It’s only in relatively recent times that diet in sports has gained importance as a way of improving on field performance. Gone are the days when elite athletes started their day with steak and eggs!

What’s exciting for all people who play sport is what’s being applied at the elite level can also be used by people at all levels of sport. It’s a combination of using what we know about sticking to a balanced diet with the science that’s being used and developed for elite sport.

Take for instance, the pre-game meal.  In the past, footballers have had high carbohydrate and low fat meals, such as large quantities of old fashioned spaghetti Bolognese. What’s been learned from the elite sports level is that a large meal of carbohydrates pre-game may not be the best option for optimum performance. Instead, experience and science suggest that a steady intake of foods such as breakfast cereals, sandwiches, muffins, and fruit as well as liquid for hydration are a better option for fuelling the body for high level performance.

Almost as important is the post game meal. In order to be able to maintain the following week’s training regime, and to maintain a consistent performance level during regular competition, what a player eats after intense activity can make a real difference. Ideally, post game recovery should consist of a snack followed by a meal with a reasonable carbohydrate level, from foods such as pastas, cereals & fruits. It’s also important to maintain hydration levels which can be severely reduced during high performance activity.

So while the average sports player doesn’t need to go to the extreme of those elite athletes who measure every gram of food they consume, we can all learn something that may make a positive difference to performance over the old fashioned pre-game meal of steak and eggs.