You can also eat an energy snack, such as a protein bar, shortly before kickoff. Too much fat (usually the saturated kind) can put players at risk for increased fat mass, which only serves to slow them down and kill performance goals. What Do Football Players Eat Before Games? Players need to have sufficient energy to last for anywhere between 48 minutes--during high school games--and 60 minutes--during college and professional games. What to eat before and after exercise By Sharon Howard, R.D., M.S., ... Before getting too tired, consuming 30 grams of carbohydrate every 30 minutes can provide an extra boost. Educating football players about what foods to eat, how much food to eat and the timing of pre-game and post-game meals is of prime importance for athletic performance. Top 10 Snacks to Fuel up Before Football Practice Lisa Dorfman, MS, RD, CSSD, LHMC Sports Dietitian 2. The likes of Chelsea's Alvaro Morata will be well-fuelled before their arrival (Image: Rex Features). Football players burn off an immense number of calories during practices and games. The night before I am having some pasta, but what should I have in … Serve lightly grilled and sliced potatoes with scrambled eggs and fruit like berries along with 100 per cent calcium-fortified fruit juice or fat-free milk for a healthy pre-game dinner. 1. Try eating a snack high in carbohydrates and decide if you feel more energized. A football player doing two practices a day might need as many as 10,000 calories in one day. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, up to about one hour before kickoff. Do not miss lunch, or light-charge. Snacks Before the Game. Another thing you can do is, the night before your football game, eat pasta. Before match day, things change a little. What to Eat After a Match "When the match has finished I would recommend eating 30 minutes after the final whistle. Eat low-fat, high-carbohydrate meals on game day. His diet is more strictly controlled and he gets to bed earlier. Avoid experimenting before big games. Pre-game fuel. You should eat banana, but eat it about 2-3 hours before you eat. During a game of 70 minutes, a footballer is estimated to run 10km, so it is essential that you prepare your body correctly if you want to be at your best. Let’s use a game at 1 o’clock for our example. So we have just covered many ways to fully prepare yourself for coming into a game as prepared as possible. Examples for What to Eat Before a Soccer Game. A good football diet starts first thing in the morning. Another thing you can do is, the night before your football game, eat pasta. What are you going to eat tonight? Is this good to eat before the match. Without adequate, balanced nutrition, you won’t have enough energy to play your best. These provide energy for training and competing. AFL football takes a lot out of the body from depleting energy stores to the toll of physical contact. The meal should be focused on higher carbohydrates and moderate protein while low in fat. You should eat banana, but eat it about 2-3 hours before you eat. As kickoff approaches, follow it up with a small snack or sports drink about 30 to 60 minutes before the game. .. Now you know the basics, it’s time to look at arguably the most important meal: what to eat just before … Try a pasta dish with some lean ground turkey meat sauce, or a chicken stir fry with lots of rice and veggies. A player must eat before and after practice to maintain energy levels, weight and muscle mass. Now lets look at a couple of ways we can put this into practice. Should I eat before exercise if I am trying to lose weight? Have a light meal about three hours before the game. If you are dehydrated, you will not be able to physically perform close to your maximum level. Football players also need fat, but the good kind. Many athletes believe that if they want to lose weight, they will burn more fuel from body fat by not eating before a training session. Bring a water bottle with you to your game and gradually drink before, during and after it. What to eat before exercise Before you exercise, eat carbs, but not too much, said Nancy Cohen, a professor in the department of nutrition at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. What does football team eat before a game? Water flushes toxins from your body and carries nutrients to your cells and tissues. These guys are professional athletes, after all, so it goes without saying that they can essentially eat whatever they want and get away with it. Use black pepper, garlic, and/or chives instead. Dr Fatima Hassan, Head of Clinical Nutrition Section at DHA addresses your dietary concerns. For example, if you always eat steak, potatoes and soda before a game, change it up little by little: 1. Hi, I have been playing football for a Sunday leauge team for a few years now, and during the pre season break, I haven't played much football. Don’t let the game get the best of you. Too little fat can affect nutrient absorption and ultimately impact performance as well, so moderation is the name of the game here. “The night before games I’ll have chicken, pasta, fish: all the normal stuff you would