Eat Like A Boxer: The Best Boxing Diet (Beginners Guide)
In any sport, the importance of a good diet cannot be underestimated. What you eat and drink as a boxer plays a vital role in your performance, endurance, and recovery.
Dehydration may lead to cramping and exhaustion in the muscles, resulting in poor performance and a greater chance of a heat stroke. A poor diet can cause muscle fatigue and weakness during your training. Definitely a no-go!
This beginner’s guide teaches you the basics of the best boxing diet in a simple and easy way!
The Basics
In a boxer’s diet, we focus on macro- and micronutrients, vitamins, minerals and hydration. All have their own functionality.
Macronutrients
The cornerstone of a boxer’s diet lies in balancing proteins, fats, and carbs.
- Protein builds and repairs (muscle) cells. but the best use of protein is in cell building and repair.
- Fat provides your body with energy. It also acts as insulation to keep you warm and absorb vitamins A, D, E and K.
- Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy.
✓ Generally, a balanced diet looks something like:
- 10-35% of calories from proteins
- 20-35% of calories from fats
- 50-65% of calories from carbohydrates
Don’t rely too much on the numbers, and don’t get obsessed with tracking your calories. Just understand what your body needs and approximately how much of it.
Micronutrients
Essential micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are just as important for a boxer’s diet, supporting overall health and peak performance.
- Vitamins help your body grow and work the way it should. Some vitamins help you resist infections and keep your nerves healthy, while others may help your body get energy from food.
- Minerals build strong bones and teeth, control body fluids inside and outside cells and turn the food you eat into energy.
Hydration
Drinking enough water ensures you’re at your best during your boxing training. Not drinking enough water increases the risk of dehydration, which leads to muscle cramps and fatigue.
Combined with healthy food, hydration supports muscle recovery and reduces inflammation.
Getting sore shoulders by keeping your guard up or feeling like your footwork is slower can all be a result of dehydration.
How much water should you drink? Science says a minimum of 1.5 liters (0.4 gallon) should be enough. The best indicator is the color of your urine, as you can see below.
Pre-Training Nutrition
The meals and snacks you consume before training can make or break your performance. You need energy to train, which means your meals should contain carbs.
Fruits include easily digested sugars, which provide immediate energy for your muscles.
Although carbs are the major emphasis of pre-workout nutrition, studies suggest that including a source of protein in addition to carbohydrates before resistance training can improve protein synthesis.
List of pre-training snacks
- Banana with peanut butter
- Greek yogurt with berries
- Oatmeal with almonds
- Whole grain toast with avocado
- Fruit smoothie
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Turkey or chicken wrap
- Cottage cheese with pineapple
- Quinoa salad
- Rice cakes with hummus
- Dried fruits with nuts
- Sweet potato
- Whole grain crackers with tuna
- Raw honey with milk
Post-Training Nutrition
Post-training nutrition helps your body to recover. Focus on muscle repair with protein and “restock” energy with carbs. And drink enough water to compensate for the sweat loss during your training.
While boxing, small tears appear at the microscopic level of your muscles. Repairing these tears results in a stronger muscle than it was before. This process is called protein synthesis. Therefore, your body needs a good amount of protein-rich food.
List of post-training snacks
- Grilled salmon with haricots verts
- Chicken and brown rice bowl
- Tuna salad wrap
- Beef stir-fry with vegetables
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Steak and sweet potato bites
- Yogurt with mixed nuts
- Chicken wrap with avocado
- Egg salad on bread
- Turkey and cheese-stuffed bell peppers
- Grilled chicken Caesar salad
- Medium steak
- Scrambled eggs with spinach and feta
Final Words
As you step out of the ring and into the kitchen, remember the pillars of the best boxing diet: proteins for repair, carbs for energy, fats for endurance, and hydration for sustained performance.
A healthy body means a healthy mind which is the perfect mix to become a better boxer. Take care of yourself with the right boxing nutrition, and be consistent. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Step by step.