks are rarely necessary before or after practice. This finding is presented in a new healthy snacking plan geared to help athletes and their parents make smart snacking decisions.

A team of nutritionists, health educators, exercise physiologists and pediatricians determined that snacks are rarely necessary for children participating in sports because practices are typically just before or immediately after dinner where children should fulfill their nutritional needs. If a snack is necessary, the best choice is a fresh fruit or vegetable; followed by alternatives of dried fruit, no sugar added applesauce or canned fruits packaged in their own juice.

“Many parents provide children with snacks and drinks that are too high in sugar and do not contain much - if any - nutritional value to re-fuel kids after practices and games,” commented Laura Aiken, director, Advocates for Health in Action and WakeMed community health specialist. “We found that children participating in multi-game tournaments or high endurance sports may have additional caloric needs but the majority of children participating in sports are not exercising at a level that would require snacks on a regular basis – especially snacks and drinks laden with unnecessary sugar.”

Additionally, only endurance athletes or athletes who participate in high intensity sports in high temperatures need to consume “sports” drinks. This, however, does not diminish the importance of hydration and the experts advocate for children staying hydrated with plain water before, during and after games and practices.

The Healthy Snacking Plan can be found at www.advocatesforhealthinaction.org.

It is also being widely distributed to pediatricians, coaches and parents throughout Wake County through Wake County Public Schools, CASL and Raleigh Parks and Recreation. In fact, the City of Raleigh will be distributing 1500 flyers in their football, cheerleading, and baseball packets as part of their July Coaches training. AHA will also make healthy snack recommendations for other youth programs such as summer camps, before and after-school care, and track-out camps.

The Healthy Snacking Project was created by AHA partners, the Wake County Council on Health and Fitness and Community Care of Wake and Johnston Counties, who saw the need to promote healthy snack ideas for kids participating in youth sports. It is their goal for healthy snacks to be the norm for all youth sporting events in Wake County and to do so AHA will be working with and providing technical assistance and support to all youth sports organizations in Wake County to implement a healthy snack policy. The Wake County medical community has embraced the project and several area physicians have signed a letter endorsing the project. Many practices in the area will include the education in well-child visits and sports physicals. Additional information can be found on the AHA website, www.advocatesforhealthinaction.org

About Advocates for Health in Action

Advocates for Health in Action is a group of diverse organizations and community members who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County so healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life. The mission of this collaborative is for Wake County to be a “community where healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life.” AHA works to achieve its mission by shaping policy and environments that ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members. The AHA membership currently includes 40stakeholder organizations and will continue to grow as needs and opportunities are identified. For additional information, please visit www.advocatesforhealthinaction.org.