How a football player’s nutritional diet effects performance on the field

CU football players follow a strict diet throughout the week, so they have enough energy and endurance when it comes to game day.

The team’s sports dietitian, Kelly Eupero, meets with the players on a weekly basis, to help each one with specific diets that will enhance their performances on the field.

Senior defensive back, Brian Lockridge, has a fast metabolism, so his diet focuses on eating more carbohydrates than proteins.

Eupero explains, “With each guy we get very specific…On Brian’s plate, we try to divide it into thirds, one third should be vegetables, one third we want grains, and then one third we want his meat.”

Each of these portion sizes help players like Lockridge get the nutrients they need during practice and on game days.

Some players are even superstitious and eat the same thing before every game. Because of this, they’re offered the same buffet choices for every game, which includes an omelet station, oatmeal, bagels, pasta, and whole-grain rice.

Both players and Eupero agree that keeping this consistency is crucial.

“Changing a big diet from one day compared to the rest of the week will affect you and how you play,” says Lockridge.

Players like Lockridge also make sure to stay hydrated with water and Gatorade, something Eupero explains can be tricky.

“The biggest thing to remember is that it takes 45 minutes to an hour for that liquid to be realized in the body. So they need to make sure they’re hydrated 45 minutes to an hour before practice or a game.”

Eating right and staying hydrated are both things that every player balances off the field, to perform well on the field.