what to feed a football player

Foods such as rice, potatoes, bananas, apples, and peanut butter are all healthy foods that football players should include in their diet. Whether they’re carb loading or turning to protein shakes, there are plenty of all-natural food solutions for athletes as they prepare for game season. Steak

Full Answer

What is the best food for football players?

• Eggs. Eggs are a greay way to start the day—they have good fats and have a ton of protein, as well as vitamin A and potassium.
• Breakfast Shake. ...
• Spinach. ...
• Brown Rice. ...
• Grilled Chicken. ...

What is the best diet for a football player?

“Bread, rice, potatoes, fruits and vegetables should be the bulk of a football player's diet filling up ⅔of the plate at every meal. Protein-rich foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods, nuts, soy products, and beans, are essential for good health, but are not the primary fuel source for exercise, and so should occupy only ⅓ of the plate.”

What should you eat before playing football?

What young athletes should eat before and after the game

• Night Before the Game: Carb-load and Avoid New Foods. Starchy foods like pasta, rice and potatoes offer a carbohydrate-rich meal that will provide the right fuel for the next day’s ...
• Before the Game: Stay Hydrated and Don’t Eat Fats. ...
• During the Game: Refuel as Needed. ...
• Post-game: Repair with Protein. ...

What should you eat before a football match?

• Focus on carbs for energy. Choose whole-grain bread, crackers, cereal, pasta and potatoes for lasting energy.
• Spread out protein foods.
• Use caution with fatty foods.
• Eat with food safety in mind.
• Flow with fluids.
• Timing is everything.
• Topping it off with milk.

What is the best food for a football player?

Try to focus on lean and low-fat sources. Some good examples are turkey, chicken, 93 percent lean red meats, egg whites, tuna, top sirloin steak, tilapia, salmon, mackerel and shrimp. Carbohydrates give you energy, so you'll need to eat foods rich in them to fuel all your workouts.

What does a football player eat?

Former tight end Reggie Kelly says all NFL players keep certain foods on hand for basic nutrition. The foods are salmon, sweet potatoes, and hummus. A registered dietitian said these foods could be the basis of someone's everyday diet.

What should a football player eat for dinner?

Winner winner, chicken dinner! This meal is focused on lean meats like salmon, chicken and turkey. It mostly mirrors lunch, though the players try to add some variety. Lorenzo Alexander, Buffalo Bills linebacker: Brown rice, salmon, broccoli and a small side salad.

What foods are good for players?

CarbohydratesFruit.Oatmeal.Starchy vegetables. (sweet/white potatoes, squash)Non-starchy vegetables. (broccoli, leafy greens)Whole grain bread or crackers.High-fiber, non-sugary cereals.Quinoa.Brown or wild rice.

What does a footballer eat in a day?

Footballers need plenty of carbohydrates to keep their energy levels up. Foods such as whole grain breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables are necessary for elite athletes, providing them with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help decrease inflammation and boost recovery.

What do football players eat in a day?

All NFL players eat salmon, sweet potatoes, and hummus, one player said. A nutritionist says they're onto something.Former tight end Reggie Kelly says all NFL players keep certain foods on hand for basic nutrition.The foods are salmon, sweet potatoes, and hummus.More items...•

What does Tom Brady eat in a day?

His diet is full of 'alkalising' foods with low pH levels Breakfast: In addition to his smoothie, Brady will have avocado and eggs; Lunch: Salad with nuts and fish; Dinner: Roasted vegetables and plain chicken; Snacks: In between his meals, Brady will snack on hummus, guacamole, or mixed nuts.

What is a good lunch for football players?

While an NFL player's lunch might include foods such as:Chicken breast.Quinoa.Broccoli.Sweet potatoes.Avocado.Pasta.Lean meat.Eggs.More items...•

What is Tom Brady's diet?

The Tom Brady diet—also known as the TB12 diet—is a high-protein, plant-based diet that excludes gluten, dairy, corn, soy, MSG, coffee, alcohol, GMOs, sugar, trans fats, overly processed foods, and more. Some fruits and vegetables such as nightshades are off-limits, as are certain oils.

What foods should footballers avoid?

As a general rule try to eat whole grain pasta, bread and rice and don't eat too much fat. Avoid white potatoes and refined carbs, like white bread. Fruit and vegetables are a key component of any healthy footballer's diet. If you don't like them, well, you just need to get to like them.

Do footballers drink milk?

Milk! According to a small child it's exactly what legendary Liverpool footballer Ian Rush drinks (YouTube it if you have no idea what I'm referring to there) – and with good reason. Milk can become a vital part of your recovery; it's high levels of protein are important to muscle recovery and strengthening.

What should a footballer eat for breakfast?

Breakfast: A good source of protein: eggs, milk, peanut butter on wholemeal toast, oats or porridge. You could try scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast, or just a spreading of peanut butter if time is limited. Lunch: Again- protein and slow release carbs are key to boosting energy levels for training.

How much does a football player eat?

