As a student athlete at BYU on the Men's tennis team, I have gone through a few matches, in which I ate fast food prior to competition under extremely high temperatures, I than had stomach pain and also vomited on court. From this ordeal I have changed my pre-competition diet to the standards described above.
Fluids also must be replenished. "The athlete needs to balance his water levels; to do so, he must drink, preferably any type of fluid containing water, but the best known to help are sports drinks that contain 10-12% sugar" (Wolinsky, 2002, p. 54). Using soda to replace lost fluids can lead to lactic acid build up and possible cramping during competition the next day. "Soda contains phosphoric acid that is approximately 60 mg of phosphorus per 12-oz. These drinks however provide no calcium. So, if an athlete substitutes soda for milk, not only will the phosphorus intake be increased but calcium consumption is non-existent" (Wolinsky, 2002, p. 229). So the best source for water replenishment is either water itself, or a sports drink with low sugar levels.
Eating habits of a male athlete in particular are very irregular. They tend to eat the usual meals everyday, but also adding many little snacks throughout the day. With eating these small snacks between meals or exercise, it fills the macronutrient levels for a male athlete, the micronutrient levels end up being considerably low. "Macronutrients include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, while a micronutrient consists of iron and calcium" (Wolinksy, 2002, p. 220). To fill this micronutrient level, male athletes need to eat and drink more dairy products as snacks, to fill their daily value of micronutrients. A smart food selection for athletes is necessary for obtaining all the essential nutrients, at the correct amounts. Again, the Food Guide Pyramid is an excellent source of meals in a day. .
Athletes are also required a certain diet that pertains to energy, fluid, carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, and vitamins.