Todd Bordonaro includes nutrition and fitness in his approach to golf instruction.
By Todd Bordonaro, PGA Teaching Professional, Director of Player Development
What we eat affects everything we do, and this has never been more true than it is in today’s world of processed, non-organic and chemically altered foods. Young people need to be educated on nutrition that will give them the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals needed to maintain a healthy, growing body.
As both a Class A Certified Teaching Professional and a Certified Sports Nutrition Coach, I have always included fitness and nutrition in my teaching programs. In January, the young men of The Bridge Golf Foundation began a nutrition-education program that includes lessons on carbohydrates, reading food labels, weight management, foods for sports performance, tournament nutrition and the importance of water and hydration.
Students are learning why carbohydrates are the master fuel for the body, which foods provide the healthiest sources of carbohydrates, and the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. An in-depth discussion of processed sugars and the health risks they pose will hopefully encourage our students to avoid foods that contain them.
We will also learn how to read food labels and which ingredients to avoid. Students will bring in samples of their favorite foods and discuss the label with the rest of the class.
With obesity rates on the rise, weight management is another crucial area of focus. Students are keeping a weekly nutrition and fitness journal, which will help them understand that exercise alone is not enough to maintain their ideal weight. They are also learning how to calculate body-mass index.
Later in the program, we will look at how foods can affect performance in sports, with a focus on healthy foods to eat before, during and after competitions, and ways to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Participants will also have a chance to sample a variety of healthy foods and drinks.