I posted the photo above to my socials last Saturday and said "It's Saturday afternoon. Look at this picture and then say where you think I am. Go..."
The post received almost 100 comments and nearly every single one of them commented that I was at a sports canteen or tuckshop.
They were so right. These were the boxes outside our netball canteen.
This tells me it’s become normal and accepted that at weekend sports events kids will eat foods that aren’t supporting their health.
It is widely recognised that what we eat is about 80% of our health. Many well recognised doctors say “you can’t out exercise a bad diet.”
Yet our sporting culture for kids recreational sport on the weekends is one of play sport and follow it up with ‘rewarding’ the kids with foods that are the best for their health. It's also common to give them lollies for energy to play. Then not uncommon for them to sports drink as well (about 9tsp of sugar).
How confusing for our kids.
What are we teaching them about health with such mixed messages?
Are you frustrated with weekend sport and your kids being ‘rewarded’ with lollies and the like for participating?
Or are you frustrated with the quality of food on offer at the canteen?
If yes, then know you are not alone. I speak to a lot of mums. So many of them are frustrated but they don’t want to be ‘that mum who says something.’
But what will happen if we don’t stand up and be that mum? Will our health statistics for children's health continue to decline?
Be proud that you recognise it’s more important to put aside your own discomfort for the sake of making your kids health a priority.
Be proud! Be strong! Be a Stand!
I've prepared a template letter for you to share with your coach if this is a concern to you. Click here or the image below to download the letter. Thanks for being a Stand for Children's Health.