I feel like every time I log into any of my social media accounts at the moment there is someone posting about the fact that they are in the finals, or their team is in the finals. Am feeling very chuffed, as my sister won her hockey grand final on the weekend, plus the Swans are in the Prelim on Friday!
How is nutrition affected by finals? I recommend to keep the following things in mind:
- Avoid trying anything new on game/race day. Do what has worked for the rest of the season. It has obviously worked, otherwise you/your team would probably not be there!
- It is the back end of the season, and most are (nearly) ready for a well deserved rest. Whilst you may be busy, continuing to fuel well with quality food through the week is essential. The last thing you want is to get sick before grand final day! Plenty of vegetables (see my recent post about easy ways to increase your veggie intake), water and sleep is essential. See these tips to enhance immune function.
- Celebrations... don't always spell 'nutritious'. I get that. But I do recommend avoiding it turning into an all round blow out. Alternate alcohol with water is my favourite tip for these situations!
- If you're a spectator, and not actually playing, do your best to keep up with training and eating well, and use these tips to help you make healthy choices
Good luck to all of you who have finals coming up!
Chloe McLeod is a dietitian at BJC Health.
This blog focuses on diet & nutrition generally and diet & nutrition in relation to the treatment of arthritis and arthritis-related diseases. Contact us if you’d like our help in managing diet-related health issues.
