For competitive athletes, being able to achieve top performance requires good nutrition. The meals that high school students eat before and after games correlate to how well their bodies can compete at such a high level.
Many students at BSM are involved in sports, whether it is through BSM or on an outside team. Lifting weights, running on a treadmill, and watching various game films are all ways student-athletes can increase their performance. However, a huge factor is that students don’t always pay as much attention to the food they are putting in their bodies.
According to the Utah State Nutrition Center, “High school athletes have a greater need for nutritional adequacy for proper growth, development, wellness, and performance as compared to students who do not participate in sports. A balanced eating pattern that includes a wide variety of fresh, minimally processed whole foods is recommended (Bingham et al., 2015).” Some athletes are more aware of the importance of nutrition than others. “I usually eat a salad or a sandwich so I feel energized for the game…if I had something that wasn’t as nutritious I would get tired and wouldn’t have as much energy,” senior Julia Evans, a BSM girls lacrosse player, said.
BSM has a rigorous curriculum, which can make it difficult for student-athletes to find the time to make nutritious meals that prepare them well for their sport. UChicago Medicine says, “Anything too fatty, like junk food or milk, is digested slowly and will make athletes feel slow and sluggish.” Since students don’t have time to make their meals, many default to eating out at fast-food restaurants. “One time before a game I ate a Jersey Mike’s Philly cheesesteak, and it didn’t go too well in the first quarter,” BSM football player, senior Slater Crandall, said.
Eating a nutritious meal before a game is very important for play, but the food that is put into the body after a game is just as critical. Playing in a game or match uses a lot of energy, so replenishing the nutrients used in a game helps the body recover faster. Many students at BSM focus on what they eat before the game, but not always what they eat after. The students that focus equally on what they eat before and after feel better prepared for their next match. “Usually I try to eat something with protein to fuel my body [after my game],” senior Paige Parry said.