Athletes should aim for the higher end of this range. Rice, potatoes and pasta, for example, are valuable parts of an athlete meal plan.

Regularly select high-quality carbohydrates so that you not only get energy, but important nutrition and fiber. Whole grains , such as brown rice and quinoa, as well as vegetables, are good carbohydrate options for an athlete diet plan.

Read more : Good Sources of Carbohydrates for Athletes. Carbohydrates aren't the only important macronutrient in an athlete meal plan. The protein and fat needs of athletes are greater than once thought. Active bodies need protein to help repair and grow muscle fibers stressed during activity.

Protein foods include lean meats, poultry, fish, dairy, soy and nuts. The expert panel in the Nutrition Today report notes that research consistently shows that 0. This means if you weigh pounds, you should aim for between 83 and grams of protein daily.

Spread your intake of protein out through the day, with an emphasis on a good dose of 20 to 30 grams post-exercise to support muscle repair and growth.

The journal Nutrients published research in that supports the post-workout recommendation of about 30 grams of protein. You can fulfill it with 4. Fats, especially monounsaturated fats , are an essential source of energy. They support healthy skin and hair, brain cell growth and absorption of essential nutrients.

Be cautious with fat, however, as eating a lot of it — especially prior to practice or a game — can make you feel sluggish. Fat slows digestion. When you eat fats, choose avocado, nuts, olive oil or fatty fish.

You don't usually find doughnuts, white bagels or greasy hash browns on a quality diet plan for an athlete. Exactly what you eat for breakfast depends on personal preferences, when you plan to train and how many calories you need per day.

General recommendations usually include whole grains, such as whole-wheat breads and pancakes or oatmeal; eggs and lean meats for protein; low-fat dairy, such as milk or yogurt, for calcium; and fruit for important vitamins and antioxidants.

Read more : 14 Power-Packed Breakfasts to Power You Through the Morning. Breakfast doesn't have to consist of traditional "breakfast" foods, either. A turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread, leftover salmon and a sweet potato, or pasta with grilled chicken and roast vegetables are all good choices.

Don't skip lunch , even if it's your time for training. Eat a small portion before you work out and the rest afterward to ensure you get the calories and nutrients you need. Lunch can look traditional, with sandwiches, salads and soup, or be a combination of snack-like foods such as nuts, seeds, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables and hummus.

Skip the fast-food burgers, hot dogs and fries. Even if you worked out earlier, these foods have too much salt and saturated fat to support healthy physical performance — no matter how many calories you burned.

And if you plan to work out after lunch and before dinner, a fatty meal can impair later performance. A good, balanced dinner consists of 4 to 5 ounces of lean protein, a cup or two of green leafy vegetables and quality carbohydrates, such as white or sweet potatoes, rice, quinoa or pasta.

Before using supplements, you should consider what else you can do to improve your sporting performance — diet, training and lifestyle changes are all more proven and cost effective ways to improve your performance.

Relatively few supplements that claim performance benefits are supported by sound scientific evidence. Use of vitamin and mineral supplements is also potentially dangerous. Supplements should not be taken without the advice of a qualified health professional.

The ethical use of sports supplements is a personal choice by athletes, and it remains controversial. If taking supplements, you are also at risk of committing an anti-doping rule violation no matter what level of sport you play. Dehydration can impair athletic performance and, in extreme cases, may lead to collapse and even death.

Drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise is very important. Fluid intake is particularly important for events lasting more than 60 minutes, of high intensity or in warm conditions. Water is a suitable drink, but sports drinks may be required, especially in endurance events or warm climates.

Sports drinks contain some sodium, which helps absorption. While insufficient hydration is a problem for many athletes, excess hydration may also be potentially dangerous. In rare cases, athletes might consume excessive amounts of fluids that dilute the blood too much, causing a low blood concentration of sodium.

This condition is called hyponatraemia, which can potentially lead to seizures, collapse, coma or even death if not treated appropriately.

Consuming fluids at a level of to ml per hour of exercise might be a suitable starting point to avoid dehydration and hyponatraemia, although intake should ideally be customised to individual athletes, considering variable factors such as climate, sweat rates and tolerance.

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Home Healthy eating. Sporting performance and food. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Nutrition and exercise The link between good health and good nutrition is well established. Daily training diet requirements The basic training diet should be sufficient to: provide enough energy and nutrients to meet the demands of training and exercise enhance adaptation and recovery between training sessions include a wide variety of foods like wholegrain breads and cereals , vegetables particularly leafy green varieties , fruit , lean meat and low-fat dairy products to enhance long term nutrition habits and behaviours enable the athlete to achieve optimal body weight and body fat levels for performance provide adequate fluids to ensure maximum hydration before, during and after exercise promote the short and long-term health of athletes.

