Episode 81: Force Feeding or Adequate Fueling?

When you realize the amount of nutrition it’s going to take to adequately fuel your gymnast, do you worry you’ll have to “force feed” her to get it all in?

Does “force feeding” conjure up visions of someone being held down against their will and being spooned fed? That’s pretty traumatic to picture doing to your child. And very extreme and something I would never do or prescribe for a multitude of reasons.

But, when we’re talking about adequately fueling a gymnast and parents realize (or don’t!) that their gymnast is underfueled, this is a safety concern. Shifting our mindset to make sure our kids get enough nutrition so that they are safe can be helpful in our approach with our gymnasts.

Here at the Balanced Gymnast, we take a very low pressure approach because ultimately it’s about health first, gymnastics second. Because let’s face it, a stressed out parent and stubborn gymnast isn’t going to solve anything.

In this episode you’ll hear about: 

• The 3 subtypes we see most often when working with gymnasts to ensure adequate fueling
• The different approaches we take for each subtype
• Why adequate fueling is a safety concern for gymnasts

 Links & Resources 

• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Episode 48: Do Gymnasts Need Snack Breaks?
• Episode 57: How do I get my gymnast to eat enough?
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com