Sports Nutrition and Food

by David G. Phillips ~ Last Updated:

Athletes are busy people. They try to balance training with work, school, family and other activities. With all these responsibilities, athletes consume a lot of energy each day. Food preparation can become a challenge but it is a challenge that athletes need to face since good sports nutrition help to adequately fuel work-outs and improve performance and recovery.

Eating well should be a part of an athlete's overall training plan. But buying well is a requirement for eating well.

Nutritious meals begin at the grocery store. If you purchase the right ingredients, it's a cinch to whip up a nutritious and flavorful meal. Stocking up with healthy staples is critical to good sports nutrition and will give you many options when you get home from a workout. Here are some foods busy athletes must be armed with.

Freeze Health

* Frozen foods are time-savers. Many prepackaged frozen items let you use the exact amount you need thus cutting cleaning up time. Leftovers are also instant meals on a busy night.

* Freezing is an important method of preserving most nutrients. Frozen vegetables are a lot of help because they require no washing, chopping, or peeling. Serve vegetables as a side dish, or incorporate into soups, sauces, or pasta dishes.

* Frozen fruit has longer shelf-life and are easily available if supply of fresh ones is low. Frozen blueberries, mixed berries, and mangoes can be blended into a smoothie with fruit juice and milk or yogurt or used as cereal topping.

* Chicken breasts or fish fillets that are frozen in individual packing are a good protein source for your meals. Frozen meatballs provide variation and can be easily mixed with pasta.

Pantry Staples

Canned products don't compromise nutrition. Upon being harvested fruits and vegetables are processed to keep nutrients locked in.

* Beans that are canned are nutrient dense, and will load you with the important fuel for maximum growth and sports performance.

* Canned tuna and salmon are rich in protein and omega-3 fats, which have been shown to help conditions of cancer, heart disease, arthritis and mental health. Pasta dishes, salads and sandwiches can be given another character by including these in the recipe.

Peanut Butter is a good source of calories, and for busy athletes, an easy fill. Use this as sandwich spread and top with a banana or enjoy with carrot strips. Peanut butter is packed with healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E.

Popular among athletes is the use of tomato sauce. Processed tomatoes are concentrated with protective compounds. One half-cup of tomato sauce, for instance, contains six times more of the antioxidant lycopene than a medium fresh tomato.

Tomato sauce is usually cooked with pasta which is a staple of many athletes* sports nutrition diet. If available, use the whole grain variety because refined pasta has been stripped off of its vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. Frozen bell peppers and tuna can boost protein content of meals with tomato sauce.

A wide variety of whole grains must be explored, examples of which are brown rice and red rice. Whole grains take a little longer to cook so cook in medium batches just enough to have leftovers for the next day.

In the Fridge

Fridge wonders include prewashed and ready-to-eat salad greens and carrots, cheese, eggs, milk, and yogurt.

Soup: A mélange of quick-fix ingredients

Soups combine the textures and flavors of the different ingredients mentioned previously. Soups are not only satisfying but can contain the wide range of nutrients available in its ingredients. Soups are easy to concoct and make great leftovers.

Nutritious soups do not need endless chopping or toiling over a hot oven. Canned or frozen vegetables can make up your soup and they can be fixed on a microwave or stovetop.

To make minestrone in minutes, combine canned crushed tomatoes with chicken or vegetables broth, canned beans, and frozen vegetables. Let simmer and enjoy.

To make gazpacho, in a blender or food processor, mix vegetable juice, canned tomatoes, minced garlic, red onion, cucumber chunks, bell pepper chunks, splash of red wine vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Vitamin C and other important nutrients load this combination. Gazpacho can even help decrease inflammation and oxidative stress.

Sports Nutrition Food In The News


 Glanbia in talks on sale of dairy business to co ... - Irish Times

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:22:00 GMT

GLANBIA HAS entered negotiations with the Glanbia Co-operative Society, its 54 per cent shareholder, about the sale of the company’s Irish dairy and agri businesses to the co-operative. If the deal is passed, the food conglomerate’s dairy ...


 UFC 114's Aaron Simpson takes time out for Arizona food ... - MMAjunkie.com

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:44:00 GMT

UFC middleweight contender Aaron Simpson has slugger Chris Leben on his plate at UFC 114 in May, but for now, "A-Train" will be focused on a few plates in Arizona: namely, those with nothing on them. Simpson will be available for pictures and ...


 Schools poised to adopt new body mass index policy, to ... - Martha's Vineyard Times

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:13:00 GMT

... suggestions: • Milk by any other name: put one drop of yellow food coloring in a glass of milk for "Sun Fun" milk, one drop of blue for "Jungle Juice," or one drop of green for "Dinosaur Delight." • Sweet potato fries sprinkled with a light ...


 Nutritional tips for feeding even the pickiest tots - Daily Star

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:25:00 GMT

ARA) - Moms and dads know that young kids need a solid nutritional foundation to grow up healthy and strong ... But nutrition experts and pediatricians agree that the right balance of nutrients, including calcium, protein, and certain vitamins, is ...


 Immune Health at Its Finest - Associated Content

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:31:00 GMT

Having foods rich in zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B complex is very important in making sure your body has everything necessary to maintain a strong front against any possible pathogens you may come across. Zinc also has the added benefit ...