In the world of sports there is so much that goes into the training process and even more into the winning process. We as fans and viewers get to see all of the hard work and dedication every athlete puts into their craft by the way they perform on the field or court. The recognition of their efforts also adds to that confidence that pushes them to perform to their fullest potential.

So where does it all start? Where do these freaks of nature come from and how did they get to where they are, athletically, now? Some say its a gift that they come out of the womb with, others say it’s the love of the game that pushed them to become perfect, but the real answer lies in the pits deep down in their stomach where acidic fluids break down proteins and carbohydrates. The answer to their incredible abilities is the pre-game meal.

Pre-game meals are statistically proven to help any athlete produce more energy when competing in their respective sport. A study by The University of Illinois suggests that you eat 3 hours before the big game so that your body has enough time to digest it properly. This meal should contain at least 500 calories but could be well over that if you are a heavy eater or a bigger athlete.

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the main nutrients that you will need to seek to gain from the meal you eat. If your meal fails to offer any of these then my suggestion is to stay away from it as it will lead you to look and feel pretty sluggish out there. So things like lean meats, cheeses, almonds and fruits are some of the foods that you should eat in order to get energy.

So much goes into sports, so much that we as viewers tend to not appreciate the dedication that is at work behind the scenes. So next time you have a game of any kind choose to eat healthy instead of eating junk food. You might just win.