Pre-Game Fuel – Tips For Your Pre-Game Meal

What we fuel our bodies with before a game or practice has a huge impact on our performance on the ice. Proper digestion is the first key to success. Optimally, allowing 2-3 hours between meal and exercise is best. In a time crunch the absolute minimum time for digestion would be 1 hour.

Our pre-game meal should be high in energy rich carbohydrates such as Whole Wheat Pasta, Bread, or Rice, as well as fruits and vegetables. It should include a small to moderate amount of protein such lean meats like chicken and turkey, eggs, yogurt, or peanut butter. We should avoid foods high in fat and sugar as they are difficult to digest and tend to leave us looking sluggish on the ice.

Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day and milk is always a good beverage with dinner!

For the nervous tummy or if you are in a rush to get to the arena, foods that are familiar to the athlete are more easily digested and a smoothie loaded with fruits and dairy is a great meal supplement.

Staci Modde is the owner of the Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic in Wallaceburg. Modde has a Masters Degree in Physiotherapy, and a Bachelors in Kinesiology. For more information on the Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic in Wallaceburg, call 519-627-2345 or visit the Clinic at 329 Selkirk Street in Wallaceburg