Gatorade Makes Being a Sports Mom Easier Than Ever
Sometimes I wonder how it is that I possibly gave birth to all these athletic little people. I still duck and cover when someone throws something to me,having been traumatized by one too many PE class as a kid. Sports, running, sweating… not really my thing.
But now I have kids who love sports. Who are the happiest when they are playing football or baseball. Or riding their skateboards. Or trying new dives off the diving board.
And my job as their mother has evolved from merely chauffeuring them around from practice to practice, to looking out for their well being as an athlete both on and off the field. I check their sports equipment, make sure everything fits and is sized correctly, make sure they have everything necessary at practices and games, and unfortunately, tend to their injuries. However, there are some things that are avoidable by paying attention to their diets.
Here in the blazing heat of Texas one of my primary concerns is my children staying well hydrated. When the temperatures are over 100 degrees and the kids are wearing heavy sports equipment and helmets it is this is particularly important to be vigilant about fluid intake.
All day long I remind my children to drink and take in fluids, even if they aren’t thirsty. It drives them a little bit crazy, but hey, none of them have dropped from heat exhaustion and dehydration so I think I am doing my job right.
Making wise food choices pre and post activities is so important. I used to think it was just “serious” athletes who had to worry about their carbs and proteins, but I have learned that this isn’t the case. I try to serve them a meal two hours before practice or games that will give them the energy they need to perform their best, usually something that is carbohydrate heavy. You don’t want to be feeding them hamburgers or other fatty fast foods in the car on the way to the practices or games. I have seen way too many kids throwing up on the sidelines and quickly learned what to do to avoid that. I always have a stash of protein bars in my bag for the car ride home.
My kids have always been fans of Gatorade. And Gatorade now has products that help athletes before, during and after their practices and games. They recommend athletes drink their G Series 01 Prime fifteen minutes before exercise to give them pre-game fuel in the form of carbohydrates. After exercise 10-20 grams of protein should be eaten to restore energy and repair the muscles after exercise, Gatorade recommends the G Series 03 Recover.
So tell me, what do you do to make sure your little athletes are performing at their best? One commenter will be randomnly chosen to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. I wish I was eligible to win because I drop a small fortune in that store every sports season.
Also, visit Gatorade Moms for more information and to encourage moms to take the pledge to help young athletes become the best they can be. Gatorade will donate one dollar up to $10,000 to the Women’s
Sports Foundation for every pledge they receive.
There are additional chances to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods: Promotions & Prizes section
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older
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Having just found out that I have Type 2 Diabetes, which runs rampant through my family so it was simply a matter of when and not if, i feel like a parent should do everything they can for as long as they can to influence their children to eat healthy, steady diets of a variety of foods to maintain their energy levels and blood sugar, emotional health and so much more. Yes, it’s easy to grab a burger or pizza. It’s not easy to control your health when you’ve lived a diet of bad food. I wish I’d made smarter choices so I beg all parents to help their kids!
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:42 amWe make sure our children have healthy snacks before a game and stay hydrated during the game to keep healthy.
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:21 pmhttp://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/110084320877748224
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:21 pmDefinitely lots of water and I try to make sure they eat good foods for energy. I also spend a fortune at Dick’s Sporting Goods!
September 4th, 2011 at 11:16 amI try to make sure my girls get enough sleep as well as the correct nutrition. It’s a daily battle but it;s worth the effort because they aren’t nearly as up to performing if they are too tired.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:22 amWe have special water bottles that my three year old loves and loves up drink from. He loves go drink from them. Win win for everyone
September 4th, 2011 at 11:22 amI am also a Gatorade fan — Pedialyte also works in a pinch.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:31 amWe always have a dinner heavy in carbs (typically some version of pasta) the night before a race. Each day throughout the week is filled with 3 complete meals, and a quick nutritious snack every 2 hours. The kids are fortunate to have teachers who let them have a quick bite of fruit or protein during class as long as they are discrete and stay on task.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:34 ami feel very derelict in my duties, but really I was just working on the whole “hydration” thing, be it with water or Gatorade. I also make sure to bring snacks to games because they are pretty ravenous in the car afterwards. I’ll have to give the protein bars a try…Really though I would just love the Dick’s card because we love that store!!
