Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Soccer Nutrition: The Basics


Good diet and nutrition go hand in hand with good training and coaching, without these important aspects, you cannot reach your potential as a soccer player.

Fueling your body in the correct way is essential for any athlete, especially for soccer players whom often have seasons that span many months of competitive play. A good diet will not only prepare your body energy wise for games and training, it will also ensure you have all the ingredients in place for optimum performance and importantly help recover your body after high levels of physical activity.

Eating the right foods and in the correct proportions can also help you avoid injury, by fueling your muscles & bones with essential vitamins and minerals. The key to high performance is eating a variety of foods from all these main food groups (listed below).


Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Beans, Eggs, and Nuts Group

Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group

Fruit Group

Vegetable Group