Surviving Carnival Days

Sports carnivals or competition days are easiest to manage if you plan ahead and take suitable food
and drinks with you. This also eases the pressure on your wallet! Active kids need regular top ups of
energy rich foods and fluids to cope with the ongoing demands of a long day of activity.
Don’t rely on the canteen or nearby shops for food and drink, as suitable choices are not
always available.mEncourage your club or school canteen to provide a range of healthy choices.

Survival tips:
1. Always pack an esky or cooler bag with healthy food and fluids for the family as it is not possible
to rely on the canteen or nearest shops to provide suitable food.
2. Take a plentiful supply of fluids - preferably a mix of water and flavoured fluids such as sports
drinks, fruit juice and cordial.
3. Provide low fat snack foods for grazing on during the day.
4. Encourage small amounts of food and fluids regularly through the carnival day, making use
of longer breaks between events for more substantial intake.
5. Discourage your active child from drinking
carbonated or high caffeine drinks between
events, as these can cause bloating and intensify
dehydration.

Carnival Checklist:

● Two drink bottles per competitor - one water and one flavoured fluid.
● Snack foods like muffins, slices and scones.
● Rolls, sandwiches or pita pockets for lunch.
● Ice or cooler block to keep perishable foods cool and safe to eat.
● Extra water - especially important in warm weather.
● Fruit - fresh or canned, fruit bars, fruit fingers and fruit juices.
● A thermos for the parents!


For family comfort, don’t forget sunscreen and shade protection, spare clothing, a rug, folding
chairs and all the other things you need for what can be a very long day. Many of these recipes could be used for other meals or snacks, such as afternoon tea before or after training.


Try making any of these recipes to take along to a big event
● Mince Muffins
● Ham and Corn Muffins
● Fruit Salad ANZAC Slice

Other family favourites for carnivals include pikelets, fruit buns, low fat muesli bars, sweet muffins, scones, cracker biscuits, dried fruit, jelly confectionery, jelly fruits, snack packs of canned fruit, low fat rice crackers, sandwiches or rolls with crisp fresh vegetable sticks and cherry tomatoes.