- Bunnerong Gymnastics
Nutrition For Gymnasts

It’s undeniable that gymnastics is a tough sport. The demands gymnastics puts on young gymnasts is beyond any other sport out there. Not only must gymnasts have the strength to perform challenging skills, they must also be lean in order to flip and tumble with ease. While strength and flexibility are components that are stressed inside the gym, one important element that often gets overlooked is nutrition. Without proper nutrition, gymnasts are more prone to injuries, can get frequent stress fractures, feel lethargic, may experience decreased performance.
Healthy Snacks for Gymnasts
It’s important that your gymnast eats every few hours. Aim to include carbohydrates, proteins, and some fat in your snack. Snacks should be around 100-300 calories.
Here is a list of 25 different healthy snacks for gymnasts:
An apple or banana with peanut butter (or other nut butter)
Greek yogurt with fruit
Pita chips and hummus
Apple slices and cheese
Baby carrots and hummus
Whole grain English muffin with almond butter and a drizzle of honey
Cheese stick and clementine
Grapes and cheese
Celery sticks with nut butter
Whole grain toast with nut butter and banana
Avocado toast
Cold pasta salad with veggies and a drizzle of olive oil
Yogurt tube
Mozzarella and tomato skewers
Hard boiled egg and ½ of a whole grain English muffin
Cheese and whole grain crackers
Smoothie made with yogurt, frozen fruit, and milk
Raisins and peanuts
Edamame
Steel cut oatmeal with nuts and a drizzle of honey
Homemade trail mix with nuts, dried fruit, and whole grain cereal
Turkey and avocado roll up with whole wheat crackers
Peanut butter and banana quesadilla in whole wheat tortilla
Cucumber slices and cream cheese
Peppers with hummus
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, a lot of gymnasts reach their peak in gymnastics when their calorie needs are at their highest. And yet many gymnasts are either not eating enough or are eating the wrong foods. It’s important that your gymnast eats foods that will fuel her body for optimal performance and health. Good nutrition can fend off overuse injuries, stress fractures, low energy, and hormone imbalances. In addition, your gymnast should aim to eat frequent meals throughout the day, making carbohydrates her main source of fuel. Protein is also important to help her muscles recover and repair themselves. Gymnasts should also eat adequate amounts of healthy fat to help with proper functioning of her organs. And most importantly, gymnasts need to stay hydrated throughout the day.