Soccer Snack Insanity

Soccer Snack Insanity

(This blog post originally appeared on Huffington Post)

I am a pediatric dietitian who will eat and allow my kids to have cookies, brownies and cupcakes on occasion. Much of their exposure to these foods is during birthday parties or holiday celebrations, but they also eat sweet treats in the house that I make myself. And I believe that is the way sweets should be handled with kids… as an occasional treat. To have cupcakes, candy, brownies, chips and sugary drinks brought by parents and handed weekly to our kids on the soccer fields after their games sends the wrong nutritional message. Would you eat a cupcake after your five-mile run? I doubt it. Then why are we feeding our kids this way?

I am not the only one upset about the food brought to the soccer fields. I am writing this because week after week, parents complain to me from all over the country about the types of soccer snacks served in their towns. They are outraged and fed up. And they should be.

One parent wrote me about a donut situation in which another parent brought several big, pink boxes full of donuts as post-game fare. (There were extra donuts for all siblings present at the game too.) The upset mom told me that she does give her son sweets, but had not made the trip down to the local donut shop yet. She was frustrated that his first exposure to donuts — huge bear claws no less! — was after his soccer game. Since that snack, her kid is now more excited about after-game snacks than the soccer game itself.

Other families complain to me about the timing of when these snacks are offered. For example, there is an 11 a.m. game which ends at noon. Lunch time, right? Wrong. First, it’s soccer snack time. The kids line up for post-game snack and are handed brownies, chips or cookies with juice to wash it all down. Do you know what this does to a kid’s appetite for lunch? You guessed it. Their body is filled to the brim with sugar, and any fruits or vegetables that may have been on a lunch menu after the game don’t stand a chance. No parent would give their child a brownie right before they ate their lunch. Yet, when soccer games end near lunchtime, that’s exactly what is happening.

By far the most disheartening stories I hear are from those parents trying desperately to encourage their overweight or obese child to become more active. Soccer is a terrific sport for many of these kids. The pace is fast and fun and the calorie burn can be significant. But the calories burned are rendered irrelevant by the post-game snack. Week after week, well-intentioned parents see these snacks chip away (pun kind of intended) at the plan to help their kid.

I know there are parents who will disagree with what I have to say and may think if the kids are not overweight, who cares. The truth of the matter is it doesn’t matter whether the kids are overweight or not, pumping our kids full of sugar after exercise is a physiologic mistake. I am sure all parents can agree on one thing: We want what is best for our kids. Well, I can tell you what is nutritionally best for kids. These sugary snacks are unhealthy and don’t teach kids anything about optimizing their actively, growing bodies. There is nothing I can find in the sports medicine literature that states refueling with simple sugar and trans-fatty acids is a wise nutritional decision. In my opinion, and in the opinion of many other medical professionals and parents I have spoken to, fresh fruit and water seem to be the perfect after-game snack. I have not spoken directly with Michelle Obama yet, but I suspect she will also agree with me on this one.

Here is how we solve this problem: Soccer leagues must take the initiative to set snack rules at the beginning of the season and enforce them with coaches and parents. An approved snack list should be provided to all parents that shows what they can bring to the field; bananas, grapes, watermelon, kiwi, oranges, apples or other fresh fruit make the list. Nothing else qualifies. Very few child athletes around our country need electrolyte-enhanced sports drinks. The vast majority do not need them, so water should suffice. Let’s also use this opportunity to teach the kids to be environmentally conscious. Each kid brings a full water bottle from home.

Save the cupcakes and cookies for birthday parties, holidays and occasional desserts at home. Keep them away from the soccer fields. This soccer snack insanity in America has to stop and leagues have to take action immediately.

