What food gives you energy before a game?
The pregame meal
Starches and grains — Good options are bread, cereal, crackers, rice, potatoes and pasta. Fruit — Fresh is best, but frozen, canned or dry is OK too.
The pregame meal
Starches and grains — Good options are bread, cereal, crackers, rice, potatoes and pasta. Fruit — Fresh is best, but frozen, canned or dry is OK too.
- Fruit.
- 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.
- Rest during the day before your game. ...
- Eat a dinner based on complex carbohydrates the night before the game. ...
- Eat breakfast on game day. ...
- Pack a snack to eat before the game and during the game, if necessary. ...
- Drink plenty of water as you play.
Before a game, some athletes also avoid fatty, foods that are slow to digest and try to eat mainly familiar, easily digested, high carbohydrate foods. High-fiber foods such as raw vegetables, seaweed, and mushrooms tend to cause a buildup of gas, so athletes have to avoid eating too much of them.
- Don't forget to sleep. Get some good rest the night before a game. ...
- Start with a good breakfast and lunch. ...
- H20 is your friend, so drink lots of it. ...
- Sports drinks to the rescue. ...
- Beware of energy drinks. ...
- Keep snacks on deck. ...
- Halftime = break time. ...
- Practice makes perfect.
The goal for the pre-event meal is to make sure you have enough fuel to get through the entire athletic event. The pre-event meal should give you the energy to perform and can help prevent fatigue, decrease hunger pain and provide hydration. Make sure to eat your pre-game meal three to four hours before the event.
Carbohydrates, fat and protein are known as the 'macronutrients' – the main energy-giving food groups. Other nutrients can give us energy, too, including amino acids like leucine, as well as B vitamins and caffeine.
Carbohydrates are needed to provide energy during exercise. Carbohydrates are stored mostly in the muscles and liver. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as pasta, bagels, whole grain breads, and rice. They provide energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
NFL players typically eat a large pre-game meal in addition to breakfast. Lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats are common components of this meal, with an emphasis on eating items that won't cause gastrointestinal distress.
What is the instant energy for sports?
Carbohydrate is essential as the most immediate and efficient fuel to the muscles. In its circulating form in the blood, carbohydrate is called as glucose, and its storage form in muscles and in the liver is called as glycogen.
Carbohydrates: Your Body's Most Important Source of Fuel.

- Be sure to have snack high in carbohydrate.
- Avoid foods that are high in protein or fat (they take a while to digest and may upset your stomach)
- Drink another 8-10 oz of water.
- Ideas for snacks:
- Peanut butter sandwich.
- Pretzels or crackers.
- Fruit.
- Granola bar.
But for those extra-intense times, a sports drink containing carbohydrates may be a helpful source of energy, but mainly during or after exercise (not before). Sports drinks contain a small amount of sodium and electrolytes, which are beneficial for absorbing liquids quickly and replacing what is lost in sweat.
- Oatmeal with berries.
- Balanced energy bar.
- A banana, an apple or other fresh fruit.
- Yogurt.
- A fruit smoothie.
- A whole-grain bagel or crackers.
- Granola bar.
- A peanut butter and apple sandwich.
Have a plan to relax leading up to the game; read a book, pray, deep breathing, watch a funny movie, listen to music, focus on the task at hand. Don't talk about the game/competition all day, who you are playing, what they are ranked, the magnitude of the game, etc.
Listen to your favorite music. I recommend something that you know the words too or has a catchy beat. Nothing pumps you up more than a song with a good drop or lyrics that are motivational! Take time to focus on breathing.
- Waking up at a reasonable hour.
- Eating a healthy breakfast.
- Stretching.
- Having an energy-packed meal 1 – 3 hours before game time.
- Arriving early to the venue to warm up.
Good pre-game nutrition maximizes your ability to compete
Working muscles need carbohydrate for fuel. Good pre-event meals contain high carbohydrates, moderate amounts of protein, small amounts of fat, and plenty of fluids. They also digest quickly and easily.
Fatty foods slow digestion, which is not ideal for the athlete facing a competition. Greasy, fried foods and fatty desserts are filling and may leave you tired and sluggish on the courts. Skip the french fries or pizza before competition, and keep the fat content on the light side.
Are eggs good to eat before a game?
Whether you cook them scrambled or sunny side up, eggs provide an excellent source of healthy protein before your workout. Check out the benefits of eating this high-quality protein before your workouts: Eating eggs before exercising is ideal for building strength and repairing tiny tears in muscle fibers.
