Typically, a lot of pre-season training articles talk about the exercises you can do to get your body back into top game shape. However, what you eat is just as critical to your sports-related success. In other words, having a diet that includes certain foods can help take you one level higher, making it easier to complete your workouts and pre-season training sessions. What foods are these?
Here are some that are essential for a performance maximizing plan:
- Lean meats. By eating lean meats while in pre-season, you are supplying your body with top quality proteins necessary to building muscle and maintaining energy. A few options to consider include lean beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and turkey.
- Eggs. You really can’t get much better than eggs when it comes to protein. And although they used to be a concern due to their cholesterol content, a lot of top health experts like the Mayo Clinic are finding that their cholesterol doesn’t raise blood cholesterol levels like we once thought. The exceptions to this are for individuals who already have high blood cholesterol, are diabetic, or have heart disease as you should probably limit your consumption to be on the safe side.
- Nuts. Nuts are another great source of protein, making them an essential part of a healthy pre-season diet. To keep your sodium in check, choose options that are salt-free.
- Vegetables. Vegetables are also critical during pre-season because they are loaded with a lot of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to excel. Some to consider buying the next time you shop are broccoli, carrots, beets, spinach, kale, leeks, onions, and tomatoes, amongst all of the other options available depending on the season.
- Fruit. Just as vegetables contain a lot of body-building nutrients, so too do fruit. Aim to eat choices from all of the colour spectrums (red, blue, orange, yellow, and green) for the best possible results.
Put these food items in your pre-season training diet and your body will thank you. What foods do you like to eat pre-season? Share them below!
