WOODBURY — Corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and pizza. When you hear of these foods do you think they are healthy?
These meals are being served to student athletes everyday. Whether a student buys lunch, or not, they need to be eating the recommended amount of protein, carbs, fruits, and vegetables. When a student athlete consistently consumes foods like corn dogs or chicken nuggets, they probably won’t perform at their best potential.
“…I’ve seen athletes faint because they don’t have enough energy in their body,” said Nonnewaug High School’s trainer, Sean McGee. “I’ve seen athletes come up with headaches [and] dizziness, just because they don’t have enough fuel in their body. I’ve seen athletes perform very poorly just because they don’t have enough vitamins and minerals to fuel their body.”
Nutrition plays a very important role in whether or not a student athlete performs at their best. The meal they may eat right before their “big game” is lunch. Is the lunch served enough to help fuel students to score a winning goal or touchdown in an upcoming game?
“Basically, you should have a balanced meal,” McGee says. “If you have a game that day, about five hours beforehand, definitely have fruits and vegetables…it helps with cramping, other things, and it helps your muscles fire more correctly.”
Perhaps the most beneficial thing that can be added to a lunch menu is a variety of healthy options for athletes.
“It’s not bad [brunch for lunch],” said McGee. “It would be nice to have more fruit in that, but for carbs it’s there, and they do try to incorporate proteins”
Boe Stokes, a junior volleyball player, thinks school lunches may be lacking essential nutrients for athletes.
“I think they do a good job at least handing out apples or veggies,” said Stokes. “But I think overall, the main lunch could be healthier for student athletes.”
The cafeteria offers meals like macaroni and cheese or mozzarella sticks. But, those foods lack certain vitamins that the athletes need. And, the average fruit served with those lunches are a quarter, athletes should be eating around five servings of fruit.
Costa Lefkimiatis, Nonnewaug High School’s Lunch Manager, feels that the lunch staff provides athletes with the right nutrition.
“Lunches are a balanced meal, and packed with nutrients that athletes need to fuel on and off the field,” said Lefkimiatis.
In the cafeteria, along with the main meal, they provide food like dried fruit, salad, veggie cups, and milk.
But, burritos and general tso’s aren’t the only “main course” options offered at Nonnewaug. For example, students have the option of getting a salad or a sandwich at the deli bar. These foods are much better for an athlete to make them fueled enough for a game or practice.
Lefkimiatis feels that a part of any growing student’s diet, milk should be included. Though, students don’t opt to grab the milk on a daily basis.
“[What’s very important for an athlete’s diet is] calcium,” says Lefkimiatis. “We find that students don’t usually grab the milk, which is imperative to having proper fuel for athletics.”
Whether you get school lunch or not, athletes must be eating what’s in the best interest of their overall health. In order to perform at your best you need to be eating the right foods.
“Everyone needs to pay attention to what they are eating,” says McGee.
