For every Squash player, whether junior or senior player; sticking to a good diet and nutrition plan is important in terms of physiology and allowing your body to deal with the high volumes of physical stress, from playing Squash – in addition, aids your recovery post match.
Eating the right type of foods will give Squash players the energy to help repair the joints and muscles after a game.
Throughout the Squash competition season, it is essential a professional Squash maintains a strong regime of exercise and sticks to a food plan that boosts their energy levels.
In the context of a recreational player, their diet and nutrition regime will be different, but for the more serious inter-club competitive player – their regime will be less restricted to what they eat and drink.
You may be thinking about how a meteorological phenomenon applies to an eating routine of a Squash player. Well, to give your body the best fuel and energy, try eating the healthiest plant-based foods according to the colours of the rainbow:
Red: Tomatoes, Watermelon, Pink Grapefruit, Cranberries
Blue/Purple: (e.g. Blueberries, Blackberries, Plums
Green: Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts
Yellow/Green: Avocado, Kiwi Fruit, Spinach
Yellow/Orange: Carrots, Mangos, Squash, Sweet Potato, Pumpkins,
Prominent nutrition experts Susan Bowerman and David Heber (authors of What Color is Your Diet? The Seven Colors of Health) developed this method for players on the Professional Squash Association circuit.
Now, the Rainbow Method can easily be followed by a recreational player, young or old, as a part of their 5-a-day requirements for strong well-being and preventing health issues such as diabetes, classic metabolic syndrome, plus most common abdominal obesity elevated blood sugar.
Foods for recovery after Squash
Every Squash professional needs the right food to recover after a major tournament, whether it is the US Open, British Open, or a regional tournament – it is essential for them to have the healthiest foods to recover.
Oddly enough, according to some nutritional experts the following are what Squash pros eat just to refuel their bodies back to normality and ease stress:
- High-Protein Greek Yoghurt With Fruits
- Rice cakes and peanut butter
- Tortilla wraps with chicken or tuna fish
- Whole Grain cereal with milk
As for liquids – in other words, beverages; some athletes consider chocolate milk as it makes a good drink to have a post-session refuel. In addition, it helps with any hunger cravings before eating a good carbohydrate and protein-based meal later.
Getting it right before and after
Ideally, most Squash players will have a great Fitness Coach or Personal trainer, who would recommend a design bespoke diet and nutrition plan for them. At a grassroots level, junior Squash players are instilled on diet and nutrition, in which their coaches will advise parents/guardians, will help them adhere to ensure their child performs well in tournaments.
The rainbow method, is a great diet & nutrition programme to follow, as is the post-game refuel nutrition plan; thus if you are to follow and adopt these healthy eating methods, it is advisable to speak with a qualified nutritionist who specialises in Squash fitness just to be sure.
