Supporting Young Athletes Through Proper Fuelling – A conversation with Kate Shilland and Fran Taylor

In this episode Sports nutritionists Kate Shilland and Fran Taylor and the founders of ‘Performance Canteen’ join Gordon MacLelland to discuss supporting young athletes through proper nutrition.

During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:

• Challenges like misinformation and the need for clear communication
• Progress and not perfection in building small, sustainable changes that fit around real family life
• The dangers of fad diets such as bulking and cutting, advocating for simple, consistent nutrition practices
• Nutrition being vital for growth, health, and performance
• The importance of teaching children cooking skills to empower them and improve their dietary habits
• The emotional side of feeding young athletes and the pressure and challenges parents face
• ‘How to Feed a Young Athlete’ – why Kate and Fran wrote their new book

If you would like to buy a copy of their new book in collaboration with us here at Working with Parents in Sport then click here.

‘How to Feed a Young Athlete’ isn’t just another nutrition book it’s the resource we wish our parents had had.

It is built from thousands of conversations with parents of young athletes. We’ve listened to all their questions, challenges, frustrations and wins and created a toolkit. You’ll find practical answers and actionable solutions to the nutrition challenges every parent faces, complete with interviews with parents of elite level young athletes and exercises to try.

Talent and training absolutely matter, but what children eat directly impacts their energy, recovery, mood, development and performance, whether they’re on the field, in the classroom, or at home. Nutrition really is sport’s unsung hero, and this toolkit is part of our mission to change that.

Featuring unique insights and nutritional tips from parents of high performing athletes.

Kate Shilland is a leading Sports Nutritionist with over 16 years’ experience, working with youth athletes of all levels from recreational to world champions. She has been head of nutrition at Crystal Palace Football Club for the past nine seasons.

Fran Taylor is a highly regarded Public Health Nutritionist with over 17 years’ experience working in nutrition communication with parents, schools and sports clubs.

Additional Reading

Kitchen Essentials to support our youth athletes with their nutrition

How to fuel around game days, tournaments and busy schedules