Pre-game meal replacement

[SickBoy 0]

Anyone have suggestions for what I can grab to eat before a game when I don't have time to get a decent meal in? Sometimes I have games that I have to cut out of work early for, and I can't really eat at work, so my only option is something I can eat in the car on my way to the rink. Any ideas for what might work best in that situation?

[dietzie27 0]

power bar or a slim fast until after the game.

[Jarick 5]

Eat a big lunch, lots of complex carbs, easy on the protein, not much fat. Then before the game have a banana or apple and a glass of milk.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Banana and granola I find are great for within a couple hours of the puck being dropped. Neither are heavy foods, digest easily, good carbs and protein for energy. They work out great for myself. ;)

[Lord ZipLock 0]

Defiantly second the banana and grab an energy bar thats high in crabs and organic so it goes down smooth something like a clif bar, with plenty of water

[AWE46M3 0]

PowerBar and a protein shake w/non or low fat milk.

[lampliter87 8]

PowerBar and a protein shake w/non or low fat milk.

Protein shake may be a little heavy; save that until after the game.

Banana, PowerBar, lots of WATER. Always.

[AWE46M3 0]

^^^^ Protein shakes are often taken before workouts so I don't see what the problem would be. As long as you're taking it like 30 mins + before the game I see and have had no issues with this. Pre-workout I like something like a whey product with low fat and carbs and mix with low/non fat milk or even water for which are pretty easily digested. I don't know if I would take anything like MuscleMilk or something before a game. But I've had no issues with something like ON Whey. I dont see how it could be any heavier than SlimFast.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Defiantly second the banana and grab an energy bar thats high in crabs and organic so it goes down smooth something like a clif bar, with plenty of water

Clif bar Laced Chocolate Mint.....best "power bar" that is produced. Unless you want to grow man boobs....then the Luna Lemon Zest is sheer energetic heaven. ;)

[team50 20]

I love that bar and my man boobs.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

grab an energy bar thats high in crabs

To Quote Carl "It ain't like them sissy no-crabs diets! SOUTH BRONX PARADISE, BABY!!"

...anyways, on topic.... +1 on Clif bars, much better than the typical PowerBar. I also really enjoy the Odwalla bars they have out now. I've have one hour and a half before a skate, does the trick.

[rmnyi 0]

Hey guys, quick question that sort of relates to the topic so I apologize if I'm hijacking the thread.

I skated on Saturday afternoon with my daughter and then had a game at 7:30. Didn't really eat much, had a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at DD after the afternoon skate but before the game. I had my best game that night and obviously it had nothing to do with what I ate, so the pre-game skate really seemed to make a difference. My legs felt great at the game and I felt much lighter on my feet. Does that make sense? The question is: how do I duplicate the affect of the pre-game skate without actually skating. Most of my games are on Monday nights so what could I do at work that would help get the legs ready for the game?

[wc19 1]

Hey guys, quick question that sort of relates to the topic so I apologize if I'm hijacking the thread.

I skated on Saturday afternoon with my daughter and then had a game at 7:30. Didn't really eat much, had a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at DD after the afternoon skate but before the game. I had my best game that night and obviously it had nothing to do with what I ate, so the pre-game skate really seemed to make a difference. My legs felt great at the game and I felt much lighter on my feet. Does that make sense? The question is: how do I duplicate the affect of the pre-game skate without actually skating. Most of my games are on Monday nights so what could I do at work that would help get the legs ready for the game?

nothing really I can think of other than just warming up ie. doing some soccer with teammates prior to going onto the ice.

[AWE46M3 0]

^^^^ I agree with that. Probably any sort of light cardio and stretching will help you. It probably doesn't have as much to do with the skate as it does just loosening your muscles that you felt.

[wildebeest 0]

Defiantly second the banana and grab an energy bar thats high in crabs and organic so it goes down smooth something like a clif bar, with plenty of water

Senator, I second your banana, but only in an act of defiance! I will be second banana to no man!!

[SickBoy 0]

Good suggestions guys, thanks. I usually have done some sort of bar on these nights, but the Clif bar thing definitely makes sense. I always do lots of water, but the meal thing is harder to figure out.

[scorer75 9]

Banana, power or other protein bar, protein shake is fine as long as it's not 15 minutes before ice time, and lastly, on occasion I have had a Snickers on the way to the rink if I missed dinner.

[Jarick 5]

I know when Wes Walz retired, Lemaire referenced how he would run on the treadmill before games to get the muscles and blood ready for the game. Some kind of cardio warmup would probably be helpful.

As for protein shakes pre-workout, I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense. Hockey is both aerobic and anaerobic and I think the main source of energy would by glycogen. Complex carbs early in the day and simple carbs before the game would give you a good supply of sugar in the bloodstream to help energy levels. Afterwards, simple carbs help refill the glycogen and protein helps repair the muscles.

That's my simple understanding anyway.

