09/11/2024

Care Health

Prioritize Healthy life

How to Pack a Cooler for an Away Game or Competition

How to Pack a Cooler for an Away Game or Competition

Here’s a question for parents: are you packing the cooler with the right fuel to support your young athlete’s performance?

In this video, I unpack the essentials you should pack for away games and competitions.

If you’re tired of relying on what snacks the team is providing, or end up grabbing a bag of chips on the way home, it’s time to put your cooler to work for you. It can be your young athlete’s biggest ally for their performance!

It’s essential to have food on hand before, in between, and immediately after their event, for proper pre-fueling, maintaining energy, and muscle repair and recovery afterwards.

Watch my video as I unpack the absolute essentials that every cooler needs to have to feed your young athlete. They include:

  • Water – since it makes up 70% of our bodies, sweating it out will lead to dehydration quickly, which can affect performance. Learn more about this in my blogs: Hydration Needs for Young Athletes and Staying Hydrated: A Step-By-Step Approach to Calculating Sweat Rate.
  • Electrolytes – high-sodium foods.
  • Carbohydrates – slow-digesting and/or quick-digesting depending on the factors I discuss in the video.
  • Protein – watch my tip on combining it for a steady flow of energy.
  • Packaged Meals – with carbohydrates with some protein.

Watch the video for my examples of all of this! PLUS I discuss the right timing of WHEN to eat for optimal energy release.


Need help with supporting your teen?

Contact me any time to schedule a free 30-minute consultation, so we can discuss your particular situation and goals.


What’s the fastest way to boost your performance without supplements? Download this free report:

Fuel Your Workout Cheatbook


Want to get stronger, faster and healthier so you can PR your next race/competition, improve your relationship with food and feel confident in your body? Join the Sustainable Sports Nutrition Academy! This 100% online, self-study program compiles everything I’ve learned as a Sports Dietitian for over 10 years. Check out everything that’s included –

The Sustainable Sports Nutrition Academy