It never fails.
The first time I meet with a new athlete and their parents, the question of nutrition comes up.
Something like, "Can you help my son/daughter eat better. I try to tell them all the time, but they don't listen to me."
Or, "What we need to work on is nutrition. He/she doesn't eat enough, or when he/she does, it's fast food or all the chips in the house."
I usually reply, "I can give them what they need to know and how to eat to fuel their training and performance. But they need to decide for themselves if they want to do it."
What they need is the intrinsic motivation to do so.
Motivation to eat well and sleep eight hours a night doesn't come naturally to most kids. But what does help is when the environment, set up by the parents, speaks those things you want your kids to do.
Johnathan F Katz, Ph.D. and clinical sports psychologist, says, "You don't really create motivation in your child. Kids need to internalize the importance of eating, sleeping, and training before they will be motivated to take care of their body for sport in a constructive way."
The best way to get it done is by modeling good eating behaviors. This makes the concept of healthy eating a reality for your young athlete.
Jill Castle, author of Eat Like a Champion wrote, "You won't be able to 'make' your children eat well (or practice, or sleep more, or any other desirable behavior). But, if you behave strategically, as you set up the food environment for success and model healthy eating from day to day, you will slowly help them along their developmental path and instill the ingredients for internal motivation."
This goes back to the greatest leadership principle. Lead by example. I wish it were easier, but it's not. Your kids are going to follow your lead no matter what you say.
My grandfather, who lived with many vices, used to tell me to do as I say, not as I do. That never works, especially with your young athletes and their nutrition.
If you need help setting up a better food environment in your home, let me know. I can do online nutrition coaching to help you and your young, aspiring athletes get better!