Consider this when it's your turn to bring the team snack to soccer or your children's other recreational games this fall:  healthy snacks and water are the best way to refuel young atheletes' bodies! 

Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) and more than 80 physicians in Wake County have teamed up with Advocates for Health in Action(AHA) in promoting AHA’s Sports Snack Game Plan, which encourages young athletes to eat healthy snacks of fruits and vegetables and hydrate with water after sports. More than 800 CASL Recreational and Challenge team coaches are sharing the AHA Sports Snack Game Plan with team members and families as they begin the fall season to promote healthy snacking.

“Young athletes need to refuel their bodies in a healthy way after sports games or practices,” said Laura Aiken, director of AHA and WakeMed Community Outreach. “We’re thrilled that CASL is leading the way in Wake County youth sports leagues to help get the Sports Snack Game Plan into families’ hands. More than 80 Wake County pediatricians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants have signed a letter in support of the Game Plan to encourage families to eat healthy after sports,” Aiken commented. Aiken also said that a recent AHA survey showed 80 percent of parents support providing only fruits and vegetables as snacks for their children’s sports leagues.

Rewarding Healthy Snackers
In addition to distributing the Sports Snack Game Plan to teams and families, CASL is also working to reward teams that are enjoying healthy snacks after games and during tournaments. CASL will distribute grocery store gift cards to recognize teams’ healthy habits and to fund future healthy snacks and drinks for the team.

“CASL soccer is all about building self-esteem, self-confidence, team work and respect for self and others as these young people enjoy all the inherent benefits of physical exercise,” said Charlie Slagle, CASL CEO. “Promoting the Sports Snack Game Plan among CASL teams will help our young athletes refuel after games in a way that is good for their bodies,” Slagle commented.

The Sports Snack Game Plan, the letter from supporting physicians and additional nutritional information for young athletes is on the AHA web site, www.AdvocatesForHealthInAction.org, under the Resources tab.

About Advocates for Health in Action (AHA)

Advocates for Health in Action is a group of more than 50 diverse organizations and community members who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County so healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life. AHA works to achieve its mission by shaping policy and environments that ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members.