Please Don’t Give My Kid Gatorade… and a Bag of Chips for Standing Around!
All of the sports and activities kids participate in nowadays seem to include a snack after the game or event. But after eating a hearty breakfast and heading off to t-ball practice—where they mostly stand around for an hour—do they really need a sports drink and a bag of chips? NO.
The Truth About Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are designed for high-intensity workouts or long-duration training sessions for serious athletes. While I love to think of my elementary aged children as athletes, they simply don’t fall into the category of athletes who require sports drinks! I don’t mind the occasional processed snack, but when snacks are being handed out after every game, birthday party, school event, and practice, it’s no longer an occasional treat—it’s the norm. Not only do my kids now expect something after every event, but the options are often snacks I would rather avoid.
I remember having orange slices and water after every field hockey game in middle school. When did that tradition disappear? These days, kids are being handed Hi-C, Gatorade, Powerade, Capri Sun, and juice boxes along with bags of Sun Chips, Doritos, Cheetos, Rice Krispies Treats, or other processed foods loaded with dyes, sugar, and salt—all for standing around for an hour. Why? Let’s keep our kids healthy!
Challenging the Snack Culture
I know I’m not the popular mom when it comes to this. During my son’s first t-ball season, I volunteered to be the team mom, which included organizing the snack schedule. Honestly, I didn’t think snacks were even necessary. Most of the games were scheduled between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner, and if kids were eating balanced meals, they wouldn’t need extra snacks!
Since snacks were expected, I asked parents to bring healthy options and provided a list of suggestions. The next year, when I wasn’t the team mom, I still sent an email suggesting healthier snacks and limiting sports drinks for kids who were mostly standing around. Let’s just say… I didn’t make many friends! But I’m not here to be popular—I’m here to create change.
A Letter to the Coach
I love this note from Real Mom Nutrition and think it’s a great way to approach the conversation with a coach:
Hi Coach ____,
I wanted to introduce myself. I’m _____’s mom, and we’re all excited about the upcoming season!
I’m writing because I’d like to discuss the topic of team snacks with you. I’m concerned about the junk food I’ve been seeing on the sidelines of kids’ sports, and I’m wondering if you would be open to a fruit-and-water snack policy for our team this season (remember the orange slices we ate on the sidelines when we were kids?).
Children don’t need Oreos, cupcakes, Doritos, and sugary punch on Saturday mornings—or in the evening, especially if families are having dinner after the game. One of the reasons we have our kids in sports is to encourage physical activity and good health, and these kinds of snacks derail that goal. I’ve discussed this with other parents on the sidelines, and it seems like many of them would love to see an end to the junk food too.
If you’d like, I can draft an email to parents on the team about the fruit-and-water snack policy. I’m also happy to organize the snack schedule for you. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you!
Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids’ Sporting Events
What do you favor? Here are some simple, healthy alternatives:
- Cut-up oranges
- Organic carrot sticks (in baggies*)
- Organic apple slices (in baggies*)
- Mini apples
- Lara Bars
- Squeezable applesauce pouches
- Bags of popcorn
- Raisins
When Are Sports Drinks Actually Necessary?
There are times when sports drinks can be beneficial—for example, during long, intense activities where athletes are sweating significantly and losing electrolytes. Here are three clean brands that provide hydration without unnecessary additives:
- Nuun Hydration – Low in sugar and high in electrolytes.
- Skratch Labs Hydration – Made with real fruit and balanced electrolytes.
- LMNT Electrolytes – Zero sugar and balanced electrolytes for serious hydration needs.
Let’s work together to fuel our kids the right way and build lifelong healthy habits—starting on the sidelines!
Inspiration: 100 Days of Real Food
This post was originally posted in 2016.