ABSTRACT
The principles of sports nutrition have evolved substantially over the past two decades, whereby present-day recommendations are individualised to athletes’ specific goals and periodised according to the time of the week, macrocycle and stage of athlete’s development and sporting career. The core goals are to maximise the adaptations to training and to optimise performance on the day of competition. These outcomes are underpinned by the need to achieve appropriate body composition, promote health and wellbeing, minimise the time lost to illness and injury, and maintain the enjoyment of food. The goals of sports nutrition can be applied across the spectrum of athletic endeavour; from the developmental athlete through to the elite performer, as well as the individual who exercises for general fitness and weight control.
