| Think of hockey players as high-performance | | | | dehydrated and your performance can be decreased |
| automobiles and food as the fuel that drives their | | | | by 15 to 20%. The solution? Always carry a water |
| performance. Far too often, players run out of gas | | | | bottle with you and sip from it all day long - not just |
| during a game after having lunch at a fast-food | | | | when you are at the rink. |
| restaurant or forgetting to eat breakfast. This would | | | | A Note about Sports Drinks: It is suggested that sports |
| be like putting diesel fuel in your tank instead of regular | | | | drinks with electrolytes should be consumed when |
| gas or trying to drive on empty. You can be the most | | | | athletes are participating in an intense activity lasting |
| skilled player in the world, but if you aren't putting the | | | | more than 60 minutes. Therefore, for the majority of |
| right fuel into your tank, you won't have the energy to | | | | young hockey players, sports drinks are not |
| compete at the highest level. In order for players | | | | necessary. On the other hand, a highly competitive |
| perform their best day in and day out, they need to | | | | hockey player, who is bantam age or older, may |
| take in premium fuel. | | | | benefit from these specialty drinks for "recovery |
| Here are 3 game-winning nutrition tips for hockey | | | | purposes" because they are so convenient and can |
| players: | | | | be purchased anywhere. Instead of having sports |
| 1) Pre-Game Tip = Prepare | | | | drinks BEFORE a practice or game, Have these drinks |
| Players should never step on the ice feeling hungry. | | | | during a tough practice or immediately after a tough |
| You need to time your pre-game meal so that most | | | | game instead of beforehand since their high sugar |
| of the food is out of the stomach and broken down | | | | content may lead to a sugar "crash". |
| by the body by the time you hit the ice. If the game is | | | | 3) Post-Game = Recover |
| 3 hours away, you can have a larger meal that is | | | | Immediately after a player steps off the ice, they have |
| 75%carbohydrates (ie. rice, pasta, vegetables, fruit etc.) | | | | a 30 minute window where their body is at a |
| and 25% protein (ie. chicken, eggs, beans etc.). The | | | | heightened state to recover and they need to start |
| closer you get to game time, the smaller and "lighter" | | | | rehydrating and refueling. One of the best recovery |
| the meal should be, meaning that you want to have | | | | drinks a player can have is 1% chocolate milk. It has |
| less fat and protein and a focus more on | | | | the simple sugars needed to start replenishing energy |
| carbohydrates. If you have an early morning practice | | | | stores and the protein needed to start repairing tired |
| or game, at least grab a piece of fruit or granola bar | | | | muscles. By drinking chocolate milk (as well as lots of |
| so that you have some fuel in the tank before you hit | | | | water), players will be well on their way to recovering |
| the ice. The key is to make sure that you have fuel in | | | | from their on-ice session and getting ready for the |
| the tank and it is of the highest quality possible. | | | | next one. |
| 2) In-Game Tip = Hydrate | | | | Premium hockey performance requires proper training, |
| Proper hydration is the most important nutritional | | | | great coaching and the right equipment. But in order for |
| strategy an player can use. If you are thirsty, it is too | | | | athletes to perform their best day in and day out, they |
| late! The thirst sensation kicks in after you have lost 1 | | | | need to make sure that they are taking in the best fuel |
| to 2 liters of water. This means that you are already | | | | possible through their nutrition. |