Knowing when and what to eat before playing football can be complicated. You want to stick to high carbohydrate foods throughout the day that will help increase your energy levels. Many people are under the assumption that throwing back a plate of pasta a few minutes before you play will help improve your game, but this is a misconception. You don’t want to consume anything for two to three hours before you play. Digestion requires energy, so not only could you feel weighed down and bloated by eating so close to game time, the digestion process will actually be leaching some of the energy you could be using to play. Eating a quick granola or energy bar a few minutes before you play is acceptable, because in some cases it can help to peak your energy.

 A medium sized meal about three hours before game time is best, full of healthy high energy foods such as whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, nuts, and fruit. Avoid drinking energy drinks which are full of sugars and caffeine, as these can cause an energy crash after a short period, and can also dehydrate you.