Gymnastics is a high-energy sport that requires the athlete to be very fit, coordinated, strong and agile .
Practices can be very long and difficult.
Keeping your body constantly fueled is the main trick to keeping up good performances. Eat at least three meals a day, and even have a snack before and after practice. A little fat and protein are fine before competition, but high-fat meals do not digest quickly or easily and can leave you feeling sluggish. If you are eating a carbohydrate meal, allow three to five hours for a large meal to digest and two to three hours for a smaller meal to digest. For the average gymnast, we suggest eating two to three carbohydrate foods that each contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates.