Elite athletes know how to deliver elite performances. And they know that the best way to fuel elite performances is to make great nutrition choices. But fueling elite performances shouldn’t be limited to our elite athletes. 

Nutrition is a key contributor to performance. And it’s one that is often overlooked for athletes of all ages. The building blocks of good nutrition start with just good instincts. Starting from a young age, you probably knew not to eat certain things before a game, or to not eat too much because it’s hard to digest before the game starts. What youth athletes might not know is that certain foods can make you feel more energetic, think more clearly, and benefit performance in training and competition.

Here at Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ we believe that parents and coaches can help youth athletes incorporate sports nutrition into their pre-game plans to bring out their best performance. Think of food as fuel for everything your youth athletes do.

We sat down with USA Hockey’s J.D. Forrest, Intern Assistant Coach for the U.S. National Under-18 Team, to get his thoughts on how youth athletes, coaches and Positive Sport Parents can help fuel elite performances.

In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, J.D. told us that he believes fueling performance involves paying close attention to your body, and what you put into it.

“Pay attention to how your body feels after you eat food,” said J.D. “Do you get tired right after you eat? Do you have a sudden burst of energy and then crash? Or do you have a level of sustained energy? Listening to your body can give you a better idea of what foods you process the best, and what works for your body.”

J.D. said that youth athletes should try to take in a “protein/recovery drink” after playing or practicing – and avoid or reduce soda consumption at all times.

“Soda, pop, soft drinks, whatever you want to call them…they are terrible for you,” said J.D. “Those drinks are just empty calories that are hard for the body to process. There is no nutritional value in soda, and it should not be part of an athlete’s meal plan.”

J.D. added that he believes coaches and parents can both play a vital role in ensuring youth athletes properly fuel their performances.

“Coaches can talk to their players about why you should stay hydrated, and educate them on the benefits of proper nutrition,” said J.D. “Coaches can also make sure that during training, you are allowing for water breaks and encouraging your players to hydrate.”

Positive Sport Parents, meanwhile, can help out by making sure elite performances are also being fueled in the home.

“Again, education is key,” said J.D. “The more you know and the more your kids know, the better off you are. If healthy foods and snacks are stocked in the house, then that’s what your kids will be eating. If you have junk food everywhere, you are sending the wrong message.”

To read the full TAKE 5 interview with J.D., visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!

At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning on and off the ice.

©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.