glycogen

If your child goes to a game or scrimmage without having eaten, he or she will not have the energy to play at his/her full potential.  A  meal 2 to 3 hours before the game made up mostly of carbohydrate-rich foods provides the fuel for sports.

When you or your child athlete thinks of food, think about carbohydrates, such as the whole-grain products, vegetables, and fruits that make up three-fourths of the FDA's new MyPlate food guidance system.