Like most modern-day sports, college football isn’t just about skill. As harsh as it sounds, even the most skillful on the player on the planet would struggle to compete if he wasn’t armed with the right physical build.
While time in the gym can aid with this substantially, something which is often forgotten about is what’s on your plate. The phrase “you are what you eat” couldn’t be more relevant here, and we have enlisted the aid of Jack Elway to delve into this in more detail.
Following on from the above, we’ll now take a look at some of Elway’s best nutrition advice for those of you who want to break into college football.
Never skip breakfast
Due to the fact that it usually involves setting your alarm a little earlier, some people will opt to skip breakfast. This, particularly for the college football player, is asking for big trouble.
It’s even worse for those of you who opt to train or even play in the morning. Even if you aren’t hungry, your body will need at least some fuel to complete the forthcoming activities.
If you are the type of person who can’t stomach a big breakfast, at least consider some smaller alternatives. The likes of yoghurt and milk shakes are perfect, with both containing sufficient amounts of protein which will help you power through the day.
Stick to a minimum of three meals per day
In truth, a lot of you will need far more than this. As we all know, the modern-day college football players are not small by any stretch of the imagination – and a hefty dose of food contributes to this.
As such, you need at least three meals, but preferably more. As well as this, these meals should come in intervals of four hours. To throw some numbers into the equation, aim to consume up to 25 pounds for every pound that you weigh.
As well as the meals, it’s also worth mentioning that you should snack during this time. Particularly if you are training, these snacks will be pretty essential.
Make sure that your food choices are split accordingly
You will have probably read all about the types of food that are suitable for the budding bodybuilder (which is almost what a college football player is built like). Of course, implementing these into your normal diet is easier said than done.
This is where a quick trick is in order. The best way to ensure that the right types of foods are entering your body is to split your plate into thirds. Then, equally separate the protein, starch and vegetables into each segment. By doing this you will gain a visual representation of what is going into your body, and you’ll become much more likely to make the right food choices.
Of course, the size of the overall portion is going to vary for each of you. In terms of the proportions of food, this tactic will suffice though.