Recently a few of you have asked questions about diet and nutrition. Below is some information I wrote in the past. You may use this information as a general guide…..Â
The two most important things for you to begin to focus on are running and diet. You are old enough now to start taking responsibility for what you eat. You need to go grocery shopping with your parents, and begin to select your own foods. Read labels, and educate yourself on your diet, all focused wrestlers take great pride in monitoring their diet. Think of your body as a car, which requires fuel to run. You can drive your car hard, put cheap gas in it, not get tune-ups, and not change the oil, and your car will run fine for a year or two. After time your car will break down, and will not perform the way you want it to. If you eat cheeseburgers, fried foods, candy bars, and drink soda; your body will not perform well. If you get plenty of rest, stay ahead of your studies (eliminates stress), exercise every day, and diet properly, I promise you will accomplish goals you never dreamed possible.
There are four levels of nutrition your body needs to perform well and stay balanced. The first level of foods includes grains such as oats, rice and wheat, breads, cereals, noodles, and pasta. You should consume 6-11 servings daily to establish the foundation of your diet.   Foods of this nature are high in carbohydrates, which are the main energy source for training and other body functions. Your parents should be able to help you identify food, which are high in carbs.
The next level of nutrition includes foods from the vegetable and fruit group. These foods include all fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables and juice. You should consume 3-5 servings from the vegetable group, and 2-4 services from the fruit group, as well as drink plenty of juice (juice counts as a serving from the fruit group). These groups will help your body with plenty of vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and fiber.
The third level consists of 2 food groups: the dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese; and the meat products, including meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts. These groups are high in proteins, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamins. This is essential for strong bones and muscles. Choose low fat dairy products and lean (low fat) meat products so as not to load up on excess fat and calories. You need 2-3 servings daily.
The Last level, you need a small amount of fats, oils, and sweets. Most of these nutrients are already in the previously discussed foods. Be careful and stay away from extra sugar and fat that add unwanted calories.Â
You need to be taking in no less than 1700-2000 calories a day during training. A “calorie†is just a unit used to describe the energy content of foods. Your body requires energy, and the food you eat supplies that energy. When you take in more food calories than you burn, those extra calories sit in your body stored as fat, causing you to gain weight. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, you will loose weight. It is not how much you eat, but rather what you eat. Please avoid food that is breaded, fried, or served in gravy. Limit butter, margarine, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, and regular salad dressing. Instead use barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, relish, and vegetables for toppings. Ask for extra vegetables; skip the extra cheese, and request skim or 2% milk. Gradual weight loss is best accomplished by combining your training with a slight reduction in food intake.