Being a cricketer isn’t that easy. Do you agree with me? They must be strict with their diet and also focus on their fitness often. If a player is unfit, then the total game will be collapsed. So cricketers need to focus on their diet after huge practices. Have you ever wondered what the cricketers will eat during lunch break?
Certainly, they won’t eat food like us, especially on match day. Here is a list of food that every cricketer eats during lunch break.
Break Time During a Test Match
Usually, the Test match lasts for 5 days and the players need to take care of themselves to perform for five days. The players can get a few breaks in between the game to boost their energy and relax during the match.
Generally, you can see that the Test matches are divided into three sessions. After the first 2 hours of play, there will be a lunch break for 40 minutes. Once the lunch break is over, there will be two hours of play and after that, there will be a tea break for the players for 20 minutes.
What Do Cricketers Eat During Lunch Break?
It is the most asked question about the diet of the cricketers. It is natural to sweat more for the cricketers especially when they are in the field. So it is more important to focus on the diet and it must focus more on Carbohydrates and proteins.
The cricketers can not eat something that they like. They don’t eat like us. Because they need more stamina while playing. That’s why they can’t have the same food as we eat. So every cricketer’s diet must be rich in Carbohydrates and Proteins and they have to avoid fatty items.
Let’s see what all the food that every cricketer eats during lunch break. Usually, the diet consists of about 3 to 5 dishes and the meal has both vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes. For vegetarians, the diet plan mostly consists of vegetables, fruits, pulses, Cottage cheese, butter, and a variety of soups.
For nonvegetarians, the lunch consists of roasted chicken, lamb, fish, and other nonvegetarian items. Sometimes, the players have the option to eat ice creams, bread, etc.
So far we have seen what cricketers eat during the lunch break. But what about the breakfast and tea break? Let’s see everything now.
We all know how important breakfast is. It is the most important meal of the day and no one should skip it. In the case of the cricketers, they can not enter the field without eating something. Because it will lead to poor stamina and he or she cannot focus on the game and it would cause more impact on the game. So they never skip their breakfast.
The breakfast of the cricketers generally contains bread, cereals, fruits, sandwiches stuffed with cold meat, salads, jams, pasta, sprouts, eggs, milk, and juices. They can eat anything they want without feeling full. Then during Tea break, they usually have tea or coffee or even energy drinks.
Finally, for dinner, they have protein-rich food like chicken, fish, salads, or even soups. Apart from that, they will consume recovery drinks to restore their energy. So, these are the foods they basically consume during the matches.
Generally, the dieticians and chefs take care of the food requirements for the International cricket players. This will help them to consume the best diet and it will reflect on their consistent performance. Every country has different food habits and it varies from one country to another. So mostly the players can choose the food that they prefer.
Also See: Why You Should Play Cricket?
Nutritional Benefits of the diet
As I said earlier, cricketers must consume more carbohydrate and protein-rich foods to boost their stamina. They should avoid eating a high-fat diet. They have to make sure that they don’t feel full. Let’s see the nutritional value of the food that most cricketers consume.
Cereals
The cereals generally include wheat, oats, rice, barley, millet, corn, etc. These cereals are rich in carbohydrates, fibre, and protein which provides the cricketers with enough energy to play. Apart from this, the cereals also contain Vitamin B, Vitamin E, iron, niacin, zinc, magnesium, and Phosphorus. These foods naturally take longer to digest and it also creates a full feeling which helps to avoid overeating.
Fruits
Fruits help you to gain nutrients like Potassium, Vitamin A and C, and fibres. As they are low in Sodium, fat, and calories, it is ideal to consume before the match.
Milk
Milk is one of the greatest energy drinks. It is highly nutritious and is ideal for breakfast. Milk contains proteins like Casein, Whey Protein which is ideal for muscle growth and development. This will be highly beneficial for cricketers. Apart from that, milk also contains fat, carbohydrates, Vitamins, and Minerals like Vitamin B12, Calcium, Riboflavin, Phosphorus.
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of high protein and one can get about 6 grams of protein from a single egg. From the boiled eggs, one can obtain Vitamin B and D, Zinc, and Calcium.
Sprouts
Sprouts are also important to boost stamina and are rich in proteins, fiber, and Vitamins. It prevents and deals with the blood pressure of a person and it digests well and prevents constipation. A cricketer must possess good eye health. By having Sprouts, one can improve their eye health. Apart from that, sprouts are famous for their Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron content.
Chicken
Chicken is known for its high protein content and it is a must for a sportsperson. By consuming chicken, one can have Stronger bones and muscles which improves bone density and decreases the risk of injuries. It also helps to maintain a good weight and prevent the risk of heart diseases. Apart from that, Chicken is rich in Vitamin B12, Tryptophan, Choline, Zinc, Iron, and Copper.
Lamb
Like chicken, lamb is also great for boosting energy. This has high protein content and it is more beneficial to athletes, bodybuilders, or even the person who is recovering from injury. Apart from that, it has Vitamin B12, Selenium, zinc, etc.
Also See: Dew Factor In Cricket
Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a more popular food item and it is a high protein diet. It will digest slowly and eventually make your stomach feel fuller.
Salads
Salads are a great source of fibre that controls blood sugar and helps with weight loss and weight maintenance.
According to the Indian Cricketer Nayan Mongia, “every cricketer has a lot of options for lunch when they return to the dressing room. Generally, what a player eats depends on his/her personal preferences and it also depends on whether he has to go to the field for the next session. If a batsman is going to bat, then he will have a Protein bar or banana to get energy without filling their stomach. They focus on consuming food that is low in fat and high in carbohydrates and proteins.
Another thing to note is that there is a lot of difference in the diet of cricket now and then. In those days, food was like a big fat Indian wedding but it’s completely the opposite now. They have a diet plan based on the player’s preferences and requirements.
So, generally, the diet of each player is based on their workload. It varies from person to person and a player may lose up to 4kgs when he spends a day on the field. So it is very important to consume a healthy diet to boost his stamina and stay fit.
Main Image Source: Pixabay
Also See: What Do Cricketers Wear?
