International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

author(s)
Tiwari Supriya, Paul Virginia

Abstract
Nutrition is an important component of any physical fitness program. The dietary goal for active individuals is to obtain adequate nutrition to optimize health and fitness or sports performance. The main aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of sports person in Allahabad district. Two hundred sports persons (18-26years) were selected through the random sampling method from two different universities situated in Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh. Sports person’s nutritional status was assessed by gathering information on the Dietary intake, Food frequency. Pretested schedule was used in order to collect data from the respondents. The collected data were statistically analyzed. It was found that 47.5 percent respondents were non-vegetarian, 22 percent respondents were vegetarian and 30.5 percent respondents were eggitarian. Maximum 50.5 percent of the respondents followed the four meal pattern (Breakfast + Lunch + Snacks + Dinner). The diet survey revealed that cereals, pulses, vegetables, fats and oil and sugar were consumed on a daily basis by all the respondents consumed. Among the female respondents the average nutrient intake of calorie, protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron and calcium were less than RDA. The average intake of the nutrient of male respondents i.e., calorie, protein were less than RDA and nutrient intake i.e., fat, carbohydrate, iron, calcium were higher than the RDA. The findings of the present study indicate that nutritional status of selected sports persons in Allahabad district was poor. There exists a dietary inadequacy of both macro and micronutrients.