Kids Sports: What Snacks To Bring?
Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008
by Laura Trahan
My son has been playing sports since he was three years old. Oddly enough, the thing that will send a mom into a panic faster than a goalie missing the ball is being told she in charge of snacks for a game.
Nobody wants to be the bad mom who brought the inappropriate or worse bad snack. The kids' favorite part of the games is the snack time afterwards. This leads to a lot of pressure on the team parent who is in charge of bringing that snack.
Many moms do not want their child to have a lot of sugar and demand healthy snacks. Many kids stick their nose up at healthy snacks. What is the solution? Balance. Take a deep breath and don't stress. Here are a few suggestions that will satisfy the majority for team snacks.
Drinks
Gatorade-is the top kid's choice. One draw back is more than likely when it comes to baseball players' Gatorade use, the kids have already had one during the game. Too much could lead to bad tummy problems.
Propel-is a good alternative because it is flavored water. Just be prepared for the kids whining because it isn't Gatorade.
Capri Sun Sport-these are new to the sport snack scene. They come with different sports pictured on the side so you can find the sport that you are buying for and buy that flavor. Kids love it and it is a small drink in comparison to the others.
Bottled water-Although the parents will love you, the kids will not.
It is ok for the kids to have some sugar after a game. They have burned a lot of electrolytes playing the game and should rehydrate.
Food
Oranges-these are very popular at halftime of soccer games as well as afterwards. When kids are smaller, most parents just bring snack for after, so not to lose their attention to the game. As they grow, halftime snacks can provide some much needed energy.
Granola Bars-These are good for those healthy parents, but you can get the ones with some good flavors for the kids.
Goldfish-Also a great healthy snack that parents and kids love.
Chips-There are Sun Chips or any kind of chips.
Graham Crackers
Fruit-Bananas or apple slices make great on the go snacks.
Crackers-they have peanut butter and cheese crackers that are great snacks. Be aware of peanut butter allergies.
Doughnuts-These are great for those early morning games. The kids love the treat.
These are just a few suggestions. You know what types of food your kids like. Be confident and don't let the other parents get to you. It isn't that big of a deal. One piece of advice-remember to bring enough for siblings. Feel free to add any additional ideas in the comments.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)hi laura,
i had 3 in sports at the same time, and i certainly remember the nervousness when i knew it was my snack day. and there were parents that were told not to bring certain things. i can relate to this story so well, like it was yesterday, not 10 years ago! oranges cut up were my usual.
thanks for sharing,
my best regards,
sue
Thanks for the advice!You're welcome! thanks for commenting!
I think its sad that we care about kids that don't want healthy snacks! We as parents are the example! What message are we sending when we give kids that have just exercised doughnuts! When are parents going to start caring about that health of their kids and other people kids. If you want to feed you kid junk, do it after the game! Parents who want to feed our kids healthy and parents with kids with allergies and sensitivities have to tell their children they can't have it. I would much rather bring a healthy snack that some kids won't be happy with then doughnuts! On top of that, kids will try new things when they see others eating it. I have yet to meet a child that does not love strawberries, watermelon, or grapes. When given a choice between these and junk they probably will choose junk, but would be thrilled to see these and other fruits for a snack. I have done ALL fruits and vegetables with dip for my daughters last 3 birthday parties age4, 5 and 6, and NO children complained about not having junk as part of the party!!Agreed! What kid turns their nose up at fresh fruits? And if they do, we should cater to this behavior by offering them doughnuts instead? Please.Chill out. My kids eat healthy nutritious food at home and it is a nice change to have an occasional sweet. The kids worked hard for the game and the game is only once a week. It is not a problem to have a doughnut, or even better doughnut holes, every once in a while. In my home we don't have chips or popcorn or any extra sweets. We eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit and healthy meals mainly from Cooking Light. I think the problem isn't having an occasional treat after a game, but the parents of those kids who don't feed their family nutritional meals the rest of the week that a treat is too much every other week. Relax some weeks parents bring a healthy snack and sometimes its a doughnut. You can have sweets in moderation. No big deal.
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