expect us to eat. Carbohydrates are key with a moderate amount of protein, adding in some antioxidants if possible. However, if the game starts earlier in the day, stick with a light, protein-rich breakfast. Whether you feel hungry or not, breakfast is a vital meal that sets your energy and metabolism for the rest of the day. Gather all for a pre-game meal, about 3 hours before the match. Now that the fall has arrived, football players from JV to Pro are bulking up and spending hours in the gym, and on the field, preparing for their first game. A snack or meal should also be … Good Foods to Eat Before Football Practice. Higher sodium is OK because athletes sweat much of that out during games. (Slideshow) According to Ask.com, a football player can burn well over 1,000 calories over the course of a game. So what exactly do that eat? What you eat before an important athletic event can make or break your performance. However the basis of a good weight loss plan is to modify daily energy balance while maintaining training performance. If you’re a football player, fuel up on these foods! The best way to decide when you should eat before a game is to experiment with your eating schedule and practices for your sports team. Include some protein in each meal, such as eggs, lean meat or beans. And many are guilty of not eating breakfast at all. Top 10 Snacks to Fuel up Before Football Practice 1. Most AFL players prepare their body for the game by getting physiotherapy and massage to ease aches and pains but they also need to eat correctly before the game to ensure they have sufficient energy to get through a full game of AFL. What should I eat before a football game for energy? What to Eat Before Football Practices Overview Proper nutrition is essential to athletes --- it provides the energy and stamina needed to play sports such as football. Cut out the crappy, convenience foods from your diet and try to eat good, natural meals. 2 or More Hours Before Game Time Because eating right before practice can slow down the digestion and cause tiredness and discomfort, it is best to fuel up about two hours prior to football practice. Shutterstock. Extra Tip: Eat a tablespoon of honey before bed to drastically improve the quality of your sleep . Each meal should look like a peace sign, with one-third of the plate devoted to protein, one-third to complex carbohydrates and one-third to fruits and vegetables. Eat the right breakfast for the day’s schedule. Before you hit the field, make sure your raid the fridge for these foods. Don’t eat everything on the list before the game, of course—it’s intended as a guide to food choices depending on how much time you have and how hungry you are. Eating the wrong thing before a game can be disastrous: eat too much or overly rich food and it can be swilling around your stomach, making you feel bilious and slowing you down. You want food that’s going to give you energy without weighing you down or making you feel sluggish on the field, court, track or pitch. 2. May 24, 2013 - Pregame football meals should be eaten at least three hours prior to the start of a game and should consist largely of foods rich in carbohydrates. Before each game, players are faced with the decision of what they're going to put into their bodies in order to make sure they're properly fueled up for the Herculean task ahead. This is a huge mistake for someone who wants to be a serious athlete. Think about your food choices, eat what’s in season, try new things and most of all find healthy combinations that you enjoy! Opt for a liquid snack -- such as a smoothie. Bonci recommends players consume three meals a day along with snacks before and after practices and games. The reason for trying to eat as soon as possible after a match is because there is a period of time, up to 45 minutes after physical exercise, or there is a window of recovery for the body, where you can feed it with carbohydrates and protein. Stop putting butter, salt, and/or sour cream on the potatoes. We tracked down answers from 10 professional football players, and from ritual cookies to spaghetti and eggs, they're pretty fascinating. Article from livestrong.com. Before a soccer game, you need to consume a large quantity of carbohydrates, a moderate amount of protein and a low amount of fat. If you have several hours before the football game, you can eat a balanced breakfast and follow up with low-sugar, protein-rich foods throughout the day. Eating before a football game is serious business. Fueling a football team has moved into the era of evidence-based science and the employment of RDs and professional chefs. The last thing you want is a stomach issue before kickoff, so lower fiber, more processed and non-whole grain items are allowable. Eat a bigger meal two to four hours before go time. This includes breakfast on game day. Before playing football, you should be properly hydrated. Foods high in carbohydrates include potatoes, pasta, rice, bread and cereals. Not eating can have consequences, including poor energy and concentration, nausea, muscle weakness and dizziness. Carbohydrates are the key ingredients in a footballers diet.