Food is essential for athletes to reach their greatest athletic potential.

According to Alfred Vogel, if athletes don’t eat after a workout or game, problems such as low energy, dehydration, poor muscle recovery and low electrolytes can occur.

Low energy, dehydration, poor muscle recovery and low electrolytes are detrimental to not only athletic performance but also academic performance. 

According to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, “Fatigue is a subjective feeling and its ill effects are frequently seen in many ways, such as task performance decrement, cognitive impairment, and emotional disturbance.”

This could be a problem for students who are unable to pay for meals after games. Not only are food prices high but also athletics are costly in general.

Also, sports and other extracurricular activities can be expensive, and some athletes may not be able to afford meals after games. 

Both the athlete and school would benefit from meals being provided because it creates an opportunity for more student-athletes to participate in sports. 

Ultimately, the school and the athlete will benefit from meals being provided because meals being provided allow more athletes to participate in sports, which in turn benefits the school’s image.