
What Should soccer players eat?
- Eggs. Eggs are an excellent source of protein.
- Oatmeal. One of the best sources of carbohydrates and another great breakfast option.
- Chicken or Turkey Breast. The best way to eat chicken or turkey is skinless, to remove unnecessary fat.
- Lean Ground Beef.
- Fruits and Vegetables.
- Beans.
- Sweet Potatoes.
What soccer players should be eating?
Soccer Nutrition by Phil Davis
- A soccer player’s diet should consist of about 60-65% carbohydrate, 20-25% fat and 10-15% protein.
- Carbohydrates should be predominantly in the form of fresh fruits and whole grains such as whole meal bread, pasta, potatoes and brown rice. ...
- Saturated fat intake should be reduced in most cases i.e. ...
What is the best diet for a soccer player?
· A soccer player’s diet should consist of about 60-65% carbohydrate, 20-25% fat and 10-15% protein. · Carbohydrates should be predominantly in the form of fresh fruits and whole grains such as whole meal bread, pasta, potatoes and brown rice.
What is the best food to eat after playing soccer?
- Fruit smoothie (Greek yogurt + banana + berries)
- Cereal and milk
- Bagel and (decaf) latt?
- Pretzels and hummus
- Baked potato and cottage cheese
- Turkey sub
- Pasta and meatballs.
What should I eat before a soccer match?
Before a soccer game, you need to consume a large quantity of carbohydrates, a moderate amount of protein and a low amount of fat. This includes breakfast on game day. Without adequate, balanced nutrition, you won't have enough energy to play your best.

How much should a soccer player eat a day?
Fueling Your Sport Adult male soccer players need 21.4 to 27.3 calories per pound of body weight per day (47 to 60 calories/kg/day). Adult female players need 20.5 to 22.7 calories per pound per day (45 to 50 calories/kg/day). A 160-pound male player needs 3,400 to 4,300 calories per day.
What foods should soccer players avoid?
Soccer Players should AVOID foods that have high fat content or high in calories because these slow down the digestion process. Some foods that are high in fat or calories are: butter, margarine, mayonnaise, nuts, seeds, salad dressings, cream cheese, fried foods, sauces, gravies.
What Should soccer players eat for dinner?
Replenishing at Dinner Like lunch, dinner is important for pumping up your energy stores and repairing muscles after practice or a game. A healthy dinner meal for soccer players might include 4 ounces of grilled tuna steak with a 6-ounce baked potato, 1 cup of steamed broccoli and 24 cherries for 550 calories.
What food is good for footballers?
Lean white meat and oily fish, such as chicken and turkey, salmon and mackerel are great sources of protein. 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.
What is Messi's diet?
Most of Messi's dietary regimen comes from Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser's input. In 2014, based on the recommendation of Poser, Messi focused on the switch to five key foods: Water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.
How do soccer players stay fit?
Lean meats, protein, and plenty of water are key to staying fueled on the field and off. Staying active for as long as soccer players do during matches, they also need to have great balance, speed, endurance and dexterity.
What does Ronaldo eat every day?
The former Juventus forward will either eat fish – cod, haddock or tuna – or eat chicken or steak. His total energy intake each day is said to be around 3,200 calories. According to The Times, Ronaldo's favourite meal is bacalhau à brás – cod, onions, thinly sliced potatoes and scrambled eggs.
What does Ronaldo eat before a match?
For breakfast Ronaldo will eat ham and cheese and low-fat yoghurt. If he doesn't have it for brekkie, the Manchester United star will wolf down avocado toast for snacks during the day. Lunch No1 could consist of chicken and salad, while No2 might be fish - maybe tuna with salad, eggs and olives.
What should a footballer avoid?
Players should avoid refined carbohydrates including white bread, cakes, candy, cookies, pies, high sugar cereals, sodas, and juices.
What should footballers drink?
Top Five Drinks For FootballWater. Ask any sports scientist, they'll tell you the best drink for any sport is water. ... Fruit and vegetable smoothie. ... Chocolate milk. ... Isotonic sports drink. ... Protein shake.
Do footballers eat fast food?
