What foods do soccer players eat?

People playing certain sports have a tendency to eat specific types of food. These food groups help players of specific teams to maintain the needed body type in order to successfully play that sport. So, what types of foods do soccer players eat?

Many soccer players consult with a dietitian or nutritionist to ensure they are receiving enough nutrients. In addition to lots of water, soccer players have a balanced diet. These players do not want to bulk up, which means their diet does not need as much protein as players of other sports.

There can be a lot of conflicting information online, which can make it difficult for people to be able to find reliable information online pertaining to the diets of soccer players. The position of a player can determine the type of diet they are on. After conducting research pertaining to the types of foods eaten by soccer players, the following information has been compiled below.

Food Groups Mostly Eaten by Soccer Players

It is extremely important that soccer players are eating a balanced diet. While soccer players do not need a large amount of protein in their diet, it is important that they have at least two meals a week that have a decent amount of protein in them.

Many soccer players make sure to eat plenty of vegetables. Eating a large portion of vegetables can allow an individual to receive a lot of nutrients without intaking too many fats or sugars that are not beneficial to them. Not only are vegetables able to provide people with nutrients, but also with the needed vitamins to keep these players healthy throughout the soccer season.

It is important that soccer players are consuming enough carbs to allow them to have enough energy to play throughout the entirety of a soccer game. The most common carbs that are eaten by soccer players are rice, pasta, and bread.

Carbohydrates are an extremely important type of food to be consumed by soccer players. They allow those who play soccer to have the muscles and energy needed to play well for a long time.

A common meal eaten by many soccer players is a portion of brown rice, some type of fish, with vegetables. This type of meal allows the players to receive the needed nutrients to keep their bodies in shape and able to perform throughout a soccer game.

Types of Foods Avoided by Soccer Players

While it is extremely important that soccer players have a balanced diet, there are certain types of foods that they should avoid. For the most part, soccer players should try to avoid eating foods that have high sugar and fat levels.

Fatty or greasy foods do not help these soccer players maintain the health required to play such a rigorous sport. Eating too many of these foods can cause soccer players to lose their endurance and be unable to stay in the shape needed to play an entire soccer game.

Large amounts of sugar before a game can cause soccer players to crash during the game, which is why it is important for them to avoid highly sugary foods.

While these are foods typically avoided by soccer players, these foods are occasionally enjoyed by players. However, it is important that soccer players do not indulge in highly sugary, greasy, or fatty foods regularly.

How Many Calories are Needed by Soccer Players?

It is important that soccer players are eating enough calories to fuel the rigorous sport they play. The amount of calories that a soccer player needs to eat depends on their weight. On average, players need to eat around 21.4 to 27.3 calories per pound of body weight.

Soccer is a sport that allows its players to burn a lot of calories, which is why it is so important that soccer players eat a balanced diet and a certain number of calories to maintain the needed nutrients.

The amount of calories required doesn’t only depend on a person’s body weight, but also on the type of soccer being played. Professional soccer players require a higher calorie intake than individuals who play amateur or recreational soccer.

How Many Calories are Typically Burned During a Soccer Game?

Soccer is one of the highest calorie-burning sports people can play. On average, soccer players burn around 476 calories during an hour of a soccer game. Depending on the position played by a player, they can burn more or fewer calories.

Nearly 500 calories are burned throughout a soccer game as a result of how long the game lasts. Soccer games have a range of 90 to 120 minutes of playtime that varies depending on the number of fouls, injuries, and other factors that can extend the playtime.

What do Soccer Players eat After Games?

After a soccer game is the one time when many soccer players break their diet. Due to the large number of calories that players burn throughout a game, they are required to intake more calories after the game.

Many players have cheat meals after their games, which can differ depending on the individual. For some, they allow themselves to enjoy burgers or some other form of greasy meal.

Most soccer players allow themselves to enjoy their favorite meals as a reward or consolation after they have played a rigorous game.

Other Important Parts of a Soccer Player’s Diet

An aspect that is an extremely important part of a soccer player’s diet is water. This is a sport that requires a person to be extremely active, which requires them to intake more water in order to stay hydrated. People playing soccer should drink about 3.7 liters of water every day in order to ensure they remain hydrated.

It is important that professional soccer players discuss their diet with either a dietitian or a nutritionist to ensure they are getting all the needed nutrients and vitamins to provide their bodies with the needed fuel. Without consulting with these experts, many soccer players may not be giving their bodies the right amount of certain vitamins or nutrients.