Nutrition for skiing

What is good nutrition for skiing? If you watch most people on winter holidays you would think it is cheap wine and margaritas! However, if your goals for your winter holiday are focused more on skiing well rather than seeing how often you can get drunk, then it's worth paying attention to what represents good nutrition for skiing.

Whether you are on a board or on skis, there's no doubt that this is a demanding activity. A typical adult burns between 2000 and 2500 calories per day at home - spend 8 hours on the slopes and you could easily double that.

Assuming you don't want to make up the extra calories from alcohol, what are your options?

The first need to address is water - you'll be working hard at high altitude, and despite the cold will likely be sweating inside your ski clothes. Therefore you need to ensure you get enough water. If you carry a small daypack with you, be sure to carry some water and drink regularly - each time you're back on the lift is one good option.

The second part of staying hydrated is watching the alcohol intake. That means no booze at lunchtime - it dehydrates you - and drinking extra water if you do have a drink in the evening. If you have one glass of water for each alcoholic drink you'll stay hydrated and are unlikely to drink too much.

Smart eating starts with a good breakfast - cereal, toast, eggs, fruit, yoghurt, there are lots of good choice you can make - but whatever you do don't skip breakfast. As many calories as you'll be burning in a day, it is essential.

For lunch you need a good mix of protein, carbs and fat. Sandwiches, an omelette, chicken salad, just avoid the fast food joints. Similarly, you can eat dinner out without worrying too much about the calories - you can even indulge in some dessert!

This is also a time when regular snacks will help keep your energy levels up - fruit is a good choice because of the vitamins and minerals, which will help your recovery, while for sheer convenience, cereal bars can make a good option.