Importance of nutrition for young athletes

Good nutrition is essential during childhood and adolescence as it is a time of rapid growth and development for their bodies. General eating habits and patterns are also formed in these years of life. Proper nutrition is even more important for young athletes to attain proper growth while also performing optimally in sports.

As with any other child or adolescent (even adults), a basic and well-balanced diet containing appropriate amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is essential to provide enough energy for growth and activity. However, young athletes also need to learn what foods are good for fueling, recovering, and hydrating. When, what, and how to eat and drink before, during, and after exercise.

A three-level pyramid is often used to illustrate the different categories of sports nutrition to meet athletes’ dietary requirements. Level 1 focuses on the basic diet and level 2 on sport-specific nutrition. The top of the pyramid represents the use of dietary supplements, although not (unless indicated otherwise) yet relevant for young athletes.