Kelsey HigginsonSports Nutrition Coach and Founder at Clutch Day Coaching

game day snacks for athletes

3 Dec 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:39

In this short video, the speaker advises athletes on pre‑game nutrition, emphasizing the need to consume carbohydrate‑rich snacks about 90 minutes before competition to provide energy and endurance. He lists travel‑friendly, processed snack options that are easy to pack—granola bars, GoGo Squeeze applesauce packets, fig bars, mangoes, granola, pretzels, and PopCorners—while noting that whole foods should still be the foundation of regular meals. The overall message is practical: use convenient carb snacks when on the road to stay fueled, but don’t replace balanced meals.

Chapters

These are the game day snacks that I have my athletes keep in their bags. Granola bars, don't care what kind. Go Go Squeeze applesauce packets. All of these snacks have carbohydrates in them. You need to be eating carbs about 90 minutes before you play because carbs are your gas. They're gonna give you energy and they're gonna help you have more endurance throughout the game. Other great snacks that you can include are fig bars, mangoes, granola, pretzels, popcorners, I get it, all of this is processed. Of course, eat whole foods in your meals as well, but we gotta be real, and you guys are traveling a lot. You guys can't pack a sweet potato in your bag sometimes, so these are great options to keep in your bag so that you stay fueled.