About Melanie Silverman

Melanie is a pediatric registered dietitian nutritionist (RD) and a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) working primarily in pediatric nutrition for well over 15 years. She spent seven years as a clinical dietitian at The University of Chicago Medical Center in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, adult and pediatric burn units, and high risk pediatric follow-up clinic. She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Melanie has presented at state and national meetings for the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), March of Dimes, Prader-Willi California Foundation, Texas Prader-Willi Association, Oklahoma Prader Willi Syndrome Association, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) in the United States and Canada and the Prader-Willi Syndrome USA (PWSA). She worked hard for her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Spanish from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. A member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, California Dietetic Association, Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group, Women’s Health Group, Nutrition Entrepreneurs and an active member of the International Lactation Consultant Association.
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PICKY EATER:  Melanie is not your typical nutritionist. She is has a program that empowers you to help your picky or finicky eater/child.  As a parent, I feel that the one area that my children have held me captive is when it comes to eating. After all, as parents, we want them to eat and if at all possible eat well and eat healthy. Therefore we will use whatever means necessary to ensure that they do. Which sometimes involves a gamut of things from bribery to punishment. Melanie teaches you not only what to eat but how to eat or feed and that paradigm shift is what I considered to be a priceless lesson that I hope to learn and master while teaching it to my kids. 

If you struggle with nutrition, feeding problems or have a poor relationship with food, give her a call and opportunity to help. It may just be the one thing that makes a breakthrough. But be forewarned, it takes active participation but just like a good exercise program, results can be very tangible!

PICKY EATER WITH ADHD:  I was very afraid that with this ADHD medication he was going to stop growing or lose weight but after working with you I just kept going and he looks so healthy.  The stomach problems he had at the beginning with the medication are now gone.  Thanks a lot for all your help and great advice.  You might not realize it, but you have changed our lives for the better.   Even though we started with just food, the program has improved our daily lives so much.  I will always be thankful for that.  

PICKY EATER:  “I want to thank you for your encouragement, passion, and dedication. Because of you our lives have improved. Because of you I get emails and FB posts from Weelicious, 100 days of real food and Karen Le Billion, and receive even more encouragement and ideas on how to rock my kids food world.”

PICKY EATER:  “Thank you thank you thank you lady. You are the best. I am singing your praises to all who will listen and sticking to the program. I forgot to tell you that I also started reading some of your recommended books. I started Shrink Yourself and I am stunned at how powerful this book is. I think you should require everyone to read it. I am forever changed for the better and I am so grateful every day for all the knowledge you have shared with us! We love you and all you do for so many families. Keep in touch…”

PICKY EATER:  “Melanie is not your typical nutritionist. She has a program that empowers you to help your picky or finicky eater/child. As a parent, the one area that my children have held me captive is when it comes to eating. Melanie teaches you not only what to eat, but how.”  

BREASTFEEDING:  “When I first called Melanie, I was panicked, tired and stressed! After 3 months of breastfeeding, my newborn son went on a full-out hunger striker. During a late-night phone consultation with Melanie,she calmly helped explain possible causes of my son’s nursing aversion and recommended two supplements to help increase my supply. She didn’t let me hang up the phone until I was completely comfortable with my new game plan and she encouraged me to call back with updates or with more questions.”  

SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS:  “Melanie Silverman is a true professional and she is absolutely as good is it gets! I’ve had the privilege of working with her on a professional level and her advice is excellent. For 10 years we’ve been serving meals to kids in private schools and we thought we had learned a lot along the way. However, Melanie has brought a new level of understanding about nutrition to our business. And just as important, she delivers her message with a very common sense approach.”

BREASTFEEDING MOM:  In addition to her fantastic nutrition programs, Melanie is also an excellent lactation consultant.  I highly recommend calling her at the first sign of a problem or even if you just have questions.  I would not have succeeded at breastfeeding my baby for over a year without Melanie’s help.  My baby refused to breast feed from day one and was not gaining enough weight after we left the hospital.  I found Melanie less than a week after my baby was born, but I felt like it had already been an eternity of sleeplessness, worrying and tears.  Melanie came to my home the same night (11pm) that I called her and was so professional, comforting and supportive.  She really helped me understand why my baby wasn’t eating and gave me some very specific techniques and solutions to try that were easy and not overwhelming.  What I really appreciated about Melanie was her compassion, supportiveness and positive energy.  In the hour that she was with me I went from feeling like a failure and totally hopeless to feeling confident and determined to be successful at breastfeeding my baby.  She gave me recommendations that were tailored to my specific issues, and I was able to implement and see results immediately.  The next two weeks were still rough, but Melanie was there to support me and ultimately help me succeed.  

PICKY EATER:  Hi Mel…
My daughter had her 5 year well check this week and her hemoglobin level was 13.6! Our pediatrician was quite happy with that number and commented on how my persistence with getting her to eat a variety of foods has paid off. Thank you for your support! It’s been a couple of years since we worked with you and we are milestones ahead of where we were when we first sought your help. She still has days of, shall we say, indifference to some of the food I put on the table, but she recites aloud, “I don’t have to eat it, but it stays on my plate!”