September 4th, 2011 at 11:37 amI like winning things. I like you.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:12 pmI know this is a sponsored post but I am still glad you take time to talk about proper nutrition to support your kids and their sports. I think a lot of people don’t understand the importance of food as a building block to good health. Yay for you!
September 4th, 2011 at 12:20 pmencourage sleep!
September 4th, 2011 at 12:26 pmI would love a $100 gift card to Dick’s, even though that barely covers 2-3 items…..sports, stimulating the economy one season at a time!
September 4th, 2011 at 12:29 pmMy son is too young to play sports yet (and has shown only fleeting interest), but I play Irish sports and quickly learned the importance of hydration to help me perform well. So, even though I’m not a “Gatorade mom” in that I’m helping hydrate my son, I’m a “Gatorade mom” because I play sports myself.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:10 pmI always make sure we have all their equipment! Hard to perform well without it!
September 4th, 2011 at 2:17 pmWe definitely push fluids, including gatorade, around here. I think that is the most important thing along with a well balanced diet overall
September 4th, 2011 at 2:28 pmI always had to get my sleep, and when my children are older, that, along with diet, is what I will focus on.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:20 pmI carry bananas, nuts, and bottles of water~they get Gatorade when I can afford it!
September 4th, 2011 at 5:33 pmWhen I was pregnant, I drank a lemonlime Gatorade every day for breakfast. A 32 oz bright green drink. nothing could quench my thirst like that!
September 4th, 2011 at 5:51 pmBesides diet and hydration, I find that sleep is essential to my 6 pack of athletes. When they’re tired, they are more prone to injuries, and they also whine soooo muchhhh moreeeee! Yes, sleep is my secret weapon!
September 4th, 2011 at 6:15 pmChris,
September 4th, 2011 at 6:20 pmMy son just started with the three series Gatorade drinks for his before, during and after football practice. It can get expensive, but I’d rather pay for that than pay for the doctors.
My two oldest take water or gatorade (depending on the heat) - and before game days we try to eat carb heavy too. Afterwards they eat light but nutrient rich foods (well, I try.) I never liked being a spectator, even at my kids games (ha!) — but I could not stand the intense competition. It looks like your kids are great athletes but even better - good sportsmen/gal too!
September 4th, 2011 at 7:09 pmI make sure they’re hydrated (LOVE Gatorade for this!) and that they’re eating plenty of protein in a nutritious form w/o added calories from fat and nothing too highly processed. Pretty boring really.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:10 pmI’m lucky if all the gear is in their bags and we have nice clean (semi clean?) uniform shirts…
September 4th, 2011 at 8:31 pmIs that Miles wearing a catcher’s “outfit?” Love watching your kids grow. I would also suggest fresh, cold bites of fruit during half time, along with Gatorade and water.
September 4th, 2011 at 8:51 pmI was just at Dick’s today buying my son some under armour gear. I LOVE that place!
It’s a never ending battle to keep up with his gear. My kid is growing so fast I ended up buying cleats, bats, shoes, etc. before spring baseball season and going right back during the beginning of fall-ball to get a bigger glove, etc.
I’ve learned that getting my kid’s head into the game is almost as important as hydration and nutrition. Sometimes he doesn’t need me to roll my eyes or say anything back when he’s talking himself up for a game against a big opponent. Yes, I may KNOW that there is no way our team is beating the league champions, but I’m not going to bust his bubble when he’s talking himself up for the win. When I listen better, he plays better.
September 4th, 2011 at 9:00 pmNo athletes in my house but when my beloved husband developed CHF and was on heavy duty diuretics his doctor recommended Gatorade.
