What should I eat for soccer
Andrew Vasquez
Updated on April 27, 2026
A soccer player’s diet should consist of about 60-65% carbohydrate, 20-25% fat and 10-15% protein. Carbohydrates should be predominantly in the form of fresh fruits and whole grains such as whole meal bread, pasta, potatoes and brown rice. Protein should come from lean meats, poultry, fish, pulses, beans and nuts.
What are the best foods to eat before soccer?
- Abundant in simple carbohydrates, such as white bread, cereals, fruit, etc.
- Slightly loaded with protein, digestible and with little fat, such as turkey, fresh cheese, skimmed yoghurt, etc.
- Avoid fatty foods, as they slow down digestion.
- Avoid spicy foods with high fiber content.
What Should soccer players eat before bed?
Eat your breakfast the night before via a bedtime snack, such as a bowl of cereal, or yogurt with granola. If you have dinner at 6:00, you’ll be ready for a bedtime snack by 9:00.
What a soccer player eats in a day?
On a regular, daily basis, though, most professional soccer players generally try to eat healthfully and focus on quality carbohydrates, such as oats, sweet potatoes and quinoa; lean proteins, including grilled meats and fish; and healthy fats, including olive oil, avocados and flax.What is a healthy lunch for a soccer player?
Healthy Lunch for Better Play A healthy lunch meal for soccer players might include a sandwich with 3 ounces of lean turkey on two slices of whole-wheat bread with a container of low-fat yogurt, a small apple and 1 cup of mixed greens topped with 1 tablespoon of salad dressing and six almonds for 560 calories.
What foods should soccer players avoid?
Soccer Players should AVOID foods that have high fat content or high in calories because these slow down the digestion process. Some foods that are high in fat or calories are: butter, margarine, mayonnaise, nuts, seeds, salad dressings, cream cheese, fried foods, sauces, gravies.
What does Ronaldo eat every day?
He eats whole grains, fresh fruit and lean proteins contained in fish such as swordfish, sea bass, sea bream and cod. They are always fresh and never frozen. There is always a lot of salad on Ronaldo’s plate and for breakfast he will eat cheese, ham, low-fat yogurt and fruit and avocado toast.
What snacks do footballers eat?
- Nutritious Snacks.
- Fresh fruit, especially watermelon, cantaloupe, melons, blueberries, grapes, etc.
- Homemade trail mix (raisins, almonds, granola, nuts, dried fruit) put into snack-size baggies.
- Carrots or celery sticks with hummus.
- Hard boiled or deviled eggs.
Do footballers eat chocolate?
Soccer players, like most people, commonly eat chocolate in bursts—a lot in a day, such as a reward on a Friday afternoon, or indulging on holidays such as Halloween and Christmas.
What should I eat 3 hours before a soccer game?Each player is different, but most will often eat a pre-game meal around 3 to 4 hours before the start of the match. This meal should contain some carbohydrate for fuel as well as some fluids for hydration. A small amount of protein in the pre-game meal is also useful, as it can help to prevent hunger during the game.
Article first time published onHow long before soccer should I eat?
Whether your game is early or late in the day, aim to fuel up with enough time to digest the foods. This should be a meal between 300-500 calories about 3-5 hours before a game, and a light snack 1-2 hours before kickoff.
What do you eat the day of soccer tryouts?
Liquid nutrition such as sports drinks, milk, smoothies or juice can meet that need. Or, salty snacks such as pretzels or crackers are highly tolerated too. Dried or fresh fruit, rice cakes, graham crackers or fig bars also provide a quick-digesting fuel source.
Are eggs good before a soccer game?
Eggs are another excellent source of protein to get your football day off on the right foot. Since protein supports muscle growth, you can imagine why this will help you get through a strenuous game. Huevos Rancheros is a good way to get a healthy dose not only of eggs and vegetables, but also beans.
What does a soccer player eat for breakfast?
What soccer players eat for breakfast. For breakfast you can eat oatmeal, egg white, boiled eggs, omelette, bread, grain cereal [low sugar], avocado, cottage cheese, protein shake, banana, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.