Carbohydrates are essential for fuel and recovery Current recommendations for carbohydrate requirements vary depending on the duration, frequency and intensity of exercise.

Eating during exercise During exercise lasting more than 60 minutes, an intake of carbohydrate is required to top up blood glucose levels and delay fatigue. Eating after exercise Rapid replacement of glycogen is important following exercise. Protein and sporting performance Protein is an important part of a training diet and plays a key role in post-exercise recovery and repair.

For example: General public and active people — the daily recommended amount of protein is 0. Sports people involved in non-endurance events — people who exercise daily for 45 to 60 minutes should consume between 1.

Other weeks, she might exercise at a higher intensity times per week and this would be relatively the same meal plan. Each meal plan day resembles a different time of working out in which the type of food before and after pre-workout and post-workout snacks and meals are accounted for.

Pre-workout foods highlight carbohydrates to be utilized as energy. If it is an early morning workout, you want to choose simple carbohydrates, especially if you do not have much time to digest before beginning exercise.

Simple carbohydrates could be: graham crackers, low-fiber cereal, toast, english muffin, granola bar, pretzels or sports drink. If you have more than 30 minutes before your workout, you can add some more fibrous carbohydrates, moderate protein and or moderate fat.

This will help slow down digestion, before you exercise. For example, the english muffin with peanut butter, apples and soy milk would be a meal I would want to digest for a couple hours before the mid morning exercise versus an english muffin and peanut butter perhaps I could exercise in the next 30 minutes.

If I am awake and out the door running in under 5 minutes, I'm choosing graham crackers or a sports drink to absorb the carbs quickly to be utilized for energy right away.

You also want to think about the type of exercise, duration and intensity. If I am waking up and going on a five mile run, I might want some carbs to fuel this type of activity. If I am waking up and going to do a High Intensity Interval workout then I NEED to eat some carbohydrates before this type of activity because my body is burning carbohydrates at a faster rate.

Other times, you could be done working out at 3pm and need a high protein snack to start muscle protein synthesis and muscle recovery. If you are working out late at night, such as a club soccer game, a protein shake might be easy right before bed rather than a full on dinner.

Make sure to have dinner before the game, but go easy on the fiber and fat as this takes longer to digest and can make you feel sluggish. Day 5 is an example of a day of eating for nighttime exercise.

Post-workout Lunch: Chickpea Wrap with Baby Carrots, Yogurt and Sunflower Seeds. Dinner: Turkey and Cheese Meatball Sub, Parmesan Broccoli. Breakfast: Chicken sausage and sweet potato hash. Lunch: Chicken pita with an orange, cheese and crackers.

Afternoon Snack: english muffin with cottage cheese, fruit and baby carrots. Dinner: High protein jerk chicken breast with quinoa, lime cucumber salad. Breakfast: PB banana toast with blackberries.

Lunch: Chicken, brown rice and salad with banana and PB. Dinner: Baked Chicken and veggies with spaghetti and honey roasted brussels sprouts. Breakfast: Strawberry Maple Overnight Oats with Raspberries. Leftover Lunch: Chicken, Brown Rice, and Salad, banana with PB. Breakfast: Strawberry Sunbutter Toast, Orange.

Pre-workout snack: ½ banana with 1 graham cracker sheet. Post workout snack: Protein Shake with Skim Milk. Breakfast: Ham and Peppers Scramble with Apple, Tangerine. Dinner: Salmon, Couscous, and Tomato Salad, Asparagus and Sliced Almonds.

Dessert: Apple with pb, cinnamon and mini chocolate chips. Breakfast: Eggs and Turkey Sausage, Apple. Pre-workout: English Muffin with Strawberry Jelly. Post workout Dinner: Simple Chicken Burger with Blueberries, Simple Brussels Sprouts. Quick and Easy Breakfast in under 5 minutes. Slice apple and place on pb muffin and enjoy with a cup of milk.

In a bowl, combine chickpeas, grapes, almonds, yogurt, curry powder, and chilli powder. Spread chickpea mixture on tortilla and roll up. Serve with baby carrots. meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake minutes.

Meanwhile, coat a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium. Add bell pepper and sauté minutes until tender. Add tomato. Place meatballs in bun and coat with sauce.

