We Play as a Team! We Try New Things! We Make Healthy Choices! Go Lowery Dozer!
As an advocate of whole food/minimally processed nutrition & growth mindset development, I was excited to discover the U.S. Soccer Foundation Soccer for Success program last year. This program is designed to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills.
Here's how the Lowery Dozer 5 & 6-Year-Old Team adapted this awesome concept:
1. Water for Hydration! All players are given their own water bottle and are asked to only drink plain water on the soccer field. (Before, during, and after practice & games.)
2. Stretch our Muscles! We start our practices & games with a structured warm-up.
3. Fuel our Bodies! We end each practice with a simple nutrition lesson to discuss the main food groups and the benefits of eating nutritious foods. We eat a simple nutritious snack during the lesson with a Taste Test activity. As our games will be near dinner, we won't do snacks on game nights. We host a fun, healthy meal for our end-of-the-season party.
4. Mindset is Everything! We develop & cheer positive affirmations to build confidence and team spirit.
Before our first practice, parents were asked to look over this infographic to identify any allergies and were told that our weekly snacks are built from these foods. With at least three options each week, I'm happy to report that every 2021 and 2022 player found at least one snack that they really liked, with many enjoying all three! Most players gave each one a good try & many discovered they liked foods that were new to them!
I'm also happy to report that all kids consume a lot of water (and only water) at practice and at the games.
KIDS LOVE WHOLE FOODS & COLD WATER!
See our Taste Tests below....
Building Healthy Foundations!
Taste Test #1
At our first practice of the season, players were fed Organic Apples, Cherries, & One-Ingredient Peanut Butter (Crazy Richard's - found at Walmart of Columbia, MS). Lots of Likes, Loves, and Tried Its all around! The quercetin (antioxidant) found in the red skin of apples works with the zinc (mineral) found in peanuts to give your immune system an extra boost. Note that apples & peanuts are both in season at this time of year!
Mother Nature Knows Best!
Purchase one-ingredient peanut butter for maximum nutrition! Most PB on the shelves contain undesirable ingredients like sugar and refined oils that negate the health benefits of pure peanuts.
Building Healthy Foundations!
Taste Test #2
Organic Carrots, Organic Raw Cashews, & Organic Cantaloupe (from Misfits Market). Lots of Likes & Loves and 100% Tries all around! Also, Red Watermelon bonus due to special requests from the previous week.
Lots of love for the Watermelon - which is awesome news for parents planning summertime parties for kids! It's a cheap, easy & nutritious sweet that all littles enjoy.
The Vitamin A in the Carrots help us to see and the Raw Cashews are full of minerals, electrolytes, & healthy fats to keep you full!
We'll see all of these snacks again at our end of the season party. Studies show it can take between 10 to 15 exposures to get a child to like a new food. Having a room full of friends trying the same foods helps too!
CRUNCH!
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