Game Day Fueling Plan for Athletes (2024)

FAQs

Game Day Fueling Plan for Athletes? ›

Try to eat every 3-4 hours. Most athletes eat only 2-4 times a day. By eating 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily, you can gain lean tissue, maintain energy levels and recover at an optimal rate.

Try to eat every 3-4 hours. Most athletes eat only 2-4 times a day. By eating 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily, you can gain lean tissue, maintain energy levels and recover at an optimal rate.

If you're eating breakfast, try eggs with toast, a bagel topped with turkey, or a smoothie with protein powder. And drink plenty of water. Avoid any high-fiber foods this close to the game. While fiber is generally good for your system, having it too soon before intense exercise can cause gas and bloating.

Starchy foods like whole-wheat pasta, rice, potatoes, beans, broccoli, and grilled chicken offer a carbohydrate-rich meal that will provide the right fuel for the next day's event and protein to fuel recovery. Broccoli adds calcium, vitamins A and C.

A healthy (and relaxing) food

Pasta is the perfect food for athletes for many reasons that stem from the same idea: it is healthy and it has many benefits, such as reducing anxiety levels. Therefore, they are perfect to have before a competition, because they will help calm the nerves.

Choose energy-packed foods such as whole grain crackers with low-fat cheese, tortilla wraps with veggies and lean meat, hard-boiled eggs, vegetable or bean soups, small boxes of non-sugary cereal, fresh fruit, mini-whole wheat bagels with peanut butter, pita bread with hummus or pasta with grilled chicken.

Breakfast provides energy for the day ahead.

As an athlete you can't afford to skip breakfast and miss out on the calories and nutrients that breakfast provides. Skipping breakfast means you're starting the day on an empty tank, which can make it harder to focus, think, and perform your best.

What foods help athletic performance? ›

Before: Have 24 ounces of sports drink or electrolyte-infused water two hours before the activity. During: If the activity is going to go on for more than 45 minutes (adults) or more than an hour for kids, make sure you're using a sports drink and not just plain water to hydrate.

Protein-rich foods include fish, lean meat and poultry, dairy products, beans, nuts, and soy products. Carbohydrates: Carbs provide energy for the body and are an important source of fuel for a young athlete.

Make sure you get high-performance carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fruits, veggies and dairy (if tolerated) every day. Try to get as many food groups as possible at every meal and snack. Keeping properly hydrated is essential to performance. Your body cannot function at peak level if you are low on fluids.

Your precompetition meal should be high in carbohydrates and fluids. Carbohydrates include bread and bread products, rice, pasta, and some vegetables, such as potatoes. Your meal should also be low in fat and protein.

Healthy sources of fat include nuts, nut butters, avocados, olive and coconut oils. Limit use of vegetable oils such as corn, cottonseed or soybean oil. Dietary protein plays a key role in muscle repair and growth. Preferred sources of protein include lean meats, eggs, dairy (yogurt, milk, cottage cheese) and legumes.