Food is fuel and athletes need a lot of it. Student-athletes often snack on all kinds of foods throughout the day. Whether it is a donut on the way to school or a handful of pretzels before practice, snacking is essential to stay fueled all day.
However, although there are many snacks, athletes also need to make sure they eat the right type of foods. While a granola bar is convenient, it may also be loaded with added sugars, corn syrup,and high amounts of sodium. Being intentional about the snacks that one eats will ultimately help them perform better during the day and while they are exerting energy.
Protein is a very important food group for athletes. Protein helps to build muscle, make enzymes, and produce hormones. When an athlete does not eat enough protein, the muscle that they are building in the weight room or at practice does not stay. Protein shakes and bars are good, but they usually have many added or artificial ingredients. Some easily accessible protein-packed snacks include nut butter, cheese sticks, boiled eggs, or Greek yogurt.
The other important food group for athletes is carbohydrates. Some people think that carbs will make athletes bulk up, and that is true, but it also gives athletes more energy in their bodies for longer periods of time. Lots of carbohydrates are healthy, but may have excessive amounts of sugars and dyes. Some good carbohydrate snacks would be fruit, rice cakes, crackers, or granola bars.
Getting the right kinds of fuel is really important for an athlete. Athletes do not need to eat super healthy all the time, but eating the correct kinds of foods can help increase performance in their respective sports.