The best fuel for exercise is carbohydrates, preferably “complex” ones like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Healthy fats from fish, nuts, vegetable oils, and avocados can help fuel endurance sports like long-distance running.
- Eat your breakfast. People who eat breakfast every morning report less fatigue and stress than people who skip it. ...
- Do a downward dog. ...
- Belt out your favorite tune. ...
- Have a drink of water. ...
- Go nuts. ...
- Grab a cinnamon stick. ...
- Get moving. ...
- Let the sunshine in.
Foods that fight fatigue
Low-GI carbohydrates: brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal and chia seeds. Medium-GI foods, in moderation: honey, orange juice and whole-grain bread. Healthy fats: monounsaturated fats like olive oil, nuts, nut butters and avocados.
These foods that wake you up include fatty fish, bananas, and eggs, all of which are rich in various nutrients and have been shown to have energizing effects. By incorporating these foods into your daily diet, you can improve your physical and mental performance and enjoy sustained energy levels throughout the day.
Drink more water. Drinking water throughout the day and during exercise is crucial to prevent dehydration and muscle fatigue. Try to drink 10 to 12 8-oz glasses of water daily and 7 to 10 ounces of water every 10 to 20 minutes while exercising.
Simple carbohydrates are easier to breakdown and will provide the quickest source of energy for the muscles. Complex carbohydrates take a little longer for the body to break down, but will also eventually be broken down into glucose.
Your body needs three major nutrients for energy. These are carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Carbohydrate provides energy for your brain, muscles, heart, and lungs. It is found in bread, cereal, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and sugar.
Many people swear by coffee as a pre-game energy boost, and there is some science to back up this claim. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that can improve focus and reaction time. However, it is important to note that everyone reacts to caffeine differently.
Energy drinks and caffeinated beverages should not be used for hydration before, during or after physical activity. If they are consumed too close to the time of exercise, they can cause: Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Increased blood pressure.
What is the best meal before a sporting event?
Pre-Event Meals
All meals should have enough calories to cover the expended energy an athlete uses during the competition. However, most of those calories should come from complex carbohydrates such as cereal, pasta, and potatoes.
Athletes should eat a balanced meal containing carbohydrates, protein, and fruit or vegetables 2-3 hours before game time. Make sure to drink 12-24 ounces of water with a pre-game meal to stay hydrated.
Pre Soccer Game Meal Ideas
Oatmeal or oats and yogurt are always a great choice. This will ensure you get plenty of carbohydrates, a good amount of glycogen, and some light protein! A side of fruit like bananas or berries is also recommended to ensure you are filling up your tank completely.
A PB&J does have healthy fats, carbs, and protein to provide quick energy. And you can boost the nutrition content by choosing 100% whole grain bread (which adds fiber) and low-sodium peanut butter.
But for those extra-intense times, a sports drink containing carbohydrates may be a helpful source of energy, but mainly during or after exercise (not before). Sports drinks contain a small amount of sodium and electrolytes, which are beneficial for absorbing liquids quickly and replacing what is lost in sweat.
Luckily, a group of researchers studied this exact question. Using a 5k race as a test run, the researchers found that runners who used caffeine prior to their 5k race improved by 1.0 to 1.1 percent (this means a 20-minute 5k runner would run 10-13 seconds faster just by using caffeine).
Energy drinks should not be used for hydration prior to, during, or after physical activity. Information about the absence of benefit and the presence of potential risk associated with energy drinks should be widely shared among all individuals who interact with young athletes.
“Water, water and water should be the beverage of choice for hydration before, during and after physical activity or exercise routines lasting less than one hour,” Dr. Nish says. He says two hours before intense exercise, it's best to drink 16 ounces of water, not a sports drink.
- Stacker 2 B12 Energy Shot Acai Pomegranate.
- SAGA Surge Mushroom Energy Shot.
- Stacker 2 Blue Raspberry B12 Energy Shot 12 Pack.
- NewTrition Extra Strength Energy Shot.
- Tweaker Strawberry Lemonade Energy Shot (Pack of 12)
- XMODE Energy Shots on Tap Watermelon Rush.
A small amount of low fat protein can settle the stomach and stay around long enough to prevent hunger - try cottage cheese, 1-2 eggs, milk and combine it with some sort of carbohydrate for best results.
Is pizza OK to eat before a game?
Greasy, fried foods and fatty desserts are filling and may leave you tired and sluggish on the courts. Skip the french fries or pizza before competition, and keep the fat content on the light side.