Grueling workouts are all in a day’s work for a professional football player, but high-powered nutrition is just as important, sports trainers say.
According to Texas-based trainer Shane Freels, up to 80 percent of your athletic performance is determined by the quality of your eating habits.
Eat like a pro
Even if you’re not an NFL star with an enormous budget, there are steps you can take to improve your nutrition, says Freels.
- First, cut out as much processed or packaged food as you can. For example, avoid microwave dinners. Keep in mind the more processed the food, the less nutritional value it has.
- Many skip breakfast, a huge mistake for the would-be athlete. Also, instead of grabbing a bowl of processed cereal for breakfast, consider some steel cut oats with fresh blueberries.
- At lunchtime, instead of a soggy piece of pizza from the school snack bar, substitute fresh sliced meats from the grocery deli, and pack sandwiches on whole wheat bread, instead of white bread.
- Later in the day, grab an apple and some peanut butter to boost your energy the healthy way. Finish your day with a healthy dinner.
- You’ve heard this again and again, but remember, your body needs adequate hydration to work properly. Pick an electrolyte replacement drink you enjoy, and also keep a water bottle with you throughout the day.
- Train your mind. A football diet requires a change in your mindset and habits. If you want to perform at your personal best, you have to be intentional about what you eat. Don’t let your diet be something that just happens, make your diet work for you.
Source: about.com.