Many boast their own private chefs who rustle up healthy meals. While when others fine dine, they gorge on fish, salads and high-protein dishes. But, every now and again, a footballer will have a cheat day and indulge in some fast food.
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.
Is spicy food good for soccer players?
Spicy food is usually avoided due to tastes and potential effects on digestion. Pre-match meals are an important part of athlete preparation to go out and perform, which makes them one of the most important times of the week. We serve meals about four hours before kick off to allow time for digestion.”
What should a soccer player eat after a game?
Post Game Meals: Grilled Chicken (Fish, Beef) with Vegetables and Rice. Pasta with meat and Vegetables. Burrito or Burrito bowl with rice, beans, vegetables and meat.
Is meat good for soccer players?
Some of these are quite obvious, like eating ice cream and chips. But eating red meat can be somewhat bad for players because it has plenty of saturated fat and not the good fats that are found in salmon and nuts. After a match, players need to replace all of the energy they lost over the course of the 90 minutes.
Is chicken good before soccer?
This meal should contain some carbohydrate for fuel as well as some fluids for hydration. A small amount of protein in the pre-game meal is also useful, as it can help to prevent hunger during the game. Some suitable pre-game meal ideas can include: Wrap or sandwich with chicken and salad.
What is the best food for soccer players?
Protein. The next macronutrient, protein, is equally important in the soccer player diet. As the building block of muscle, protein is found in animal products like chicken, beef and fish. Some plants such as beans, lentils and soy, contain protein as well, so they should not be overlooked.
Why do soccer players eat vegetables?
Undoubtedly, eating vegetables serves a couple of functions in a soccer player diet: 1. It aids in hydration because many vegetables have a high water content. 2. It nourishes the body with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which are crucial optimum muscle performance, recovery and repair.
What is Messi's diet?
According to the nutritionist, Messi’s diet comprises six elements: water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts and seeds.
Why is nutrition important in soccer?
A soccer player diet should consist of all the mentioned components in order to be able to compete at the highest level.
Why is it important to eat carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are our primary fuel source for high-intensity physical exercise such as soccer. Essentially, this is what our body relies on to get through a training session or match. As such, it’s important to eat adequate amounts of carbohydrates when taking part in strenuous activities.
What does improved nutrition do for athletes?
Sports nutrition has come a long way in recent years with many studies clearly indicating that an improved diet of an athlete can result in: increased stamina. improved endurance. more energy. greater power. increased strength. reduced risk of injury. better recovery and muscle repair. sharper brain.
What are some good snacks for soccer players?
Any or all of these fruits should find their way into the soccer player diet because they have numerous health benefits. Apples are a great snack and should be on every athlete’s menu.
The Importance of Nutrition
Eating and drinking habits are often overlooked by youth and amateur players.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Daily Diet
As well as being famed for his incredible physique and fitness, Ronaldo is renowned for his thirst to be the absolute best player he can possibly be.
Lionel Messi's Daily Diet
Messi isn't as well known for his physique as Ronaldo, but he still pays close attention to his diet.
Neymar's Daily Diet
Another world class soccer player to overhaul their diet and workout regimen in recent years is PSG star Neymar.
Conclusion
As supremely talented as they are, todays top soccer players like Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar don't just rely on talent and effort.
How much protein should a soccer player consume?
A good rule of thumb for soccer player’s and athletes, in general, is to follow the following intake distribution: 60-65% carbohydrates, 20-25% fats, and 15-20% proteins.
How long before a soccer game should I eat?
Never skip your meals. Eat well before your soccer game, I would suggest eating some snacks about 2-3 hours before your game. But if you’re taking a whole meal, make sure the lunch you have is high in carbohydrates and proteins, and is consumed about 5 hours before the game.
What are the macronutrients that help you in your game?
There are 3 major groups of macronutrients, each of them with different properties and effects on your body, and these are: Carbohydrates (4 calories per gram): Carbohydrates will ensure better stamina and endurance during the game. Fresh fruits, potatoes, rice, and vegetables are some examples of foods that are rich in carbohydrates. ...
Why is soccer important?
