Allison Schmitt’s Mom on Raising a Healthy, Happy Athlete
“My mom has been an integral part of all the success I have seen, both in and out of the pool. Her steadfast love, support and humility have allowed me to be become the person that I am today. I’m honored to introduce you to my mom Gail Schmitt!” – Allison Schmitt
Raising an athlete is no different than raising any other child. You always want what’s best. You want to do whatever you can to help them reach their goals and their potential. You want them to be the best they can be, and as healthy as they can be.
As a mom, I’ve always paid attention to putting healthy food on the table for family meals. Meals together have always been important to me, and no matter how busy our schedules, they have always served as an opportunity to gather together and connect. Meals are also a time to fuel our bodies with the healthiest food we can find. These foods, and the nutrients they provide, are really the foundation on which future success is built.
Milk has been a large part of that commitment to being healthy: Compared to other drinks, the nutritional value of milk is unparalleled. I have no doubt that a large part of all of my kids being taller than me is thanks to the gallons and gallons of milk they’ve drank throughout their lives!
Raising an elite athlete has made me keenly aware of the importance of fueling the body for performance. Allison spends hours in the pool every single day, working as hard as she can to be the best she can be. Like any parent, I think about how she can balance that hard work with recovery so that she can be strong and fast, consistently, and without injury.
Growing up in a house where milk was always on the table means that milk – chocolate milk, specifically – is always poolside, too. It helps Allison recover from a hard workout, and supports her goal of winning a medal. You don’t have to be going for the gold; the benefits of milk are valuable to a toddler playing soccer and a high school track and field athlete too.
Every parent wants their child to be happy and healthy. I believe that making sure my kids had a nutritious diet, including wholesome foods like milk, has been a big part of them growing up and achieving their wildest dreams. I wish the same happiness and good health for your family.
