It probably goes through every parent’s mind before their child goes to their swim classes. Is my child hungry? Have I fed them enough before this swim class? Have I given them enough to eat before swimming?
These are just common questions for a parent to ask themselves before they take their children to swim class . So, let’s clear up some of these questions.
After Eating, How Long To Wait Before Swimming
We have all heard the adage that you shouldn’t feed your child at least a ½ hour before they swim. Or, was it one hour? Either way, let’s put this one to rest. Ask any Olympic swimmer and they will all tell you that this is “non-sense”. Nearly every Olympic swimmer has eaten something within minutes of them swimming. They will all tell you, however, just be careful of what you eat and how much you consume.
You don’t want a lot of food “sloshing” around in your child’s stomach during their swim class. So, don’t feed them too much. Just keep it to a lite snack, maybe a few carbohydrates such as a few raisin cookies. Or, a handful of raw almonds.
Keep the bigger meals or treats for after class.
Your children aren’t Olympic swimmers, so you probably should give them something to keep their energy levels up. Here are a few ideas:
- Fresh or dried fruit, such as bananas, apples, or dried cranberries.
- A few carb-based snacks such as a ½ sandwich, pretzels, or a few crackers.
- A small amount of fats or protein. Examples are peanut butter, or a cheese stick.
Don’t give them anything that would weigh them down or upset their stomachs. This can put them at a higher risk of getting sick in the pool if they were to accidentally swallow some water and activate their gag reflex.
Avoid These Foods if You Eat Before Swimming
Things to avoid before swim classes are:
- A lot of fast-food options such as chicken nuggets, onion rings, and fries.
- Food high in fats and/or sugar such as potato chips, candy, and desserts. These can cause a quick spike in energy and then a crash, causing your child to feel sluggish.
- Heavy dairy products that are difficult to digest. Examples are shakes, macaroni and cheese, and cottage cheese.
- Avoid fiber rich foods like healthy beans and leafy vegetables. The problem with these are that they are difficult to digest and that can lead to an upset stomach.
Being a concerned parent is just natural. Just think cautiously, but wisely before their next swim lesson.
Life Saver Survival Swim School is Preparing for Next Year’s Swim Lessons
We are getting excited about it! It is not that far away now. If you have one or more children that have not learned to swim or could at least use a few more lessons, sign them up in one of our classes. Those classes will be full soon!
Or, perhaps you have some questions. Give our owner, Bonnie, a call. She would be happy to answer all your questions. She can be reached by dialing (832) 367-2377.