September 4th, 2011 at 9:54 pmLike you I work hard to make sure they have the food/water/rest/equipment they need. And the driving to/from practice. Lots of driving to/from practice and games.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:41 pmI make sure my kids get plenty.. and I mean PLENTY… of sleep! Obviously, I feed them well and keep them drinking water.. but I really feel like letting/making them go to bed early keeps them at their best.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:53 pmi make sure my son eats and drinks healthy foods and gets plenty of sleep so he is ready for whatever life throws him..
September 4th, 2011 at 11:17 pmHydrate, hydrate, hydrate. And decent shoes.
September 5th, 2011 at 12:04 amWe live in N. Cali and understand the need to hydrate and fuel before, during, and after our soccer practices and games.
Fingers crossed we can win some money from Dick’s!
September 5th, 2011 at 2:06 amOne daughter is a cross country runner and the other a gymnast. I am always reminding them to stretch before and after practice!
September 5th, 2011 at 8:00 amWe love Gatorade in our house! It helps to keep my daughter out of the hospital. If she even thinks she’s getting a fever she starts to dehydrate. After two hospitalizations for dehydration we make sure we have Gatorade in the house at all times now.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:22 amWe try to always pack them a cooler for game days filled with healthy foods and plenty of water and Gatorade. At track meets, I would much rather them eat the food I pack than go to the concession stand for nachos and hot dogs. I pack granola bars, cheese, lunch meat and crackers, beef jerkey, a sweet snack for when they are done and then drinks.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:24 amWe focus on the water…and on getting enough sleep…and on eating properly. I’m with you on the no fatty foods. UGH. We are in SC, where the main culprit is humidity. I continually, even when they are NOT in sporting events, tell my kids to drink - no sodas, no caffeine, just water, gatorade (I keep the powder - we drink it as just a regular drink, but also, that way I have it for when the stomach flu hits) kool aid or juice.
September 5th, 2011 at 10:34 amOh, and the other trick? I make them spend lots of time OUTSIDE so they can get used to the heat - it is more of a shock when you go from A/C to heat, I think.
And I remember those Texas summers - ugh, ugh, ugh. And they seem to last forever.
I am always bugging my daughter to drink water, drink water, drink water! Both her and my husband are terrible about it and suffer from it after working out.
September 5th, 2011 at 11:11 amI make sure they have a small meal or sandwich a couple of hours before they play, I send them to the game with water and I always have more drinks with me. I also am constantly reminding them to drink.
September 5th, 2011 at 11:46 amThe thing I do that is most important is hydrate my boys before the game. They have to drink lots of water. During the game we switch between water and gatorade. We also keep cold towels to wear beween innings or plays. Living in the Texas heat it is important to do what you can to not melt.
September 5th, 2011 at 11:46 amDrink! Drink! Drink! I too, force fluids
September 5th, 2011 at 12:50 pmI could float a boat with all the Gatorade consumed by my three boys!
September 5th, 2011 at 1:15 pmthanks for the chance to win a gift card
September 5th, 2011 at 3:23 pmMy son wants a lacrosse stick. They have those at Dick’s. $100 would also be a nice start toward the kayak I think I want.
September 5th, 2011 at 3:53 pmI have 4 boys and 3 playing sports, the littlest one can’t wait for his turn. We always have plenty of water a great big jug with his name on it. My boys are bears when they are hungry so I feed them before their games and make sure to bring a long some healthy extras for after the game….they are always hungry. We love game days.
September 5th, 2011 at 6:14 pmMy daughter always drinks red gatorade at soccer games. She always has a red mustache but it is adorable! The only snack I bring is sunflower seeds to keep her busy on the side lines.
September 5th, 2011 at 8:34 pmI keep my soccer playing son well hydrated by adding a dash of fruit juice concentrate (lemonade, orange, etc) to water so it’s more palatable, make sure he always has his inhaler, and a well stocked first aid kit. He’s my son, very klutzy.
