Teen athletes have special nutritional needs that differ from the average teen.  Teen athletes must eat enough to grow and develop in a healthy way like any growing person.  They must also eat to sustain and support their rigorous training and play in their chosen sport. The major difference between teen athletes and average teens is their extra need for energy and calories.  Non-athletes need up to three thousand calories a day while athletes may …showed first 75 words of 652 total…

…showed last 75 words of 652 total…takes three to four hours to digest, snacks or small meals are recommended because they can be used by the body for energy in as little as an hour. The athlete needs to understand how food affects his or her performance and plan a diet carefully.  Understanding the extra nutritional needs of an athlete can insure that teens involved in sports grow to their full potential while developing the power and strength needed to excel.