What Do College Football Players Eat At Halftime?

This is about the time players start reaching for their helmets and the head coach asks the self-designated D.J. to hit the off button on the boombox in his locker. No halftime is complete without a final speech from the head man himself.

Turkey or ham subs can be among the choices, and make sure they also have fruit salad and a frozen yogurt. Eggs with waffles, ham and fruit can be an ideal breakfast before a game. You can serve pasta with a tomato-base sauce along with grilled chicken, salad and fruit.

If you want the traditional pregame steak, have an 8-ounce filet with pasta or a baked potato on the side. It is vital to stay hydrated throughout the game. In order to keep your body performing at an optimum level and not break down, keep the fluids flowing.

Bonci says that a game day meal should resemble a “peace sign,” because it will be 1/3 protein, 1/3 starch and 1/3 fruits and vegetables. The protein sources can be fish, chicken or red meat, the carbohydrate sources should be rice, pasta or potatoes and the fruits and vegetables can be anything that is fresh.

What to eat before a game?

Turkey or ham subs can be among the choices, and make sure they also have fruit salad and a frozen yogurt. Eggs with waffles, ham and fruit can be an ideal breakfast before a game.

Leslie Bonci, the director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a nutrition consultant for the Pittsburgh Steelers, believes that 55 to 60 percent of a football player’s game day diet should come from carbohydrates, 15 percent should come from protein and 30 percent should come from fat.

The pregame meal has been traditional in football. The team gets together to eat together and share the experience. In the past, fat-laden meals were common, but there is now more of an emphasis on keeping the meals healthier and de-emphasizing the fat intake. Foods that are high in fat take longer to digest, so that can mean that the player can take the field feeling full and heavy prior to the start of a game. “Minimize higher fat items such as fried meats, fried potatoes, bacon, and sausage in favor of leaner proteins and carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, and toast,” advises Bonci.

Another choice can include cereal, fruit and a smoothie. If you want the traditional pregame steak, have an 8-ounce filet with pasta or a baked potato on the side.

Bonci says that a game day meal should resemble a “peace sign,” because it will be 1/3 protein, 1/3 starch and 1/3 fruits and vegetables. The protein sources can be fish, chicken or red meat, the carbohydrate sources should be rice, pasta or potatoes and the fruits and vegetables can be anything that is fresh.

Since football requires so many bursts of energy throughout the game, carbohydrate intake is vital to getting the most out of your performance while maintaining your health.

Players need to have sufficient energy to last for anywhere between 48 minutes–dur ing high school games–and 60 minutes–during college and professional games. Players are required to expend maximum energy on 50 to 75 plays per game, and they must have the energy reserves to perform this task.