March is National Nutrition Month in Canada, so we thought we'd share some nutrition tips for hockey players, so that you can be at the peak of your performance on the ice.

A healthy lifestyle requires far more than just physical activity, and in fact, a good diet is the best way to live a healthy life.

Canada's new Food Guide released in 2019 is a great reference with up-to-date material on the best foods for our bodies, but we also have some general tips to help you improve!

As a hockey player, it's important to eat lots of good carbohydrates, as carbohydrate-rich foods give our bodies the best fuel for working, and growing our active bodies.

This includes vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods, milk and legumes (peas, beans and lentils). Legumes are also a source of protein, which leads us to our next piece of advice.

Consume a lot, but not too much protein! Protein helps build and repair tissues and maintain a strong immune system.

It's also smart to eat a lot of healthy fats, such as peanuts and peanut butter, olive oil, walnuts, almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts, soy nuts, and fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, char and trout. 

Last but not least - fluids! Drink lots and lots of water, as it's necessary to support all of your bodily functions. Even when you've thought you've drank enough, drink more!

Combine all of these tips into a diet that has three balanced meals a day with three to four healthy snacks, and you'll be well on your way to living a healthier life!

Maybe you'll even lose a few pounds and be a stride faster on the ice!