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Meal Preparation Prior to the Football Match
Laura Schneider
Author
2026-03-24
Date
2 min. read
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4
Chapters
Football is a game that is based on invasion, where half of the game is characterized by interrupted activity, during which periods of high-intensity, oxygen-free exertion occur. This type of activity requires a significant amount of energy.
Training cycle and carbohydrate manipulation
Training load management is traditionally viewed as a weekly cycle consisting of one or more meetings per week (i.e. from Saturday to Saturday). It is important to note that elite footballers often play twice or even three times a week. This situation arises from the involvement of teams in competitions, including domestic leagues or other European leagues. Different game scenarios require detailed monitoring of players to manage training to optimally adapt them to the game system and regenerate while simultaneously preventing injury adjustment. Changes in game frequency and related training sessions also have significant consequences for the nutrition strategy. Nutritional recommendations should take into account: metabolic requirements and daily energy expenditure, changing depending on the training week. This is particularly important in facilitating match day, especially regarding the role and availability of carbohydrates. On match days, an increased dose of carbohydrates is required. Limiting them in the remaining days, however, can support adaptation and increased lipid oxidation.
Dietary guidelines concerning the consumption of carbohydrates
In view of the physical exertion of a football match, well-documented nutritional strategies highlight the importance of high carbohydrate availability. Nutritional activities aim to increase muscle glycogen stores. They should be started at 24–48 hours before the match. Recommendations for carbohydrate intake differ on the day of the match/heavy training from the lighter/training days. On non-training days, the carbohydrate
Preparation of meals before the game
The game food protocol includes the meals consumed the day before the game and on the day of the game. The athlete's priority on those days should be to provide adequate amounts of fluids and products that are well tolerated and digested by the body. Meals during the day prior to the game should be based on light weighted products and exclude cabbage vegetables, onions, pork, unripe fruits and spices.
Energy replenishment during the break
In accordance with the rules of the game, the possibility of providing nutrients during the match is limited. During the break, athletes should compensate for carbohydrate deficiencies and replace lost fluids. Players should choose a small snack with a high dose of caution, as the product should be planned in advance and tested during training sessions. The energy source for working muscles can be products containing 30-60 g of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index. The snack can consist of natural food products such as dates, bananas or sports nutrition: energy bars with reduced fat and fiber content, jellies.