What is Messi's diet?
Most of Messi’s dietary regimen comes from Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser’s input. In 2014, based on the recommendation of Poser, Messi focused on the switch to five key foods: Water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.
Is Messi vegan?
Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero have largely cut meat from their diets, having sought the advice of nutritionist Giuliano Poser, but they are not strictly vegan; they are vegetarians during the football season. A vegan diet consists of fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts.
Can a soccer player eat pizza?
When playing soccer, you want your blood flowing to your muscles for running and playing the actual sport, not to your stomach to digest your food. Pizza for post-recovery would be a better idea but pizza for an off-day is likely your best option!
Are eggs good for soccer players?
Yes, eggs can be a good part of a soccer diet! Although eggs have been given a bad rap because the yolk is high in cholesterol and has been thought to elevate blood cholesterol, the majority of healthy active soccer players can enjoy the whole egg, yolk and all!
Can soccer players eat chips?
Many soccer players go to great extremes to eat healthfully. … “Healthy eating” tends to include these parameters: No refined sugar, gummy candy, soda pop, sweets. No potato chips, corn chips, Cheetos, salty snacks.
Are footballers skinny?
“Modern players are ectomorphic, characterised by a lean, slender body, as opposed to the muscular, mesomorphic builds which were more common in the seventies and eighties. “A lot of this can be attributed to the increased quality of playing surfaces where footballers train and compete.
Do footballers have cheat days?
For a soccer player who requires at least 2,500 to 3,500 calories a day, consuming 250 to 350 calories (about 30 to 40 grams) of saturated fat per day, if desired, can fit within the saturated fat budget. … Some soccer players deal with “unhealthy” foods by setting aside one day a week to be their cheat day.
Do footballers eat junk food?
Yes, even MLS players face temptation from junk food and snacks. “I always tell players to focus on carbs, and to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables,” Richer says. “Most of a soccer player’s daily calories need to come from carb sources that provide energy so they don’t get fatigued on the field.
What do footballers drink?
- Water. Ask any sports scientist, they’ll tell you the best drink for any sport is water. …
- Fruit and vegetable smoothie. …
- Chocolate milk. …
- Isotonic sports drink. …
- Protein shake.
Why do footballers eat pizza after a match?
It is also used as a form of motivation, with former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri using the promise of pizza in order to get the best out of players during their title winning season in 2005/16.
What should a teenage football player eat?
Lean meat, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt, and tempeh are excellent protein sources. Tofu, edamame, beans (such as black beans), chickpeas, lentils, and several nuts and seeds also are good sources of protein. Include some protein in every meal to help muscles recover.
Are bananas good before a soccer game?
Having a small snack two hours before your soccer game is also helpful. Bananas are a great option for a pre-game snack due to their high Potassium level. Potassium helps prevent cramping in athletes.
What is the best drink for soccer players?
What’s best to drink? For soccer players, the best fluid to drink is a diluted carbohydrate/electrolyte solution. In plain English, that’s the kind of drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, Isostar, and Lucozade Sport.
What foods should players avoid?
- Anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Sweets and candies may provide a quick energy burst, however these foods are filled with sugar and empty calories. …
- Foods cooked with oil or containing trans fats. …
- Avoid protein and energy bars.
Is Orange Juice Good before a soccer game?
Orange Juice: This juice contains immune-boosting Vitamin C and phytonutrients. It also has a little sodium and significant potassium, making it a great pre-workout hydrator. I usually recommend athletes have a little OJ with their pre-workout breakfast, but only ~4-6 ounces.
What fruits are good for soccer players?
- Bananas: pre-game boost. …
- Raisins: large energy source. …
- Apricots: lung nourishers. …
- Blueberries: immunity ahoy! …
- Apple : smooth running. …
- Strawberries: fatigue killer.
What do soccer players drink before a game?
It’s important that players don’t fill up and feel “heavy’ during the match itself. Players will often sip a sports drink like GO Electrolyte, containing a balance of carbohydrate and electrolytes, that will help you store energy and maintain hydration in the hours before kick off.