Youth sport is growing rapidly around the world. In America, an estimated 45 million children and adolescents participate in organized sport 1
In New Zealand, the last Active Survey (2018) showed that 95% of young people (ages 5 to 17 years) participate in sport and active recreation 2.
This is good, because organized sport and exercise provide many health benefits to young people, including regular physical activity, social interaction and the development of self-identity and self-esteem. 3
However, the energy and nutrient requirements for this extra activity at a time of rapid growth and development needs to be factored in. Who will teach them about sports nutrition if it’s not part of the school curriculum??
Recently there has been considerable global interest in sports nutrition education with research focusing on general as well as sport-specific nutrition knowledge of adolescent athletes 4,5,6
General nutrition
This usually covers the nutrients found in ‘real food’ and particularly the key macro-nutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrate) found in the five food groups needed for good health. Currently this is being picked up in NZ schools at years 5 and 6 (for children aged 9-10 years) in the Food for Thought Program run by the Heart Foundation and Foodstuffs NZ, 7 which also teaches about label reading and supermarket shopping. A Garden to Table initiative aimed at teaching children (7–10-year-olds) to grow and cook vegetables is also popular. 8
Sports specific
This nutrition perspective teaches athletes how macronutrients aid body growth, the production of power and strength for mental and physical performance, and the key times when athletes might need them most. A popular topic is what to eat and drink before,- during, and after exercise in order to provide enough energy when training or competing. The goal is to maintain growth and good health by allowing the body to repair, refuel and recover after exercise.
With a growing number of NZ children aged 5-6 years now taking part in vigorous exercise such as mini marathons, hikes and swimming events, or specializing in sports such as gymnastics, ballet and judo at a young age, we should be talking about sports nutrition to parents as soon as children start school or club sports. Sport nutrition education reduces the risk of low energy availability (due not only to inadequate diet but also an increased energy expenditure 4 ), nutrient deficiency, fatigue, delayed wound healing, injuries such as stress fractures, and illness like glandular fever that can occur when athletes overtrain and undereat.
Unfortunately, there is very little sports nutrition research of junior athletes. Most research is carried out with adolescent athletes. By that age, much of their growth, development, and eating behaviours are well established.
Youth athletes have gaps in nutrition knowledge
Using food questionnaires, researchers in USA and Australia 4-6 have studied nutrition knowledge versus the perceived dietary requirements of adolescent student- athletes. Here are some of the nutrition gaps that they have observed.
– Athletes believe that they need less energy and carbohydrate and more protein and fat than they do 4
-Male and female athletes are failing to eat enough from the five main food groups each day. 5
– Athletes consume less fruit and vegetables than required daily 6
– Athletes often graze on ‘empty calories’ found in discretionary foods such as crisps, confectionary, sodas, juice and sugar sweetened beverages 5,6
– Athletes regularly eat larger portions of takeaways and ultra-processed snack foods that are low in dietary fibre but high in saturated fat and salt. 6
– Young athletes lack knowledge about the use of dietary supplements 6 (but can now buy these cheaply over the internet).
– Athletes have better general knowledge than non-athletes, but their sports specific knowledge is poor. 5,6
– Athletes are often confused about their hydration, how much they need and the use of energy and sports drinks. 5
– Eating behaviours that includes the skipping of breakfast, eating in front of television, buying lunch and drinks at school canteens and takeaway meals is leading to the consumption of energy intakes greater than requirements and of poorer nutrient quality. 6
What are some of the barriers to healthier eating?
Common barriers to healthy eating and meeting the nutritional requirements for athletes include:
Lack of knowledge (37%)
Lack of energy and motivation (34%)
Limited access to food (10%)
Lack of time (7%)
Financial constraints (7%)
Travel demands for their sport (5%).
Some of these reasons for food choices are typical behaviours that come with a child’s increased sense of autonomy. Ideally, it’s important to shape their attitudes and beliefs about healthy nutrition early in life in order to improve their dietary choices as they age.5 What is the best way to do this?
Using fear about the risks of developing heart disease and osteoporosis in the future, is not a strong motivator of long-term eating changes for young people. Rather, we want to teach them the positive benefits that eating well now can have on growth, feeling energized, mental sharpness, quick thinking, improved mood, better skin and hair health, sleep, and physical performance. By taking a sport nutrition approach, active young people can learn how to enjoy improved performance now 9
Who should teach sports nutrition?
School teachers:
Research in Australia addressing issues of secondary schoolteachers taking on nutrition education has found that many schoolteachers are very busy just teaching the current curriculum and food literacy and lack the time, motivation, self-efficacy and resources to cover this subject as well as they might prefer. 10
Home Economics Teachers:
In NZ, home economics teachers already teach general nutrition and health to 15–17-year-olds. They use a critical thinking approach that enables students to see how their food choices affect their well- being with long and short-term consequences. Some teachers are also linking up with PE teachers to talk about sports specific nutrition before a competition. This enables students to instantly relate their learning to themselves and their own performance. 11
Accredited Sport Dietitians:
Working in Private practice are well equipped to offer help to schools, sports clubs and community groups wanting to set up sports curriculums for their athletes, sports teams, or individuals.
Parents:
From Day 1 parents are responsible for buying food for their family. Parents who lack general or sport-specific nutrition resources can use my helpful manual on How to Grow an Athlete: From Playground to Podium. For parents with real health concerns for a child, their best bet is to consult a Dietitian for a nutritional assessment and advice.
Learn more: https://howtogrowanathlete.com
More articles by Lea:
Seeking authenticity in food nutrition information
Sports nutrition tips for fun runs
Carbohydrate for body growth and repair
6 tips to help athletes to eat plant foods
Are you eating enough to build strength?
Don’t let eating disorders ruin your performance
References
- Beck,K., Thomson. J., The role of nutrition in performance environment and post exercise recovery. Open access Journal of Sports Medicine 6, 259-267.
- Active NZ survey 2018. Sport New Zealand, https://sportnz.org.nz/resources/active-nz-survey-2018/
- Desbow , B., Burke, L.M., Fallon, K., et al Sports Dietitians Australia Position Statement: Sports Nutrition for the Adolescent Athlete. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2014, 24, 570-584
- Jagmin AR, Merfeld BR, Ambrosius A, et al. Nutrition knowledge and perceived dietary requirements of adolescent student-athletes: A pilot study. Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 133
- Gibbs, R., Becker T.B. General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes. Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition Vol 22, 2025.
- Hulland, S.C., Trakman, G.L., Alcok,R.D., Adolescent athletes have better general that sports nutritional knowledge and lack awareness of supplement recommendations: a systematic literature review. Cambridge University Press 06 December 2023 BJN 131 (8)
- Food for Thought- Empowering healthier futures NZ Heart Foundation https://www.foodforthought.co.nz/
- Garden to table: Grow, Harvest, Prepare, Share. https://gardentotable.org.nz/
- Stening, L.B. How to Grow an Athlete: From Playground to Podium (2022) Quentin Wilson Publishing. https://howtogrowanathlete.com/
- Nanayakkara, J., Margerison C., Worsley, A. Ways to improve secondary school teachers’ confidence in teaching food and nutrition subjects. Education Inquiry Vol 15, 2024 (3)
- Potts, N., Home Economics teacher St Patrick’s College, Silverstream Wellington. Personal communication kaiarahifoodandnutrition@hettanz.co.nz
Special thanks to Nancy Clarke and Lachlan Mitchell from PINES for their collaboration over this article.
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