Basketball is a physical game and intense game that requires lots of energy for you to perform at your highest level. You need something to intake that will give you a superpower to be sustainable in the battle inside the basketball court.
Water is not enough to sustain your energy. There are many things that you can do so that you can play at your highest level. Like eating, there are certain foods that you want to eat especially if you will be informed that these foods will give you the strength and energy that you need.
Also, sometimes you feel exhausted already even though the game has not started yet. Yeah, I know that kind of feeling because I have been there. Do you know the reason why you feel exhausted? Because you don’t eat the right food before a basketball game.
However, I am here to share with you my experience, with in-depth research, about the foods that you should eat before your basketball game. I bet you that this food will be truly effective.
What Time Should I Eat Before A Basketball Game?
Before we dive into certain foods, let me tell you first when you should intake the foods.
You shouldn’t eat food 30 minutes before the basketball game starts because you will feel bloated during warm-ups. This will cause you to vomit all you have eaten while the game is ongoing. As I have said, basketball is a physical sport and because of physicalities, there is a high chance you will vomit the food you intake especially if you intake it 30 minutes or less before the game.
So when you should eat? I suggest you eat 2-3 hours before the game so that your food will be digested early and faster you digest your food before the game starts. Digesting the food right will compress all the nutrients of the foods into your body so that the nutrients will be present during the game.
Benefits Of Pre-Game Foods
The benefits of eating healthy foods before a basketball game will improve your performance and health inside the basketball court. It will give you the stamina you will be needing during the game. Lastly, it will keep your muscles healthier to avoid any injuries that you might get.
7 Foods Eat Before A Basketball Game
These are the seven foods and meals that you can intake before a basketball game, and I bet you that it will have a good effect on your performance.
1. Hard-Boiled Egg
Why This Meal:
Eggs are one of the healthiest foods in the world. They are fresh from the farm, and they came from our mother nature. A hard-boiled egg is the best cook for the egg to keep the nutrients inside the yolk, which is the most healthy part of the egg.
A hard-Boiled egg gives your bone more strength, and this will help you to avoid muscle injuries and muscle pains after the game. Lastly, hard-boiled eggs will increase both your physical and mental energy, which is used often during a basketball game.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
If your weight is 200lbs and below, make sure to eat at least one before a basketball game. But if you are over 200lbs, eat at least two hard-boiled eggs.
2. Chicken Salad With Celery, Lettuce, Onion But Without Mayo
Why This Meal:
Chicken salad is a healthy pre-game meal, but it depends on the ingredients you will put. The more veggies your chicken salad has, the more it will be healthier. However, never forget to add enough chicken for protein.
This pre-game meal is beneficial for you as a basketball player because it will give you enough protein that you will need during the game. The celery and onion will give you fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Adding lettuce to your salad can hydrate your body, and it can improve your vision because it has Vitamin A.
Make sure to avoid adding mayonnaise to make your chicken salad healthier. You can replace the mayo with yogurt or lemon juice to cut down calories and unhealthy fats.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
If you weigh 200lbs and below, make sure to add 2oz of chicken breast. If you are more than 200lbs, add 3oz of chicken breast. For the veggies, the veggies you will put must be more than the chicken. If you will use yogurt, pouring one yogurt is enough, and if you decide to use a lemon, make sure to compress two to three lemons and put it on your salad.
3. Salmon Broccoli Stir fry
Why This Meal:
Salmon is very delicious, especially if you grill it. However, grilled salmon is not that healthy, and we are talking about healthy foods here. Salmon is a rich source of protein that will help your performance inside the basketball court. It is also rich in Vitamin B and a good source of potassium to avoid muscle cramps.
Broccoli is a good source of calcium, and calcium is essential for your bones. It also has protein, potassium, and iron. Broccoli is also rich in vitamins, A, C, E, K.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
If you weigh 200lbs and below add 2 medium boneless salmon fillets and if you are more than 200lbs, add 3 medium boneless salmon fillets. The amount of broccoli you can put depends on how much you can consume.
4. Boiled Potato With Butter
Why This Meal:
The potato has many health benefits packed with many nutrients. Potato has antioxidants, and it will improve your cardio and your heart. Butter also has health benefits like Vitamin A that will make your eyes more healthy. However, make sure to use it in moderation.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
No matter what your weight is, I suggest you intake at least one to two large potatoes. For the butter, make sure to use it moderately. Not too much and not too few.
5. Apple Juice And One Whole Apple
Why This Meal:
Have you heard the saying, “one apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Apple has many nutrients that can keep you healthy. This meal can also be a help for you before the basketball game. I always eat apples every day, and every time before I hit the gym.
Apple supports hydration, and it will help you to rehydrate. One apple a day can also help you to reduce weight especially if you are an obese basketball player. Apple is also rich in potassium, which will help you to avoid various muscle cramps during the basketball game.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
For 200lbs and below basketball players, make sure to take one glass of apple juice and eat one whole apple. If you weigh more than 200lbs, take one glass of apple juice but eat two whole apples.
6. Banana, Greek Yogurt Topped With Peanut Butter
Why This Meal:
This meal is one of my favorites, why? Because it is tasty and it has many health benefits. This meal is perfect for younger basketball players
Bananas are rich in vitamins B12, Magnesium, and Potassium, which will help to reduce getting severe muscle injuries. Mixing bananas with yogurt and peanut butter is perfect and delicious!
Check the recipe here!
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
Whatever weight you are, make sure to use one greek yogurt and mild peanut butter only. If you are 200lbs and below, slice at least one banana. But if you are more than 200lbs, make sure to slice two bananas.
7. Pork Adobo With Fresh Pineapple
Why This Meal:
I am living in the Philippines, and Adobo is one of the best Filipino meals that I liked. My mother used to cook Adobo, and she always added potatoes or pineapples. If you are curious about the recipe of adobo, check it out here!
Pork is an excellent source of protein, minerals, and it has many essential vitamins. Pineapples can help your digestion, loaded with important nutrients, and it will help you to speed up your muscle pain recovery after a physical basketball game.
Quantity Of Food To Eat Before Basketball Game:
Adobo is usually served in bulk, so make sure to weigh the required weight of pork you will eat. However, if you like to eat more pork than the recommended, make sure you won’t feel bloated after eating.
If you are 200lbs and below make sure to eat 3oz of pork. If you are over 200lbs, make sure to eat 5oz of pork. For pineapple quantity, make sure to eat what you can consume.
Closing
There are other foods and meals that you can eat before a basketball game. The listed food and meals above I suggested are based on my experience. I often eat the meals listed above before a basketball game, and it helped me a lot.
If you don’t like to eat any of the meals I listed above, my only suggestion is you make sure to eat the right food before a basketball game. It will help you to play at your highest level and will prevent various muscle injuries.
What kind of food or meal do you intake before your basketball game? Share with us your favorite meals you eat before you play basketball in the comments section below!
