Training Young People

• Details about the young person, including energy needs, protein needs and carbohydrate needs.

It is important for anyone of any age to be eating the right foods; but it is even more important for a young person. This is because they are growing and their bodies are still developing; sometimes even up to the age of 25!

Each individual has different energy requirements; these depend on a number of things, such as - age, gender, height and weight. These requirements can be calculated by using a chart which is designed to work on an individuality basis.

Here is an example of how this kind of chart would work: The chart I will be using is calculated using weight and PAL (physical activity levels). This is because; while under a training programme, my client will be undertaking regular exercise and will therefore need to replace that energy. My one particular client is female and in the weight bracket of 40-50 Kg. The level of physical activity she will be taking part in is – ‘Daily moderate activity’ which has a calculation of ‘1.6’. This makes her energy requirements on this chart – 1962kcal/day so she should be consuming, on average, the normal 2000kcal per day.

It is important that I explain to a young person and their parents about the importance of following a high protein diet. Children and young people need more protein than adults. In the age range ‘1 – 14’ for a female, the young person should be consuming around 42.2g of protein per day. This is even more important if they are vegetarian or have allergies which stop the child eating particular foods.

Carbohydrates are another necessary part in a young person’s diet. Carbohydrates supply energy to the muscles which is needed for physical activity. The body al...

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... takes time for children to a child to form a habit of exercising and start wanting to continue on their own. I would suggest them having a session two or three times a week for at least four months. By then, both the child and parents have learnt a fair amount, and will hopefully be able to continue on their own. I would also advise them to allow their children to take part in clubs involving physical activities which they enjoy (such as football or dance).

Parents should be able to lead by example, too. If they were to exercise and eat healthily themselves, then it would become natural for the child/young person. Another piece of advice would be to have family meals sat round the table. When you eat in front of the TV or on the go, you eat more because you’re not concentrating on the food fully. Family meals avoid this and strengthen family relationships, too.