[nni 0]

I know when Wes Walz retired, Lemaire referenced how he would run on the treadmill before games to get the muscles and blood ready for the game. Some kind of cardio warmup would probably be helpful.

As for protein shakes pre-workout, I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense. Hockey is both aerobic and anaerobic and I think the main source of energy would by glycogen. Complex carbs early in the day and simple carbs before the game would give you a good supply of sugar in the bloodstream to help energy levels. Afterwards, simple carbs help refill the glycogen and protein helps repair the muscles.

That's my simple understanding anyway.

protein or amino acids will help prevent muscle breakdown, which is also a good idea, but you are spot on with carbs. once the carb reserves (glycogen) is used up the body will break down protein, and if there is a ready supply it will not break down muscle.

[gxc999 7]

Hey guys, quick question that sort of relates to the topic so I apologize if I'm hijacking the thread.

I skated on Saturday afternoon with my daughter and then had a game at 7:30. Didn't really eat much, had a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at DD after the afternoon skate but before the game. I had my best game that night and obviously it had nothing to do with what I ate, so the pre-game skate really seemed to make a difference. My legs felt great at the game and I felt much lighter on my feet. Does that make sense? The question is: how do I duplicate the affect of the pre-game skate without actually skating. Most of my games are on Monday nights so what could I do at work that would help get the legs ready for the game?

I've played a couple of my best games with an empty stomach. I ate a meal 4 hours before, than a granola bar 60 minutes prior. I usually can't do that b/c I have an afternoon nap, then eat a big meal 2 hours prior to game.

[Jarick 5]

protein or amino acids will help prevent muscle breakdown, which is also a good idea, but you are spot on with carbs. once the carb reserves (glycogen) is used up the body will break down protein, and if there is a ready supply it will not break down muscle.

So would a glass of milk 30-45 minutes before the game be adequate protein or are we talking a protein shake? Not that I'm going balls out like NHL'ers, just trying to tweak my nutrition.

I'm just happy I'm getting away from the fruit juices and Gatorade and into better carbs like oatmeal and whole fruits.

[starskie 0]

protein or amino acids will help prevent muscle breakdown, which is also a good idea, but you are spot on with carbs. once the carb reserves (glycogen) is used up the body will break down protein, and if there is a ready supply it will not break down muscle.

So would a glass of milk 30-45 minutes before the game be adequate protein or are we talking a protein shake? Not that I'm going balls out like NHL'ers, just trying to tweak my nutrition.

I'm just happy I'm getting away from the fruit juices and Gatorade and into better carbs like oatmeal and whole fruits.

you won't have to worry about protein breakdown. Once your sugar stores (glucose + glycogen) run out, which happens pretty quick, you rely on fat breakdown as a main source of energy. Proteins are the most important thing in your body, thus they're are the last thing to be broken down. You won't need to worry about protein breakdown unless you've starved yourself for weeks.

milk could be good for you before a game not because of the protein but because of lactose.

[lee92 2]

No offense, but eating anything before you play isn't going to affect you positively, but may affect you negatively. It takes at least 4-6 hours to digest food, so whatever you're putting in your stomach isn't going to give you any energy benefits if you're going straight onto the ice; it's just going to sit in your stomach. Your best bet is either a big meal during the day (lunch, for example), or simple carbs like sugar which can be digested pretty quick. The only downfall about the simple carbs is that they won't last all that long. They'll give you a spike of energy quick but it won't last for much time. Also, avoid dairy products, as they're pretty heavy in the stomach.

[Spreedizzle 1]

protein or amino acids will help prevent muscle breakdown, which is also a good idea, but you are spot on with carbs. once the carb reserves (glycogen) is used up the body will break down protein, and if there is a ready supply it will not break down muscle.

So would a glass of milk 30-45 minutes before the game be adequate protein or are we talking a protein shake? Not that I'm going balls out like NHL'ers, just trying to tweak my nutrition.

I'm just happy I'm getting away from the fruit juices and Gatorade and into better carbs like oatmeal and whole fruits.

you won't have to worry about protein breakdown. Once your sugar stores (glucose + glycogen) run out, which happens pretty quick, you rely on fat breakdown as a main source of energy. Proteins are the most important thing in your body, thus they're are the last thing to be broken down. You won't need to worry about protein breakdown unless you've starved yourself for weeks.

milk could be good for you before a game not because of the protein but because of lactose.

Being lactose intollerant, and playing center.....sometimes I like to wreak havoc on the goalie by having a tall glass before a game. ;) Nobody likes to be in the crease with me at that point. B)

[AnthonyJTa 0]

Being lactose intollerant, and playing center.....sometimes I like to wreak havoc on the goalie by having a tall glass before a game. ;) Nobody likes to be in the crease with me at that point. B)

The ol' "green screen"... classic.... best response I ever got (goalie looks at me and defenseman) "Which one of you guys shit yourselves?!?!" while gloving me away.