[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/7-nutrition-tips-athletes\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/7-nutrition-tips-athletes\/","headline":"7 Nutrition Tips for Athletes","name":"7 Nutrition Tips for Athletes","description":"Discover seven helpful nutrition tips to maximize your athletic performance and avoid injury. ","datePublished":"2016-09-14","dateModified":"2019-04-18","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/nutrition_tips_athletes.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/nutrition_tips_athletes.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/7-nutrition-tips-athletes\/","about":["Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":386,"keywords":["athlete","athletic performance","Nutrition","sports medicine"],"articleBody":"In order to perform your best at game time, your body needs the right nutrition. Here are some tips from UPMC Sports Medicine to help maximize your athletic performance and avoid injury.Nutrition Tips for AthletesNutrition Tip #1Plan AheadDon\u2019t get caught without a plan. Plan a high energy snack the night before, or in the morning. One to two graham crackers with peanut butter is a perfect choice.Nutrition #2Breakfast: Three Food Group RuleBreakfast is the most difficult meal for most athletes, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. The goal of every breakfast should be to incorporate at least three food groups to create a performance plate. For example: peanut butter (protein) + whole wheat toast (grain) + a clementine (Fruit).Nutrition Tip #3Don\u2019t Neglect Sodium Rich FoodsSodium rich foods can be a performance saver prior to competition or hard training. Foods like pretzels, soup, or just simply adding salt to your oatmeal are easy ways to add more sodium.Nutrition Tip #4Eat for Your SportEach sport requires a different nutrition plan. Fueling for your sport needs to be tailored for the intensity, type, and duration of the sport. For example: Distance runners require more carbohydrates than sprinters.RELATED:\u00a05 Common Nutrition Tips for Runners Nutrition Tip #5Refueling is Just as Important as FuelingCompleting a workout means it\u2019s time to begin refueling. Consume a carbohydrate-protein combination within 15 minutes of training completion. Example: low-fat Greek yogurt.Nutrition Tip #6Don\u2019t Like to Eat Before Competition? Try Liquid FoodsMany athletes do not like to eat anything before competition because of the feeling of fullness in their stomachs. Because pre-competition fueling is a must, go with liquid foods. Yogurts, smoothies, and soups are a few healthy options.Nutrition Tip #7Injured? Nutrition Is That Much More ImportantWhen injured, focus more on proteins and less on carbohydrates. Make sure to add good sources of calcium and vitamin D for bone health as well. UPMC Sports Medicine has sports nutrition experts that help athletes of all ages understand that proper fueling and hydrating are vital pieces of the performance puzzle, and tailor nutrition programs for pro and amateur athletes.Our experts also offer sport-specific and female-athlete nutrition programs.To make an appointment or learn more about our nutrition services, visit UPMCSportsMedicine.com."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"7 Nutrition Tips for Athletes","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/09\/7-nutrition-tips-athletes\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]