Skip to main content

Which day would you like to add this recipe to?

  • Monday
    Mon
  • Tuesday
    Tue
  • Wednesday
    Wed
  • Thursday
    Thu
  • Friday
    Fri
  • Saturday
    Sat
  • Sunday
    Sun

Save Meal Plan for Later

Clear All

You want to remove all your recipes?

Online Athlete Nutrition Guide

Online Athlete Nutrition Guide

Online Athlete Nutrition Guide

Online Athlete Nutrition Guide

Main navigation

Young Athletes Nutrition Guide
  • Recipes
    • Quick & Easy
    • Vegetarian
    • Kid Friendly
    • Dairy-Free
    • Nut-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Snack
  • Activities
    • Young Athletes
    • Athletes 13+
  • Nutrition Info
    • Young Athletes
    • Athletes 13+
  • My Meal Plan
  • My Shopping List
  • Sobeys Nutrition Corner

Nutrition Info

Young Athletes Nutrition Guide
  • Nutrition for Athletes 13+ with an Intellectual Disability
  • What About Other Foods?
  • Fuelling With Fluids
  • Special Dietary Needs
  • Does My 13+ Athlete Need Special Dietary Supplements?
  • Getting Started! 10 Healthy Eating Changes
  • Websites
  • Resources
  • Sponsors & Supporters

Nutrition Info

Young Athletes Nutrition Guide
  • Nutrition for Athletes 13+ with an Intellectual Disability
  • What About Other Foods?
  • Fuelling With Fluids
  • Special Dietary Needs
  • Does My 13+ Athlete Need Special Dietary Supplements?
  • Getting Started! 10 Healthy Eating Changes
  • Websites
  • Resources
  • Sponsors & Supporters

Nutrition for Athletes 13+ with an Intellectual Disability

grapes, sandwich and crackers

Nutrition for Athletes 13+ with an Intellectual Disability

Athletes with an intellectual disability may be at risk of having inadequate nutrition. If healthy food is not eaten, you could be at risk for poor health status and future complications like obesity/overweight, vitamin deficiencies, poor growth/development, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Healthy eating is important for maintaining overall health as well as a healthy body weight. Education, physical activity, and a willingness to eat healthy will help athletes develop a healthy lifestyle now and for the future.

Healthy nutrition can also help:

  • Your body grow and form strong bones.
  • You have more energy and stamina
  • You get sick less often
  • You become more independent because you know how to make the right healthy choices

In order to maintain a healthy body weight and support optimal development, athletes should be following Canada’s Food Guide and eating their recommended food guide servings every day. The food guide also encourages you to try a variety of different foods and flavours.

Food Plate

Is your food intake meeting your needs?

  1. Follow the Canada’s Food Guide plate model and Healthy eating recommendations.
  2. Go to the activities section for fun and interactive games that focus on achieving daily intake goals.
  3. Download a free copy of Canada’s Food Guide and print copies of "My Food Guide" servings tracker. Track all foods consumed for a few days and compare to your young athlete’s needs. Canada.ca/foodguide
  4. Go to www.Canada.ca/FoodGuide/ to download a PDF of the Food Guide Snapshot. This site also offers an online suite of resources including actionable advice, videos and even recipes.

Food Guide Snapshot

Healthy Eating Recommendations

Source: © All rights reserved. Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Health Canada, 2007. Modified and reproduced with permission from the Minister of Health, 2016.

Health Canada does not assume any responsibility for any errors or omissions which may result from modifications, revisions, adaptations and / or translation.

© 2016 Special Olympics Canada

User account menu

Young Athletes Nutrition Guide
  • My account
  • Log out