Just like any other sport, with cheerleading you need to consider good nutrition. Taking advantage of a good diet will help you have energy, build strong muscles and improve your performance. The saying is what you eat is true, if you eat food that is not nutritious you will feel slow and your growth will be unhealthy.
Try to avoid fad diets, rapid weight loss and poor nutrition, you’ll only be fooling yourself. As long as you follow a well-balanced diet, you should be able to maintain your weight and look great. We all know how important it is to look good as a cheerleader, but going to extreme lengths to stay slim won’t work in the end.
What your body needs are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are your body’s source of energy, protein is the building block for muscle growth, and fat is for your nerve center and hormones. Taking the proper proportion of these elements is the key to your maximum performance. Try to eat a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet with enough protein.
Before your workouts or practices, eat a meal rich in carbohydrates. Your body can digest carbohydrates faster and deliver glucose to your muscles faster. Avoid dairy products and foods like pizza, hamburgers, soft drinks, and candy before you exercise. Try to eat at least an hour before activity, up to four hours would be better to allow for digestion and get the nutrients to fuel your body.