September 6th, 2011 at 1:46 amI don’t have kids, but I used to coach youth volleyball in Florida, and while I wasn’t too strict about what the girls could or couldn’t eat over the course of a tournament, I really encouraged healthy foods and small meals or snacks rather than a huge sandwich, because we often only had an hour break at a time. As an athlete myself, I’ve FINALLY learned that, for endurance racing, Gatorade is a Very Good Thing. I’m still amazed at how much farther I can go when I don’t stick to just water!
September 6th, 2011 at 8:43 amTweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/kgseymour/status/111057150968729600
September 6th, 2011 at 8:45 amI make sure they stay hydrated and I try to make sure they have some downtime at the end of the week - rest is very important.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:58 amremind they during the day to “hydrate” . .
September 6th, 2011 at 8:59 amWe are big on good nutrition first and foremost. We also use a lot of Hammer Nutrition products. My husband swears by their recovery drink and vitamins.
September 6th, 2011 at 10:52 amI LOVE Gatorade!
September 6th, 2011 at 11:01 amI too drop a small fortune at Dick’s each year with two boys that play baseball, soccer and hockey so $100 would help. Gatorade is my boys’ go to sports drink.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:10 amI don’t have kids, but I make sure I’m ready for sports by staying hydrated.
September 6th, 2011 at 12:25 pmProtein bars and Gatorade for sure. My kids are still young, so its good to read what you do.
September 6th, 2011 at 12:32 pmi freeze simple fruit puree. it’s great for after a workout without the added sugar that some things can have. you can mix up the fruit puree with whole fruit and you’re good to go for a trip to the freezer. but even that can’t beat plain old VERY cold water.
September 6th, 2011 at 1:55 pmHealthy food and lots of rest. (And we do throw down a lot of Gatorade here.) I imagine we share the job of washing some of the stinkiest laundry on the planet.
September 6th, 2011 at 2:06 pmAfter watching my 10 year old pass out due to heat exhaustion, we don’t leave the house without a water and a gatorade…
September 6th, 2011 at 2:32 pmWe always bring water to game/practice, and work on hyrdration the day of the game or practice. In the blazing summer, multiple water bottles in a portable cooler to keep it cold. Also, on really hot days, 1 gatorade per kid in addition to the water. At the ages of 5 and 8; I feel water, fruit and nuts are sufficient to keep up energy in a 30-40 minute game.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:42 pmAlso, bless the coach for bringing grapes and watermelon for the kids to snack on between innings and a cooler full of water balloons for a fun post-game cool-down.
Lots of reminders throughout the day to drink, drink, drink water. Usually gatorade during and after the game.
September 7th, 2011 at 10:23 amMy kids LOVE Gatorade!!!!
September 7th, 2011 at 11:18 amGatorade before activity, water during and Gatorade after. Also, attempt to make sure they get 9+ hours sleep each night…this can be the most challenging part!
September 7th, 2011 at 11:43 amI am also a Gatorade fan.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:08 amI always make sure DD stays hydrated during the game.
September 8th, 2011 at 1:55 amtweet.http://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/111678567582138369
September 8th, 2011 at 1:55 amBoth of my girls play softball and my oldest also plays volleyball. It is hard to make sure they get food and drink between school and the game. My husband or I take water and gatorade to every game to make sure the oldest stays hydrated, along with a snack of course. She also likes the gatorade packets you can put in your water.
September 8th, 2011 at 8:23 amI pack a cooler FULL of water, Gatorade, and healthy snacks. Usually protein bars, fruit, and/or granola. My kids LOVE sports seasons because they know that cooler comes out, and they have free reign.
September 8th, 2011 at 10:56 amwater and lots of rest!
September 8th, 2011 at 7:05 pmhttp://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/111938473740603392
September 8th, 2011 at 7:11 pmSounds like a good contest.
September 12th, 2011 at 9:16 pmI make sure they have plenty to drink ~ and have had a good healthy snack before playing.
