This book explores the optimal sports nutrition needs for the child and adolescent athlete in three, detailed sections. The first section focuses on the need for optimal nutrition in youth athlete populations, highlighting energy, body composition, hydration, and both macro- and micro-nutrient requirements. The second section focuses on topics that are more specific, including the impact of common recreational drugs on exercise performance, steroid use in youth and associated dangers, key elements of working with diabetic and other clinically relevant populations, as well as discussions that relate to overweight and weight-conscious athletes, respectively. The final section reviews nutritional programs for both child and adolescent athletes.