As we all know, nutrition is extremely integral to all of us. It fuels everything we do, from executing everyday tasks to exceling during competition. The way you eat, healthy or not, oftentimes dictates little things in your life such as sleep, focus, and performance. The significance of nutrition is greatly heightened in athletes, as it plays huge roles in fitness and skill execution.

The terminology associated with diet and “proper” nutrition can be quite mystifying: caloric, fat-free, cholesterol-free…the list goes on. But which form of diet is truly the best for athletes?

According to a medical article from Winchester Hospital, athletes should not have restricted diets, as they need fat, calories, and carbs to continually perform at their best. Trendy eating patterns such as keto diets, paleo diets, and many more can be and are surely beneficial for many, but for dedicated, hardworking athletes, a well-rounded and non-restrictive meal plan is the best way to go.

But do athletes at FHC keep their diets and eating habits in mind as best they can? Kyle Webb, varsity soccer player, had this to say: “I always keep food and nutrition in mind since I have noticed when I eat better, I perform at a much higher level, making for my energy being better both on and off the field. I usually try to eat my best during the school week and then let lose a little on the weekend when being with friends and family.”

“When I’m in season, I like to eat the best I can, especially for my track meets and stuff. This is vital for my sport in particular because running can lead to cramping and recent unhealthy food can cause this. The nights before meets, I usually eat pasta because of the carbohydrates in the noodles. Anything close to a meet is usually just a granola bar or something small,” continues Parker Ludwig, a star cross country athlete.

Their words ring true for many high school athletes, as keeping good eating habits is a surefire way to ensure that you are getting the most out of every practice, lesson, and tournament.  However, how do elite and professional athletes’ meals differ from those of high school athletes since they are performing at a much higher level? Is it mostly similar, or vastly different?

Naomi Osaka, an accomplished female tennis player, revealed her dietary practices prior to tournaments and during the season. “I like to eat the rainbow. Before workouts, I’ll have a big bowl of fresh berries with melon and a low-calorie sports drink,” she noted in an interview with Teen Vogue. She added, “I’m not really allowed to have carbs before tournaments because of the strict diet my trainer creates for me, so I’m a little sad about that.” That may come as a surprise to many, as carbohydrates are famed for giving athletes additional energy when eaten the night before an event.

Another interesting nutrition plan for an elite athlete is exemplified  by UFC fighter Conor McGregor. A couple years ago, he was famed for strictly consuming large amounts of meat before huge matches in the belief that it would best prepare him for his match. The documentary The Game Changers, illustrated his nutrition journey and how he discovered how meat impacted him when fighting. Surprisingly, after a devastating loss in one of his fights, he realized meat hindered his performance and then transitioned to a plant-based diet. After that, he noticed he had more energy and endurance when fighting, and he now maintains a mostly plant-based meal plan.

Clearly, diets among amateur and elite athletes vary, as there are many good ways to eat and ensure you are performing at your best. However, the most integral thing to playing consistently well is to evidently eat healthy.