September 18th, 2011 at 4:46 pmBring LOTS of drinks!
September 24th, 2011 at 5:04 pmWe try to make sure she gets plenty of sleep the night before games. For practices and game days, we keep her hydrated with plenty of water and Gatorade.
September 24th, 2011 at 6:37 pmI love me some Gatorade. I also find that drinking it BEFORE a workout is really helpful–my doctor gave me the tip–helps with exercise headaches!
Oh, and I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/vanessasteck/status/117636467832012800
September 24th, 2011 at 7:14 pmParent sponsored carbo-load the night before the HS football game and always a Gatorade at practices.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:13 pmAdequate sleep (when possible) and hydration with water or Gatorade.
September 24th, 2011 at 10:20 pmMy biggest tip is plenty of sleep and good food. That’s it. I think everyone performs their best with enough sleep.
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
September 24th, 2011 at 11:04 pmTweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/gmissycat/status/117797461153689600
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
September 24th, 2011 at 11:08 pmMake sure they always eat a well balanced meal before their games (with enough time to digest properly), keep them hydrated during and after the game, and make sure they get a good night’s rest the night before.
September 24th, 2011 at 11:26 pmwe encourage water and bring lots f ready to eat fruit to the game, we also give ice pops after
September 25th, 2011 at 12:49 amI make sure my little athlete is performing at his best by encouraging him to make a good effort and try his best.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:00 amI make sure my children eat well before their sporting events and get plenty of rest the night before. I think this helps them in the long run.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:38 amBananas- A quick easy snack with lots of Potassium.
September 27th, 2011 at 11:08 pmwater water water! You can get too much water, but its almost impossible. I make sure that they are hydrated before and after their events! And if its extremely dehydrating fun or they are sick, Gatorade is always on the menu!
September 29th, 2011 at 12:31 pmI tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/119449140357894144
September 29th, 2011 at 12:32 pmMake sure they stay hydrated, eat right, and get plenty of sleep.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:44 pmI believe in good food, lots sleep and a big cheering gallery.
September 29th, 2011 at 3:20 pmBlog http://sodahoney.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-go-to-guide-for-moms-of.html
September 29th, 2011 at 3:21 pmI make sure they get are getting a good night’s rest before their practices and games. Also make sure they are eating a good diet. I am always there to support them and when they are feeling down, there to give them big hugs.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:51 pmTweeted http://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/119605603827068928
September 29th, 2011 at 10:53 pmPRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. BUT LOVE MAKES ONE GO A LOT FARTHER! kytah00@yahoo.com
September 29th, 2011 at 10:56 pm2ND ENTRY TWEET @ http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/119606342578212864 kytah00@yahoo.com
September 29th, 2011 at 10:57 pmI make sure they get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast
September 30th, 2011 at 12:53 amtbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
September 30th, 2011 at 12:53 amhttp://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/119635903592407040
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I make sure they get plenty to sleep eat healthy food and drink plenty of water and gatorade
September 30th, 2011 at 2:38 amWhole, organic foods, loads of encouragement and positive feedback, and substantial rest
September 30th, 2011 at 5:53 amtweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/erunuevo/status/119711973272322048
September 30th, 2011 at 6:43 amI tell my son he can do anything and I go to every event and make sure he drinks plenty of Gatorade and eats healthy.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:28 amI make sure that my children eat nutritiously, get adequate sleep, keep hydrated, have a good sense of self esteem, and stay healthy both physically and mentally.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:16 amKeeping them hydrated and giving them healthy snacks like fresh fruits and veggies instead of processed packaged stuff with lots of added salts and sugars.
September 30th, 2011 at 6:20 pmNo kids, but I believe that it should be fun to do sports.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:23 pmThanks for the contest.
http://twitter.com/#!/slehan/status/119915502708596736
September 30th, 2011 at 7:24 pmI make sure I go to all the games and cheer my son on from the sidelines! I also make sure he stays well-hydrated, well-rested and eats well.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:26 pm