As a Nutrition and Food Consultant, I always recommend that we eat food made at home as much as possible… but as a Mom of three young athletes, I know this is pretty much impossible to do every day. 

As parents, we do our best but sometimes you’ve got to utilize the convenience of a drive-thru (not only for coffee!). Believe it or not, there are some good options to fuel your kids and I’ve put together a list to make it as easy as possible for you.

Below are my Top Five Drive-Thru Options to help you fuel your hockey players no matter the time of day. Oh, and grab yourself something too.

#5: Grilled Chicken Wrap

A grilled chicken wrap gives your kids protein and carbohydrates to fuel them up for a practice or game and is a great option if they are hungry and didn’t have time to eat dinner. I recommend choosing grilled over “fried” or “crispy” especially if this is before they step on the ice, as the extra fat will be difficult to digest in time and could have an impact on their performance and digestion.

#4: Soup/Chili with a bun

The key to filling up little bellies is protein and fibre. Typically, soup and chilli contain both. Add a bun on the side and they should be full of energy until you get home. Try to avoid cream based soups as they can feel heavy.

#3: Turkey Sandwich

An excellent option for before or after activity as a turkey sandwich contains protein, carbohydrates, and fibre, but is nice and light enough to feel good.

#2: Breakfast Burrito/Sandwich

A great option if you’re heading to the rink in the morning and didn’t have time to grab something for breakfast. Try to focus on mainly eggs and bread/wraps and not the breakfast meats and cheese as once again, this could hinder performance and digestion.

If you’re looking for some quick and easy breakfast options, check out our first Top Five video for ideas!

#1: Bagel

No matter the time of day, a bagel is your friend when it comes to energy. Simple carbohydrates are easily digested and transformed into quickly accessible energy. They also are fast to make so if you’re in a rush, this is a great grab and go option!
 

What are your favourite items from the Drive-Thru? Stay tuned for our next video in our Top Five Series and have fun at the rink!