Being a 1600m, 800m, and 400m runner on my high school track team, I know that what I put into my body affects how I perform each and every day. If I would like to run a 5:30 mile, eating junk food and lots of sugar will definitely not get me there. Here is a list of all the food I eat the day of a meet:
• Peanut Butter sandwich on whole grain bread
• Oranges and bananas (got to have that potassium)
• CLIF protein bar
• Water, Water, Water (you can never have enough)
Eating healthy the days leading up to any game or big event is just as important to your body and performance too. Eating lots of good carbs the night before is also like a “super-boost” for your body’s muscles. Pasta and bread are good examples of these “good” carbs. Also, water is crucial to an athlete’s performance. My biggest tip about water is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. For example, I weigh 140 lbs; therefore I drink 70 ounces of water each day. This may seem like a lot, but it will have such an impact on the way you perform on game day. Eating healthy and being physically active always go hand in hand when it comes to being an athlete. Whether you are a dancer getting ready for the big recital, or a football player on game day, what you put into your body is what you will get out.
So true and awesome