What should soccer players eat?

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. Protein should come from lean meats, poultry, fish, pulses, beans and nuts.

What Should soccer players not eat?

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 a soccer player eat for breakfast?

What soccer players eat for breakfast

  • oatmeal.
  • egg white.
  • boiled eggs or [egg burrito on the go]
  • omelette.
  • bread.
  • grain cereal [low sugar]
  • avocado.
  • cottage cheese.

What Should soccer players eat for dinner?

Dinner: Lean protein, nutrient-dense carbohydrate (whole grains, vegetables and fruits) and low-fat dairy. Hydration is another vital aspect of nutrition that soccer players must pay attention to.

Can a soccer player eat pizza?

When playing soccer, you want your blood flowing to your muscles for running and playing the actual sport, not to your stomach to digest your food. Pizza for post-recovery would be a better idea but pizza for an off-day is likely your best option!

What does Lionel Messi eat?

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.


Do soccer players eat rice?

Soccer players should aim to make 60-65% of their diet carbohydrate, with an emphasis on fresh fruit and whole grains such as brown rice and pasta, wholemeal bread, potatoes and high fibre cereals.

Should I eat eggs before a soccer game?

Eggs are another excellent source of protein to get your football day off on the right foot. Since protein supports muscle growth, you can imagine why this will help you get through a strenuous game. Huevos Rancheros is a good way to get a healthy dose not only of eggs and vegetables, but also beans.

What should a soccer player have for lunch?

Soccer Player’s Lunch Menu

  • Whole grain bread, 2 slices.
  • Peanut butter.
  • Jelly.
  • Fruit yogurt.
  • Pretzels.

Do soccer players eat junk food?

Yes, even MLS players face temptation from junk food and snacks. “I always tell players to focus on carbs, and to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables,” Richer says. “Most of a soccer player’s daily calories need to come from carb sources that provide energy so they don’t get fatigued on the field.

What should I eat 2 3 hours before a soccer game?

Youth Soccer Players: Immediately before a soccer game

Liquid nutrition such as sports drinks, milk, smoothies or juice can meet that need. Or, salty snacks such as pretzels or crackers are highly tolerated too. Dried or fresh fruit, rice cakes, graham crackers or fig bars also provide a quick-digesting fuel source.

What should I eat before soccer training?

The meal should mostly contain easily digested carbohydrates (which translate into energy), small amounts of fat, fiber, and protein. Breakfast Meals: Oatmeal with fruit. Eggs, Fruit, Veggies.

Pre-Game Snacks:

  • Granola bars or Protein bars.
  • Bananas, Apples or Oranges.
  • PB/Jelly sandwich.
  • Trail Mix.
  • Sports drinks.

How much sleep do footballers get?

In a separate study centred on assessing the impact of night matches on elite players, the average amount of sleep achieved during a typical training week was recorded as between 6 and 7 hours.

Is chocolate good before football?

A 50g plain chocolate bar has a medium Glycemic Index (GI) of 49 and contains 15 grams of fat. Fat slows down the emptying of the stomach and therefore digestion and these factors combined mean that chocolate is best enjoyed at a time not associated with exercise.

Do professional athletes eat mcdonalds?

some professional athletes on occasion—or on multiple occasions—get their full Ronald McDonald on.

What is Ronaldo’s diet?

“I eat a high protein diet, with lots of wholegrain carbs, fruit and vegetables, and avoid sugary foods.” The Portugal international has a personal dietician who has worked with him ever since his Real Madrid days, eating six small meals a day – or one every three to four hours.

What does Neymar eat for lunch?

He enjoys hamburgers, chocolate and cake. Neymar uses the help of personal chef Marcela Lermy, to keep his diet on track. Lermy follows his orders for the most part, but also adds in Brazilian staples like chicken, rice, and beans.

How does Messi sleep?

If there is only one training session, Messi likes going home and having a nap before picking the kids up. Leo revealed in an earlier interview that he prefers to fall asleep with the TV on as the noise relaxes him.

Do soccer players eat cereal?

FIFA suggests that elite players consume cereal, pancakes, baked beans and toast or yogurt before a match. After competition, professional players focus, as should any athlete, on restoring energy and revitalizing muscles with a snack consisting of carbs and protein.

What foods should players avoid?

8 Foods Athletes Must Avoid

  • Limit Sports Drinks. …
  • Avoid Soda. …
  • Avoid Protein Bars &amp, Energy Bars. …
  • Avoid saturated &amp, trans fat. …
  • Limit Carbohydrates. …
  • Limit Fiber. …
  • Limit Caffeine. …
  • Avoid alcohol.

How many calories do you burn playing soccer for 90 minutes?

The average person burns 500-700 calories per hour in a recreational soccer game and 715-950 calories per hour in a competitive one.

What should I eat 5 hours before a soccer game?

What should the pre-match meal be like?

