Golf Nutrition Do's and Dont's Part I

Colorado Springs, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/08/2013 -- One aspect that is becoming more and more important in not only golf but life in general these days is healthy eating. People try to live too much “on the run” with work, school, and other activities resorting to options that are faster and cheaper. You may have never thought about what you eat before, during, or after your time on the course, but it can actually affect how you play! One of the most crucial times where nutrition comes into play is before your round. Whether you knew it or not, what and how you eat leading up to your round can really make a difference in your performance on the course.

According to the Royal Canadian Golf Association, golfers lose about two to two-and-a-half pounds when they are out on the course. The RCGA, which did a study on proper eating for golfers, discovered that adjusting an eating schedule and what a golfer eats is important in a daily practice setting but also a competition setting. You may think you aren’t really ever in those situations since you may not practice daily or compete but not so fast. Golfing for four or five hours on the weekend and practicing for an hour a couple days a week doesn’t excuse a golfer from eating the right things before swinging the sticks.

Before you head out to practice or play, it is ideal to load up on energy, and the easiest way to do that is to eat some food with carbohydrates in it. The tricky thing is to not eat anything too big though. The RCGA did a study that the ideal pre-golfing meal ranges somewhere from 140-330 grams of carbohydrates so make sure to keep with that in range. Too little and you will still be hungry; too much and you won’t want to get up and hit the links!

Also make sure you get a little fiber and protein in your pre-game meal or snack. This will keep you more full on the course and allow you to perform at a higher level for longer amounts of time. A lot of companies have recognized that people, especially athletes, are looking for food that mixes energy with sustainability. If you go to your local grocery store in the cereal bar aisle, you will find a wide array of different breakfast bars that suit your needs. Cliff Bars, Power Bars, Balance Bars; you name it. They are one of the best options you have because of their high fiber, healthy energy, and low fat.

If you are looking for more of a meal, look for things that have a good amount of carbs but other good things (fiber, protein, calcium, healthy fats) in them. Good examples would be an omelet with toast, some spaghetti with meatballs, and a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich with some fruit. Obviously, what time you are going out to play or practice will dictate what type of food you eat, but those three examples should give you a good idea of what to eat before your round.