Sports and Nutrition

The Solana Beach Soccer Club is committed to providing athletic opportunities for the children in our community. Keeping kids physically active is an important way to promote a healthy lifestyle. It is well known that exercise offers many benefits to children’s physical health. Other measurable and proven benefits include:
  • Kids who compete in sports have better social skills
  • Playing a sport is associated with reduced drug and alcohol abuse and smoking
  • For girls in sports there is an association with increased self-esteem and healthier body image
  • Kids in sports have a lower likelihood of depression
  • Kids involved in sports have a higher chance of graduating from high school and college
Where we are falling short is with the nutritional choices we offer our children at sporting events.

You have probably witnessed the high-fat, high-sugar choices that are munched, guzzled and eaten after or between games. Reflect on the foods that are consumed when participating in and/or watching athletic events. Think about these questions:
  • Are these food that would be the ideal fuel for kids regardless of their activity?
  • Are these foods giving a consistent, positive message to children about health when they participate in sports?
  • Do we want to continue the cycle of linking unhealthy food and beverages to athletic activity for our children?
We understand that candy, soda and other unhealthy food choices will always be available. But it is all about balance. We would like to encourage our participants, parents and coaches to make sure that healthy food choices are always available as options.

Please click on the links below for more specific information on the myths and facts of sports nutrition, and for ideas about how YOU can support healthy choices for our young athletes.

In developing our club’s nutritional policies, we have relied upon the “Power Up for Sports and Health” toolkit for youth athletic leagues that was created by the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, the Dental Health Initiative of San Diego, and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Here’s to a great season of youth soccer!!

SBSC nutrition policy

Information for Parents: Coaches' Corner (or Information for Coaches): Game Day Snacks: