by Jeff Spencer

Every time I watch my daughter play soccer I’m amazed at how hard she tries. She plays her heart out. Never gives it less than her best.

She’ll be 17 in two weeks. And, as a teenager, she many balls to juggle. It’s a complicated world for her finding her way through life with friends, wondering which group she best belongs to, is there a boyfriend out there, what college should I apply to, am I ready for SAT test, etc.

The list is endless.

As a past Olympian, ’72 Munich cycling, I’m always aware of the key things that have to go right on the playing field regardless of the complexity of our academic and personal lives, to excel. 

And, at the top of that list could very well be nutrition, especially for teenagers.

No secret to us parents with teenagers is to see a laxity in attention to nutrition details in direct proportion to their flexing their independence skills. As independence and distraction goes up, nutrition compliance drops. Nothing new. And, nutrition seems to be particularly vulnerable to the teenage “drift”.

My daughter and I have our morning bonding ritual of having breakfast together at 7am. It’s such a great time to get together in fellowship and set the tone of the day with great conversation and reminders of the opportunity each day brings.

I always begin our time together by reading her a passage from our favorite inspiration book while she makes her smoothie.

The smoothie is an easy sell for breakfast. Just toss ½ banana into blender with protein power and blend away. Never an issue. Always, super easy.

But, the smoothie alone isn’t enough nutrition to meet her nutrient needs to generate the energy to get her through school, soccer practice and just grow as a teenager. Not to mention, the importance of recovery from the physical demands of the day that includes the repair and production of new body collagen to maintain adequate body structure.

That’s where the tough negation begins…

She doesn’t like pills and claims she can’t swallow them and they “hurt” going down.

Fact or fiction? Hard to tell with teenagers as their theatrics are Academy Award worthy.

But, the reality is she needs to rebuild her body day to day and if she doesn’t the risk of her getting injured in soccer or sick from a stressed immune system skyrockets, something she can’t afford at this time, and, ironically, it’s almost 100% preventable.

I’ve got a secret weapon, though, to circumvent the objections. And, that weapon is to have her put 1-2 scoops of PerfectAmino drink powder in her smoothie.

It’s a great trick. And, it not only tastes good but gives her body what it needs preform at its best and good for my mind as I know she’s getting what she needs.

Just 2 scoops in her smoothie and I know confidently she’s getting 10gms of the highest protein utilization available to build and repair her body day in and out and that’s she’ll be able to perform at her best on the field and in the classroom. And, as a Dad, I need to know that.