Italian food is hugely popular the night before games. It provides the nutrients and energy needed to fuel performance. However, the benefits of an Italian diet go well beyond the pre-game meal.
If you eat Italian food the night before a game because it fuels performance, wouldn't it make sense to eat a similar style meal each day? If you do, you may see improvements in your practice performance and workout results.
I am not talking about throwing some canned pasta sauce on overcooked spaghetti. I'm talking about the Italian diet based on thousands of years of history, tradition and passion for delicious food. This is full of pastas, cheeses, healthy meats and vegetables that provide a balance of carbs, protein and fat, all of which are essential for athletes. (Learn more about Sports Nutrition.)
Below you will find an authentic Italian diet plan for athletes. Make sure to choose organic foods if possible to avoid fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides that can impair performance and health.
Choose one of these five options:
Note: Pasta should always be prepared al dente (firm, not soft) to avoid changing its glycemic index. Cook pasta for about two minutes less than the recommend time.
Choose one of these five options:
Note: Eat dinner three hours before bedtime