DAUGHTER WITH PWS:  You have been a life changer! I am so grateful!!  

BREASTFEEDING MOM:  Thank you so much for stopping over the other night to help me with our lactation issues.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your support, reassurance and answers to my questions as we are trying to adjust to breastfeeding and parenthood in general!

PICKY EATER:  We really enjoyed meeting with you!  We have already noticed improvements with him!  THANK YOU THANK YOU!

BREASTFEEDING MOM:  You are a fantastic lactation consultant!  Thank you so much for all of your help.

PICKY EATER:  How can I truly thank you for all you have done.  My kids should write you “thank you” notes because you have made their days much better.  We have had no recent food struggles and she is not withering away.

PICKY EATER:  I want to thank you for your encouragement, passion, and dedication.  Because of you our lives have improved!

BREASTFEEDING:  When I first called Melanie, I was panicked, tired and stressed!  After 3 months of breastfeeding, my newborn son went on a full-out hunger striker.  During a late-night phone consultation with Melanie she calmly helped explain possible causes of my son’s nursing aversion and recommended two supplements to help increase my supply.  She didn’t let me hang up the phone until I was completely comfortable with my new game plan and she encouraged me to call back with updates or with more questions.

MENU DEVELOPMENT:  Melanie Silverman is a true professional and she is absolutely as good is it gets! I’ve had the privilege of working with her on a professional level and her advice is excellent. For 10 years we’ve been serving meals to kids in private schools and we thought we had learned a lot along the way. However, Melanie has brought a new level of understanding about nutrition to our business. And just as important, she delivers her message with a very common sense approach.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT:  Thanks again for visiting our moms group yesterday morning!  It was truly a pleasure to finally meet you.  You were everything I expected and so much more … knowledgeable, professional, poised, maternal, plus sassy, hilarious, and so engaging & fun.  The group loved you and enjoyed your talk.  We hope to have you back again in the future.

PICKY EATER:  I’m writing to just thank you again. We are a couple of weeks into our new habit of eating all together at the table sans technology or books, toys, etc. She is picking up her cup and “cheers-ing” us. If we got nothing else out of this experience with you (which we did) the “rule” of having to sit at the table together with no distractions was worth it. This is how I grew up and envisioned life with my kids would be, but somehow in all the busy goings on of life, we got distracted and allowed people to eat with the TV on and whereever they pleased. My three year old was so welcoming to the new rules of mealtime too. THANK YOU is not enough! Who knew that as a dietitian you would impact families in this way? You’re the best!

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT:  Your lecture on nutrition received the highest marks from our participants.  Numerous attendees reported that your nutrition presentation was the most helpful and your teaching methods were awesome and entertaining.

STUDENT:  Thank you so much for everything. I really had a great time with you.  Thank you for covering up my deficiencies with understanding and patience.  You never once made me feel inadequate or incompetent and I admire you for that.  You have such a great talent for teaching and I know that many students will benefit from a teacher like you.  You definitely made a positive impact in my life and you will be one of those teachers that a student will never forget.

STUDENT:  Thank you so very much for allowing me to shadow your practice.  You helped me learn so much about topics I had never focused on before.  Thank you for respecting me instead of “hazing me”!! And thank you for letting me be a small part of your life as a business woman and mom.  I learned so much in such a short amount of time.  Please keep in touch Melanie.   

BREASTFEEDING MOM:  Thank you so much for taking time to speak with me about breastfeeding.  You are a great lactation consultant and you are doing a wonderful thing for so many women who need your guidance.

PICKY EATER/BREASTFEEDING MOTHER:  You need to know that you touch lives in such a positive way. I am better off because I have crossed paths with you.

PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME Presentation:  We would like to express our deepest gratitude for all you contribute to the PWS community.  Your expertise and guidance have helped so many families affected PWS.  We are so fortunate to have you as a resource.  Thank you for taking part in this weekend.

 

PICKY EATER:  Thank you thank you thank you!  I feel so much better after all your help.  I even cried.  I am so glad you are here to support me, I don’t think I would do this if I couldn’t keep in touch with you for the month.