For players in the National Football League that often means eating more food in a day than most regular people eat in two or three days. In fact, the food intake for an NFL player can be as much as 6,000 calories a day, but averages out to be about 4,000 calories per day for most players.

How do you eat like a footballer?

Eat Like A Professional FootballerEverything starts the day before. Players (or anyone with a game the next day) should avoid spicy and greasy foods, meals that contain a lot of sauces and cut out red meat because it takes a while to digest. ... Eat the right breakfast. ... Stay hydrated. ... Pre-match meal. ... Time to refuel.

Do footballers eat junk food?

Yes, even MLS players face temptation from junk food and snacks. “I always tell players to focus on carbs, and to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables,” Richer says. “Most of a soccer player's daily calories need to come from carb sources that provide energy so they don't get fatigued on the field.

Do football players eat junk food?

Professional football players are in pristine shape, which many achieve by following a strict diet and exercise program. But even the NFL's finest aren't immune to junk food cravings. From fast food joints to decadent desserts, here's a look at 13 NFL players' favorite junk food indulgences.

What are the nutrients needed to fuel football?

Before I get into meals, let’s do a quick play-by-play of the essential nutrients to fuel football: Carbohydrates: Because of the quick bursts of energy needed during football, it’s essential to have the right fuel – carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy quickly.

How much water should I drink before exercise?

Recommendations from Lesli Bonci, a sports dietitian, are for drinking 16 ounces of water one hour before exercise as it takes an hour for it to leave the stomach. Drinking 20-40 ounces per hour of practice. Drinking 24 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost during exercise, immediately after exercise.

What are the best foods to eat for football?

Every meal or snack should contain carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, bagels, tortillas, rice, pasta, quinoa, barley, potatoes, corn, fruit, vegetables, juice, crackers and pretzels.

What is the nutrition plan for high school football?

Nutrition Plan for Football. A high school football diet plan is just as much a part of training as lifting, running and learning plays. Whether you’re a quarterback or a lineman, you need to fuel adequately to train well, recover quickly and increase endurance. Specific nutrient requirements are based on your body size and position.

What is the best food for football players?

Filled with protein, iron, and creatine, steak is a great option for football players. Players should obtain 15 to 20 percent of their daily caloric intake from protein rich sources such as steak.

What is Joey Adduci's diet?

Certified personal trainer Joey Adduci spent years on the football field and now coaches varsity football in Suffolk County, acting as head conditioning coach. He recommends that players consume foods high in protein, creatine, healthy fats, potassium, and vitamins. He also recommends a whey protein supplement to ensure recovery of broken down muscle, and dairy products such as cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and whole milk for long-term [muscle and bone health]”.

How to maximize off season football?

In order to truly maximize your off-season football program, you must focus equally on training and nutrition. When you think of food, fuel may be the last thing that comes to mind. Yet what you put in your mouth has an enormous effect on your energy level.

How to be at your best?

Here are 15 key nutritional notes that you can practice to be at your best. Eat breakfast daily before 9 a.m. Your body is a furnace and should be loaded with fuel to burn throughout the day. Eat a minimum of three meals and 2-3 snacks per day. Don’t go more than 3 or 4 hours without eating.

What to eat before a game?

Turkey or ham subs can be among the choices, and make sure they also have fruit salad and a frozen yogurt. Eggs with waffles, ham and fruit can be an ideal breakfast before a game.

What percentage of a football player's diet should come from carbohydrates?

Leslie Bonci, the director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a nutrition consultant for the Pittsburgh Steelers, believes that 55 to 60 percent of a football player's game day diet should come from carbohydrates, 15 percent should come from protein and 30 percent should come from fat.

What is the pregame meal?

The pregame meal has been traditional in football. The team gets together to eat together and share the experience. In the past, fat-laden meals were common, but there is now more of an emphasis on keeping the meals healthier and de-emphasizing the fat intake. Foods that are high in fat take longer to digest, so that can mean that the player can take the field feeling full and heavy prior to the start of a game. "Minimize higher fat items such as fried meats, fried potatoes, bacon, and sausage in favor of leaner proteins and carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, and toast," advises Bonci.

What to serve with pregame steak?

Another choice can include cereal, fruit and a smoothie. If you want the traditional pregame steak, have an 8-ounce filet with pasta or a baked potato on the side.

What is the game day meal?

Bonci says that a game day meal should resemble a "peace sign," because it will be 1/3 protein, 1/3 starch and 1/3 fruits and vegetables. The protein sources can be fish, chicken or red meat, the carbohydrate sources should be rice, pasta or potatoes and the fruits and vegetables can be anything that is fresh.

Why is carbohydrate important in football?

Since football requires so many bursts of energy throughout the game, carbohydrate intake is vital to getting the most out of your performance while maintaining your health.

What are the best foods to eat to lose weight?

"I emphasize carbohydrate-containing foods with lower fat: bagels over doughnuts, mashed potatoes over fries, grilled chicken over fried, frozen yogurt over ice cream, " Bonci says.