It is recommended that football players should eat a well balanced diet made up of all the food groups. A typical food intake would include three main meals during the day, with the use of snacks between meals a reflection on the total training requirements.

Due to individual requirements e.g. position, age and body composition, it is difficult to provide generic figures for the amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat needed within the diet. Carbohydrate remains a crucial aspect of the diet, providing the energy needed to fuel training and matches and therefore should be present in all meals. However, the choice of carbohydrate is important, with classical starchy carbohydrates e.g. pasta, rice, potatoes, focused during the day, specifically before, during and after training. Carbohydrate intake should be controlled in the evening, with vegetables providing the focus.

Protein is important to general protein balance, repair and recovery. Excessively high protein intakes are not warranted above and beyond a regular intake throughout the day. Protein becomes particularly important immediately post training, taken in combination with carbs post field based sessions/matches, or by itself post resistance-based training.

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