A Guide to Eating for Sports There is a piece of good news that eating to reach your peak performance level likely doesn't require a special diet or supplements. It's all about working the right foods into your fitness plan in the right amounts. Here are some basics. Eat Extra for Excellence Teen athletes have unique nutrition needs. Because athletes work out more than their less-active peers, they generally need extra calories to fuel both their sports performance and their growth. Depending on how active they are, teen athletes may need anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 total calories per day to meet their energy needs. Since tech athletes need extra fuel, it's usually a bad idea for them to diet. Athletes in sports where weight is emphasized—such as wrestling, swimming, dance, or gymnastics—may feel pressure to lose weight, but they need to weigh that choice with the possible negative side effects mentioned above. If a coach, gym teacher, or teammate says that you need to go on a diet, talk to your doctor first or visit a dietitian who specializes in teen athletes. If a health professional you trust agrees that it's safe to diet, he or she can work with you to develop a plan that allows you to perform. your best and lose weight. Eat a Variety of Foods You may have heard about 'carb loading' before a game. But when it comes to powering your game fox' the long haul, it's a bad idea to focus on only one type of food. Carbohydrates are an important source of fuel, but they're only one of many foods an athlete needs. It also takes vitamins, minerals, protein, and fats to stay in peak playing shape. Muscular Minerals and Vital Vitamins Calcium helps build the strong bones that athletes depend on, and iron carries oxygen to muscles. Most teens don't get enough of these minerals, and that's especially tree of teen athletes because their needs may be even higher than those of other teens. To get the iron you need, cat lean red meats (meats with not much fat on them) grains that are fortified with iron and green, leafy vegetables. Calcium—a must for protecting against stress fractures— is found in dairy foods, such as low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. In addition to calcium and iron, you need a whole bunch of other vitamins and minerals that do everything from help you access energy to keep you from getting sick. Eating a balanced diet, including lots of different fruits and veggies, should provide the vitamins and minerals needed for good health and sports performance. Protein Power Athletes need slightly more protein than less-active teens, but most teen athletes get plenty of protein through regular eating. It's a myth that athletes need a huge daily intake of protein to build large, strong muscles. Muscle growth comes from regular training and hard work—not popping a pill. And taking in too much protein can actually harm the body, causing dehydration, calcium loss, and even kidney problems. Good sources of protein are fish, lean meats and poultry, eggs, dairy, nuts, soy, and peanut butter. Carb Charge Carbohydrates provide athletes with an excellent source of fuel. Cutting back on carbs or following low-carb diets isn't a good idea for athletes because restricting carbohydrates can cause a person to feel tired and worn out, which ultimately affects performance. Fat Fuel Everyone needs a certain amount of fat each day, and this is particularly true for athletes. That's because active muscles quickly bum through carbs and need fats for long-lasting energy. Like carbs, not all fats are created equal. Experts advise athletes to concentrate on healthier fats, such as the unsaturated fat found in most vegetable oils. Choosing when to cat fats is also important for athletes. Fatty