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Nutrition for athletes

In the option strand, Contemporary food issues - Nutrition, you will study influences on nutritional status. One of those influences is lifestyle. An aspect of lifestyle is an individual's level of physical activity. Athletes are a group who have special dietary needs because of their level of physical activity. The dietary needs will vary according to age, sex, type of training and the level of competition the athlete is involved in. The material on this page is designed to give you resources to plan diets and prepare foods to meet the dietary requirements of athletes. If you are investigating the health of a group of people in Australia you may find the resources at the end of this tutorial useful.

Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:
H2.1 The student evaluates the relationship between food, its production, consumption, promotion and health.
H5.1 The student develops, realises and evaluates solutions for a range of food situations.

Source: Board of Studies NSW, Stage 6 Food Technology Syllabus, Preliminary and HSC Courses (1999)

Nutrition for athletes

The Nutrition for athletes case study provides information on the dietary needs and sample evening meals of a female gymnast, a marathon runner, a male swimmer in training and a female swimmer during competition. Each athlete has different energy requirements because of the nature of their sport.

Calculate the energy requirements for two athletes.
Plan meals for a day for each athlete.
Highlight the dietary differences of two athletes you have selected.

Hot tips from the stars

Sporting identities have become popular media personalities and are often used in advertising to promote products. Food producers in particular have been keen to use athletes. The Uncle Toby's site has a section called Training with the stars. Here you can get tips from people like Sam Riley, Trevor Hendy and Lisa Curry.

Activity

Explain how advertising using sports stars on the Uncle Toby's site may influence attitudes towards foods.

Revise it

Sports nutrition quiz

Read each question carefully and select the most correct answer for each one:

1.	The best carbohydrate rich foods for a sportsperson are: A. the sugars of the 'Eat in Small Amounts' section of the Healthy Eating Pyramid B. the 'Eat Most' foods of the Healthy Eating Pyramid C. found in dairy foods.
2.	Part of a healthy eating plan for a sportsperson is to drink: A. as much water as possible B. whenever thristy C. at least 3 litres of fluid a day.
3.	If athletes take a break from their active lifestyles: A. their muscle will turn to fat B. they often gain weight C. they do not need to be so careful about their food.
4.	To increase muscle mass sportspersons need: A. a high energy diet and regular training B. protein supplements and 'muscle powders' C. to eat large serves of protein foods.
5.	A well chosen vegetarian diet can be healthy and suitable for an active person, but a poorly chosen vegetarian diet can: A. cause dramatic weight loss B. reduce muscle mass C. be a source of anaemia and disordered eating.
6.	Of the following, the best food for a sportsperson to eat before competing are: A. energy dense foods such as pies and cakes B. past, rice, breads C. steak and eggs.
7.	A good breakfast for a sportsperson would be: A. follow the Healthy Eating Pyramid B. be high in sugar C. cheese sandwich and cordial.
8.	Food choices for active people should: A. follow the Healthy Eating Pyramid B. high in sugar C. focus on high energy fat foods.

Sports Nutrition Quiz, ANF National Newsletter, December, 1999, p 5

Answers

Extension

Topics in sport Sport nutrition

If you would like to search the Internet further for web sites on sports nutrition , hop on to the Australian Sports Commission site for a great list of sites that are worth a look.

Become an expert!

If you are really keen about sports nutrition or you are an athlete wanting some great information, take a look at Nutrition Science and the Olympics .

Resources

Burke, L. and Broad, E. (1999) Eating, Activity, Sport and You. The Australian Nutrition Foundation Inc.

Order from NutritionAustralia

from Nutrition Australia, 1-3 Derwent Street, Glebe NSW 2037

for a cost of $5.00

Answers

1.B 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.C 6.B 7.B 8.A