  • Abundant in simple carbohydrates, such as white bread, cereals, fruit, etc.
  • Slightly loaded with protein, digestible and with little fat, such as turkey, fresh cheese, skimmed yoghurt, etc.
  • Avoid fatty foods, as they slow down digestion.
  • Avoid spicy foods with high fiber content.

Is peanut butter good before a soccer game?

These cause spikes in blood sugar, and then sugar levels can drop quickly during performance. This will make kids feel sluggish. Here are some examples of good pre-practice and pre-game snacks: Whole grain bread w/peanut butter.

Is Orange Juice good before a soccer game?

Orange Juice: This juice contains immune-boosting Vitamin C and phytonutrients. It also has a little sodium and significant potassium, making it a great pre-workout hydrator. I usually recommend athletes have a little OJ with their pre-workout breakfast, but only ~4-6 ounces.

What snacks do footballers eat?

Top Five Snacks For Football

  • Porridge or rice pudding. While you would usually associate such food with breakfast, porridge and rice pudding makes for a great pre-game snack for those early kick-off times in addition to post-game munchies. …
  • Fruit and nuts. …
  • Plain Greek yogurt. …
  • Rice cakes. …
  • Isotonic sports drink.

What should I eat after soccer game?

Given these guidelines, some good examples of snacks for post-competition that contain both protein and carbs are:

  • Fruit.
  • Peanut butter.
  • Granola bars.
  • Sandwiches.
  • Baked potatoes.
  • Chilli.
  • Fruit smoothie.
  • Juice.

What should youth soccer players eat?

Young players need lots of carbohydrates (breads, pasta, rice, pancakes, etc.). Whole grains are preferred. Avoid fried or very high fat foods which are slower to digest. Also avoid highly concentrated sweets (candy, cake, etc.)

Do athletes have cheat days?

Olympic athletes — those paragons of health, who often must stick to a strict nutritional regimen for optimal sport performance — enjoy cheat meals, too.

Is peanut butter good for soccer players?

With long hours on the field and in the gym, it’s important for players to properly nourish their bodies. Foods such as rice, potatoes, bananas, apples, and peanut butter are all healthy foods that football players should include in their diet.

Do soccer players have cheat days?

Some soccer players deal with “unhealthy” foods by setting aside one day a week to be their cheat day. (Think Faturday or Football Sunday.) This well-intentioned plan can easily backfire. Most people don’t over-eat/spurge until they have first been denied or deprived of a favorite food.

How many calories should a soccer player eat a day?

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.

How do you get good at soccer tryouts?

Soccer Tryouts: 5 Tips to Increase Your Odds of Making the Team

  1. Arrive Early, Work Hard. Show up early and stay late. …
  2. Be a Great Teammate. When coming to a new team as a young player, your role is likely going to be small. …
  3. Accentuate Your Strengths. You’re not going to be good at every skill. …
  4. Be Coachable. …
  5. Be Vocal.

Should I train the day before a soccer game?

It’s fine to sprint full speed or lift at full intensity the day before weekend practice or tournament. The key is to keep the volume low. If the idea of training before a tournament is new to you, here is a light workout that includes some nervous system priming activities to get you started.

What do soccer players drink during games?

It’s important that players don’t fill up and feel “heavy’ during the match itself. Players will often sip a sports drink like GO Electrolyte, containing a balance of carbohydrate and electrolytes, that will help you store energy and maintain hydration in the hours before kick off.

What time should footballers wake up?

Nick advises sticking to a regular wake time and working backwards. So, if you plan to wake at 6.30am for example, you should plan to drift off at 5am, 3.30am, 2am, 12.30am or 11pm.

How many hours a day should I practice soccer?

On average, professional soccer teams practice for 4 – 6 hours a day for 5 days a week. If you want to become a professional football player, you should aim to practice for about the same amount of hours per week.

Can I play football without sleep?

Even though a lack of sleep doesn’t affect our performance in every sport equally, it has a significant effect on the quality of our delivery. Football is no exception. Whether you’re a professional footballer or an amateur, it’s vital to get proper rest before and after every game of football.

Is milk good before football?

Milk provides fuel to exercising muscles, protein for muscle recovery, nutrients for growth and bone development in younger players, and also helps to maintain hydration. Drinking milk prior to training or a match will top up carbohydrate stores in the muscle and also optimise hydration.

What are good foods for athletes?

10 Foods You Should Eat Everyday if You’re an Athlete (Or, Most Days)

  1. Nuts. All nuts are chock-full of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. …
  2. Seeds. …
  3. Ready-to-eat Cereal (cold cereal) …
  4. 100% Orange Juice. …
  5. Beans. …
  6. Cheese. …
  7. Yogurt. …
  8. Milk or Soy milk.

What desserts do footballers eat?

Create sweet treats from whole foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber to keep your body feeling and performing at its peak.

  • Banana Ice Cream. Freeze bananas when they get too ripe to eat. …
  • Chocolate Brownies. …
  • High-Protein Pudding. …
  • Fresh Fruit.