Whilst skiing is a fantastic way to enjoy a holiday overseas, there is no denying that a winter break on the slopes will be far from a walk in the park.
You’re going to need to plenty of energy if you want to fully make the most of the most of your time away from home over the winter months, with skiing being a sport that can quite easily take it out of you over the course of the day.
And as anyone who has tried to do any kind of sport will admit, it’s a lot more enjoyable when you’re not exhausted….
Of course, how tied you get during a day skiing will be down in no small part to how fit you are, but there are ways in which you can try and ensure that you keep your energy levels as high as possible.
That is largely down to the diet you have in place both in the run up to, and during your winter holiday when you would be well advised to take on plenty of high energy foods.
In general terms, you want to ensure you are taking on plenty of fruit and vegetables, good sources of protein like fish and red meat (which is also rich in iron), and starchy carbohydrates like pasta and rice.
In short, try and stick to a balanced diet to ensure you are in the best shape possible once you head for your resort.
Once you’ve arrived, it’s easy to engage 'holiday mode', where any plans to try and maintain a healthy diet go straight out of the window and you head straight for the nearest buffet or bar.
Of course that’s only natural and we’re certainly not saying that you can’t fully embrace the apres-ski offerings, but by eating well on your ski holiday and keeping an eye on your nutrition, you’ll be in the best possible shape.
The first thing to note is that old adage that 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' certainly rings true.
You can enjoy high energy foods like poached eggs with wholemeal toast, or something like porridge, which will not only warm you up before you head out into the cold, but will also provide you with a gradual release of energy through the morning before you decide to take a break for lunch.
As that starts to wear off, a healthy lunch - such as grilled chicken or salmon with vegetables, or a wholemeal pasta dish - will fuel you for the afternoon’s activities and slowly release energy to ensure you remain at your best.
Even with a good breakfast and lunch, there is still the chance that you’ll get hungry whilst out on the slopes because of the calories you’ll be burning off and that is why it’s also important to have some high energy snacks with you.
Although you don’t want to be carrying too much with you, things like cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts, flapjacks and protein bars/protein balls can be carried with ease in your rucksack and are amongst the best snacks for skiing.
High calorie, slow release snacks like this are great to give you a boost of energy and will minimise the effects of a full day enjoying one of the most active forms of sport there is.
Whilst food is important, it’s also crucial for your energy levels that you stay hydrated, so ensure you take in plenty of fluids at the same time and you’ll be well on your way to a fun filled day’s skiing.