Top with cheese. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli and stir to coat with. Add water, cover, and cook minutes until water evaporates.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH diet is a heart-healthy eating plan originally developed by the National Institutes of Health. The diet promotes nutrient-dense whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low fat dairy.

Not only is the DASH diet well rounded and rich in important nutrients, but it may also be especially beneficial for female athletes, who are typically at a higher risk of developing bone disorders like osteopenia and osteoporosis 9. In fact, the DASH diet encourages followers to eat foods high in calcium, such as low fat dairy, to promote bone health.

Studies have shown the DASH diet may help increase bone density 10 , The paleo diet is based on the presumed eating patterns of ancient hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic era. The diet is rich in animal proteins, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats but eliminates processed foods, grains, legumes, sugar, and most dairy products.

Because the diet is typically high in protein , it may be a good option to help increase muscle growth when combined with strength training Multiple studies have even shown that eating high amounts of protein may reduce fat mass and improve body composition 13 , 14 , If you find that the paleo diet is too strict or difficult to follow, there are also several variations available, including modified versions of the paleo diet, which allow gluten-free grains and grass-fed butter.

Noom is a mobile app diet program that is designed to help you achieve long-lasting, sustainable weight loss by promoting behavioral changes. When you sign up, it asks a series of questions to collect details about your current diet and lifestyle. This may make it a good option for athletes looking for a more personalized approach that takes their training into account.

Membership also includes access to your virtual coaching team, which provides extra social support and motivation. Instead of omitting certain foods altogether, Noom encourages followers to eat nutrient-dense ingredients like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Because the program is completely virtual and requires only a smartphone, it could also be a great choice for athletes with a busy schedule.

Get started with Noom here. The Nordic diet is an eating pattern based on the traditional diets of Nordic countries like Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It emphasizes local, sustainably sourced foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, seafood, low fat dairy, and legumes and restricts foods that are processed, refined, or high in added sugar.

Because the diet permits many foods that are rich in carbohydrates, it can provide plenty of long-lasting energy for endurance athletes In fact, experts often recommend high carbohydrate foods that are easy to digest, such as fruit or yogurt, for endurance athletes to help fuel the muscles during exercise Not only does the Nordic diet encourage these foods, but it also promotes foods rich in protein and healthy fats to help round out your diet.

This meal delivery service company is specifically designed for athletes and offers entrees that include lean proteins, complex carbs, and nutritious veggies. The company uses high quality ingredients, including organic produce, wild-caught seafood, grass-fed meat, and free-range chicken.

The service also caters to several diet patterns. It offers paleo, keto , vegan, and vegetarian plans with flexible subscription options. For a simple way to squeeze more protein into your diet during training, you can order individual items à la carte, including protein packs that contain prepared meat, fish, or poultry.

Get started with Trifecta here. Green Chef is a great option for athletes hoping to improve both their cooking skills and physical performance by enjoying more healthy, homemade meals. Each meal includes a list of ingredients and detailed nutrition information, which may be useful for athletes who are keeping tabs on their macronutrient intake.

You can also select your meals each week to create your menu, allowing you to choose options higher in protein, carbs, or healthy fats, depending on your fitness goals. Get started with Green Chef here. With so many different diet plans and programs out there, finding an option that works for you can be challenging.

For example, endurance athletes may benefit from consuming more carbohydrates, whereas eating more protein may help build muscle mass when coupled with resistance training Finally, be sure to avoid any overly restrictive programs.

In addition to making it more challenging to meet your nutritional needs, they can also be more difficult to follow and unsustainable in the long run. When selecting a plan that works for you, be sure to consider your goals, preferences, and dietary restrictions.

Try to steer clear of diets that are overly restrictive or unsustainable. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. When it comes to eating foods to fuel your exercise performance, it's not as simple as choosing vegetables over doughnuts.

Learn how to choose foods…. Learn about the best pre-workout nutrition strategies. Eating the right foods before a workout can maximize performance and speed up recovery. Nutrition is viewed as the foundation of CrossFit training and critical to performance.

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Back to Reviews Valentine's gifts Best cookbooks to buy. Home Recipes Collection Eat like an athlete recipes. Eat like an athlete recipes. What the sporting elite choose to eat Showing items 1 to 24 of Breakfast super-shake. Classic spaghetti Bolognese. Turkey burgers with beetroot relish.

Malt loaf. Butternut squash soup. Tuna sweet potato jackets. Mocha milkshake.