TNT Swimming and Thomas Hospital Wellness Center teamed up to produce their First Annual Nutrition Seminar for competitive swimmers on January 29, 2005. The seminar was conducted by Ken Haynie, B.S., M.S.S., an on-staff nutritional expert at the Wellness Center. Haynie’s presentation focused on the unique nutritional needs of child/teen athletes, whose bodies are doubly challenged by strenuous exercise and childhood growth demands. Approximately forty TNT swimmers, parents, and guests were in attendance.
Haynie’s presentation began with a discussion of how sleep and nutrition play critical roles in recovery from training and competition, as well as how necessary both factors are to good patterns of physical development. Swimmers and parents alike were surprised to learn that not only the amount of sleep, but the timing of the sleep is important for the amount of recovery achieved. Haynie emphasized that the typical child/teen athlete needs to be in bed by ten o’clock at the latest because this is the final window of time when hormones related to the growth process are optimized.
Haynie then joined with TNT attendees in an interactive nutrition awareness project. First, Haynie gave a visual presentation of the four food groups and seven main nutrients necessary for human growth and athletic performance. Swimmers, parents and guests were then served a four course meal, including, hors d’oeuvres, soup, main course, and dessert. During each course, participants were asked if they could identify which foods were providing which nutrients.
“I think the kids found it interesting and were enthusiastic about identifying which food groups, vitamins, and minerals they were eating. It allowed them to understand the connection between meal time, training, and performance,” said TNT coach, Jan Mittemeyer.
TNT parents also found the seminar interesting and useful.
“It was inspiring and rewarding to witness the swimmers independently identifying nutrients and making healthy food choices. The ability to recognize the relationship between nutrition, exercise, and health is something that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said TNT mom, Tricia Hudson, an eighth grade science teacher at the J. Larry Newton School.
Mary Beth Mantiply agreed. “I was impressed not only with the content of Mr. Haynie’s talk, but also the way he made it fun for the kids to learn about what foods to enjoy and what foods to stay away from, especially refined sugar.”
TNT Swimming coach Jan Mittemeyer thanked Thomas Hospital Director of Public Relations, Diana Brewer.
“From the minute I contacted Diana, she was very positive and immediately set the wheels in motion to make this experience possible for our team. I also want to thank Ken for all of his time and expertise, TNT parent, Marcie Kinsey who headed up the project, and Ginger Taylor, Assistant Director of Public Relations at Thomas Hospital. All of these people worked together to provide a positive and fun learning experience,” said Mittemeyer.
TNT Swimming Inc. is a year round competitive swimming program, open to children/youth of all ages and ability levels. The program operates six days a week at the Bounds Family YMCA during the winter, and at the Point Clear Tennis Club when the weather is warm. For more information call 599-0109, or log on to www.swimtnt.com