Soccer is a high-intensity sport and for your body to cope up with the physical intensity and extreme pace, it needs optimal nutrition. If proper nutrition is not taken, it will lead to fatigue, injury, or even to more serious issues.
What is the best drink to drink for soccer?
This makes water the most important drink for soccer players. Other drinks include fruit and vegetable smoothies and fresh juices. Those are the best drinks to have.
What are some examples of foods that are rich in carbohydrates?
Fresh fruits, potatoes, rice, and vegetables are some examples of foods that are rich in carbohydrates. Proteins will help you build strength and develop muscle. Lean meat, eggs, greek yogurt, beans, fish, and broccoli are great examples of good sources of protein.
What to pack for a game?
If you are traveling for a game, make sure to pack your typical foods with you or make sure you will have something similar available to you wherever you are staying. Make sure to include complex carbohydrates such as: And a moderate amount of protein such as: Eggs or ham.
What to eat before a meal to get glycogen?
Bagels, Cereals and fruits, And a moderate amount of protein such as: Low-fat dairy, Yogurt, Eggs or ham. Because this meal is three to four hours before a meal, it might be necessary to top off glycogen stores before activity.
Why is it important to eat carbs?
Carbohydrates are critical to keeping you fueled from beginning to end and don’t forget hydration.
What to pack for back to back games?
This is especially important if you have back to back games in the same day. I always suggest packing a mini cooler to carry your post-workout fuel. Portable milk or flavored milk, yogurt with fruit, a sandwich, cereal with milk, or a balanced smoothie are all great options.
Do you need to drink water during soccer?
Youth Soccer Players: In the Game. Whether or not you need to fuel during the game will depend on how much action you get on the field. It also depends on the intensity. Sipping water is recommended for all athletes, but some may require more.
What are tips for taking advantage of all the benefits of dinner?
Mindful eating involves slowing down, listening to hunger and fullness cues and focusing on enjoying the eating experience. Choosing to eat mindfully also means sitting down to eat with others.
What nutrients should a soccer player include at dinner?
Nutrients help a soccer player train, perform and recover effectively. The three macro nutrients, those needed in larger amounts, include carbohydrates, protein and fats. Micronutrients, those needed in smaller amounts, include all vitamins and minerals. Eating balanced meals will assist a soccer player to meet these nutrient needs.
What are some good dinner ideas for Soccer Players?
Dinner meal ideas are countless. The key to a good dinner comes from variety and balance. Try to include fruits and vegetables with each meal.
What to eat for a football game?
Choosing a variety of whole grain breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and vegetables ensures these players are not only getting the carbs necessary to perform but essential vitamins, ...
How much fluid should a football player drink?
Dehydration is no joke and something football players need to take very seriously. Especially during pre-season and the very beginning of the season when temperatures are high and they’re wearing all that gear. During practice, or a game, players aim for 16-20 oz. of fluid per hour and should be drinking something every 15-20 minutes or so. Players need to consider the need for added electrolytes (in the form of a sports drink or something as simple as a banana or a handful of pretzels for example) for anything lasting more than an hour, and especially if they are heavy sweaters.
What is the energy source of football players?
Football players rely heavily on glycogen stores for energy. Carbohydrates are the go-to source of energy for intermittent sports, like football, where glycogen stores are often depleted during workouts and training.
What to eat to avoid protein overload?
Think skinless chicken or turkey, lean red meats, beans, eggs and fish.
How long do you need electrolytes for a sweater?
Players need to consider the need for added electrolytes (in the form of a sports drink or something as simple as a banana or a handful of pretzels for example) for anything lasting more than an hour, and especially if they are heavy sweaters.
Why do players need protein?
Players need enough protein to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, which is a fancier way of sayingto build muscle, and also to repair muscle damage that occurs during training. Choosing lean, high quality protein at meals, but also before and after every workout is imperative.
Do athletes need to consume protein?
It’s a common misconception that athletes need to consume extra protein through shakes, bars and powders. Research shows that consumption of excessive amounts of protein offer no benefit to stimulating muscle protein synthesis, and will more often just displace other important nutrients your body needs.
