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*Post Courtesy Weekly Women’s Professional Soccer Nutrition Tip

In only its second season, Women’s Professional Soccer is heading for the final push toward teams vying for the precious four playoff spots for the 2010 Championship. FC Gold Pride and the Philadelphia Independence have been the solid top two, but making an impressive late run is the fast-improving Boston Breakers.

Those who play the game or who are fans, friends or family, are familiar with the troublesome topic of eating disorders. Below is important information on this subject from Food Guide for Soccer.

It’s simply an unfortunate fact that eating disorders are a part of women’s soccer, like many women’s sports and women’s lives. If you suspect your teammate(s) or friend is struggling with food issues, speak up! Anorexia and bulimia are self-destructive eating behaviors that may signal underlying depression and can be life-threatening. Below are some helpful tips. For a list of organizations dealing with food issues, check out the Internet, or Food Guide for Soccer. 

• Approach the person gently but be persistent. Say that you are worried about her health. She, too, may be concerned about her loss of concentration, light-headedness, or chronic fatigue. These health changes are more likely to be a stepping-stone to accepting help, since the person clings to food and exercise for feelings of control and stability. If you are a parent, pay attention to your own player’s eating habits, and those of her teammates. Consult with other parents or the coach if necessary.
 
• Don’t discuss weight or eating habits. Address the fundamental problems of life. Focus on unhappiness as the reason for seeking help. Point out how anxious, tired, and/or irritable the person has been lately or, how unhappy she is with her performance on the field. Emphasize that she doesn’t have to be that way.
 
• Suggest the coach or team manager distribute or post a list of resources (with tear-off websites at the bottom) where the person will see it.

Be proactive. Invite a sports nutritionist or other eating disorders expert to give a talk to the team.Remember that you are not responsible and can only try to help. Your power comes from connecting with community resources and health professionals, such as a counselor, nutritionist, or eating disorders clinic.  

*Excerpted from Food Guide for Soccer-Tips & Recipes From the Pros, with Women’s Professional Soccer, by Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark, RD. Available on www.amazon.com or www.nancyclarkrd.com

Isn’t it ironic?  One of my fave rockers of all time is preggers.  Alanis Morissette is expecting a little one.  Morissette and rapper Mario “Souleye” Treadwell, are expecting their first child.  Bring out the storks, diaper genies and pin the pamper on the baby games.  Because I focus on food, I thought it fitting to suggest the top recommended foods when pregnant.  Now I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty darn good at reading articles on health;-)  Below are the top foods for those 9 months:

1.  Raw Spinach

2. Oatmeal

3. Mangoes

4. Yogurt

5. Lean Chicken

6. Beans (Packed with fiber and protein)

7. Nuts

8. Whole Grains

9.  Apples

10.  Sweet Potatoes (Much better than plain, white potatoes)

Of course, they are many, many others but these are just a few that I found to be the consensus for the best foods during pregnancy.  Congrats to my Morissette and Souleye!

Wow, all this over some chicken McNuggets??  Well, Melodi Dushane of Toledo, Ohio obviously thought so.  Peep the video above of her actually punching two of the restaurant workers and smashing the drive thru window.  This is all because she could not get her McDeath chicken nuggets before 10:30 am. Smh (*Shaking My Head).  This incident happened on New Year’s Day and she was charged with 60 days in jail and ordered to pay for the broken window.  The video was released to the public on Monday, August 9, 2010.

Thanks to one of my favorite foodies for this week’s Etiquette Tuesday.  As the summer comes to an end, we cannot live with regrets of what we did not do, what we should have done and the like.  Now is the time to learn from our mistakes.  Now I learned cook-out etiquette ages ago but some of us missed that memo.  While perusing my Twitter files the other day, I came across one of my fave DMV food bloggers status that said something like this:  “Ugh, how tacky.  One of the guests coming to the cook-out says she’s not bringing anything because she’s not going to eat anything”.  How tacky?!?

Even if you’re not going to eat, bring something.  It’s one of the most selfish acts to show up at an intimate gathering empty handed unless (*there are always exceptions…) 1. the host has explicitly requested that no one bring anything or 2. you and the host have already had the discussion on “I cannot afford to bring anything”.  If not, you just look like the selfish empty-handed guest who forgot you were going to an intimate party.  This etiquette tip applies primarily to intimate settings, cook-outs or places where there will be more talking and eating rather than drinking and vomiting.

It is in good taste and will make the host feel appreciated for hosting the event.  Honestly, the host should have everything you need for the event, but everybody could use an extra bottle of Merlot or Diet Coke for a later date.  Be generous…the host has by opening their house to you.

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