HELP! what is Canola Oil

[snookhams]

Help just borrowed a Sports Nutrition book from local library, and want to make some of the recipes for my son who is a competative swimmer, but alot of them use something called 'Canola Oil'. This does not appear to be sold in the UK, can someone tell me what sort of oil it is i.e. vegetable, ground nut etc. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. THANK YOU

 

[bananiem]

Canola oil is used in place of vegetable oil for lowering fat and cholesterol. In the stores here it's next to the vegetable, olive, and peanut oils.
I would think you could use vegetabel oil instead. I believe canola oil may be a soy product but I'm not sure.
Edited to add: When I Googled it I found that it is made from the rapeseed, which is a member of the mustard family. Apparently there is a hoax making it's way across the internet that it's a toxic oil. It is a hoax though.

 

[sweet maxine]

My daughter was a competitive swimmer when she was younger, so I understand your interest in getting the best nutrition for him. The book I used to go by when she was swimming was "Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook". It's an oldie, but a goodie. I think the sports nutritionists are leaning towards more protein consumption now, but I still believe you must have a good foundation in order to be in top competitive form. That includes eating "good" carbohydrates for energy as well as protein and also some fats.

If you can't find canola oil there in the UK, don't stress too much. I would just use vegetable oil in its place in your recipes. I don't think there's that much of a difference, and if you can't find it, you can't use it. KWIM?

Congratulations on having a son who is interested in (IMO) one of the best sports around. I really miss the days of going to meets and visiting with other families. My DD still misses it too, but there's just not enough time in her day to get to the pool (which is an hour away from us). Tell him good luck with his swimming from us! You're a sweet mom to be so caring about his diet.

 

[snookhams]

My daughter was a competitive swimmer when she was younger, so I understand your interest in getting the best nutrition for him. The book I used to go by when she was swimming was "Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook".

This is the book that I am looking at, it seems very interesting, gradually reading my way through it. I like the idea of some of the recipes and want to try them as he is now at the level (he swam in the UK agegroup - which is under 15's- nationals last July and we are hoping that he will again this year) he is swimming at now every little helps.

I agree it is one of the best sports to be into although training and race facilities here in the UK often leave alot to be desired, for example this coming Saturday he is racing at a pool were the only spectator seating is on plastic garden chairs on poolside. I shall be prepared to get wet!

I will look for a rapeseed oil or vegetable oil - I am sure that I have seen rapeseed oil in the health food shop so will take a look this morning.

 

[pjlla]

Sorry to hijack here, but glad to find some "experienced" swim parents. DD just finished her first swim season and loved it. But I need a book about the rules, etc. Is there a "Competitive swimming for Dummies" book or anything like that available that would help? She got disqualified from a great race one time because her toes were too high on her start (backstroke). It was something that her coaches NEVER mentioned. (Nice people, but I am not impressed with their coaching skills... but that is another subject). I thought it would be good to have a book so she and I could be sure that we know and understand all the rules. Thanks for any help............P

 

[sweet maxine]

Good morning!

Pjlla, I have an old copy (1998) of the USA Swimming's Rules and Regulations book. I must have called them directly to get this, but I can't really remember. Anyway, they have a great website---I think it's usaswimming.org---and it has all sorts of info about swimming, even nutrition tips. I understand all about competitive swimming---believe me! Most of what you're daughter's going through, well just let me say we've been there done that. Tell her to keep trying and don't give up. I'm sorry she got DQ'd on a great race. It's heartbreaking to them (and even tougher on us, their greatest cheerleaders!). My DD has had her share of indifferent coaches, but she's also had some great coaches---some we really miss too! She's learned almost everything she knows about nutrition from her swimming days, and it still sticks with her even at 16.

Tell your daughter I said "good luck" and stay with it---over time it will develop her into a very organized and disciplined young lady. My DD is looking over me just now as I'm typing this. She LOVES to swim, and over the last week or so she's started running in order to be in shape to swim laps this summer (for lifeguarding).

Snookhams, I know you are very proud of your son. Keep helping him with his diet, and remember teenagers are going to want their fair share of "junk food". Just try to have some healthy snacks waiting for him in the fridge for the afternoons and weekends. Maybe you can even get him interested in helping prepare one of the recipes from the book. We've tried most of them, and they're all pretty good. I'm sure by now there's lots of nutrition books on the market, but that one's pretty solid on what it teaches.

Sorry, to have such a long post, but swimming's a sport that's near and dear to my heart. It's also a sport in which nutrition really plays a big part, and a great way to teach your children how eating right really makes a difference.

___________________
Vicki