Macronutrients and Eating the Best Foods for Your Sport :: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Macronutrients And Eating The Best Foods For Your Sport

Macronutrients are very important for athletes to include in their diet because macronutrients provide the energy athletes need to perform in their sport. One type of macronutrient is carbohydrates. These provide long-term energy. Proteins are another important macronutrient. Protein provides muscle structure and also repairs muscle after exercise. Finally, fats are an important macronutrient because they support your neurological health. Make sure you are eating adequate amounts of these macronutrients before, during and after a game or practice.

Video Transcript


Jessica Buschmann: Carbohydrates are very important in the sports diet because they give you your energy that you need to perform well. Examples of carbohydrates include your grains, your cereals, fruits, milk products. So, that includes cheese, milk and yogurt as well as your pastas.

Proteins are what give your muscles the structure and help you repair your muscles after you work out. Examples of proteins include your meat products, beans, substitutes for vegetarians, which include tofu and soy products. And then, you also have nuts and nut butters.

Fats are also important in your sports diet for things like your neurological health. And they are also double duty with some proteins like your nuts and your nut butters, oils and other fats that you want to eat less off like butter and margarine.

So, before a game, you want to focus on fueling for your sport.


You want to make sure that you have a high carbohydrate diet mixed with a little protein and a little fat to help keep you full.


After the game, like one or two hours after, makes sure that you eat a good healthy meal in order to give your body back what it lost.


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