You have seen them before. Those pencil thin people in white singlet and short pants running under the hot afternoon sun, each steps pad silently on the burning asphalt beneath their feet. Those men who has thighs as big as a whale. Clad in a t shirt, they can normally seen going in and out of the gym with a hand towel draped over their shoulders. Those v-shape guys who has a nice tan as a result from visiting the pool regularly. I'm sure you have seen them before. Heck, one of them may be your friend, your family members or it might be you!

These so called exercise freaks should not be called otherwise. Those that shoot hoops everyday. Those who visit the baseball pitch when everyone is asleep just to practise their backhand curve. Those who hit the beach every evening to play some volleyball. The tennis player who refused to part with his tennis racquet even though he has sprained his ankle, dislocated his shoulder and broken his wrist. Mental people? No, they are just sports fanatics.

Please excuse me, but I am one of them. Just give me any games and I will gladly play alongside you. Be it football, volleyball, basketball, ping pong, you named it, I'm in. The best part of being a sports fanatic is the sensation you get when you play the sport. It is a natural high as healthy hormones runs through your body, a feeling of euphoria entering your blood vessels. However, nothing beats the feeling of training for an upcoming competition. You wake up early in the morning just to run a few miles, followed by a trip to the pool. When the sun sets, you head to the basketball court to perfect your 3 pointer. The day would not be complete if you did not visit the gym for the obligatory workout. As the weeks progress, you can actually see the difference when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. Broader shoulders, bigger pecs, larger muscles. And for once, you really want to audition for the next season of manhunt.

I'm sure you have friends of that sort. Statistics has shown that people who exercise regularly tends to have more friends than those who don't. And sports fanatics are generally friendlier, kinder and would lift a hand for a friend. Sometimes, you feel indebted to them and would want to do give them something in return. Perhaps a small token before their big competition to encourage and support them? What better gifts than food. Since food is the universal present and appeals to all, any sports fanatics would be glad to receive a food gift from you.

However, you have to be careful with the selection of the food. Big Macs and French fries is a big no no for those who will be competing in a few days time. Instead of receiving it with open arms, your gift may end up in the dustbin the minute you walk away.

To prepare the ultimate food gift basket, bear in mind that the body requires different types of nutrients. You may hear of athletes who boasts that they only consume pastas and buns days before the competition but this should not be the case. Although carbohydrate (which is found mostly in pastas and buns) are more important than the rest, it doesn't mean that other essential food should be excluded from the diet.

Alright. So pastas are the 1st things on the list. The next item you should be giving is a protein enriched food. Nowadays, there are dozens of protein shakes in the market. It is important as the more you drink it, the regeneration of tissue and cells are at a faster rate. Just toss in a couple of these into the basket. On the day of the competition itself, he would need a lot of water to prevent dehydration. He would also need some food that can give an instant boost of energy. Try to include some sports drinks, preferable isotonic water as it has the right amount of necessary salts to replenish the body. Finally, throw in a couple of energy bars or power foods that can promise an increment of immediate energy.

Food do plays a vital role in determining your body. It doesn't matter if you exercise 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if you do not eat right, your body would not reach its optimum peak. If you gave him the right food, he would really be amazed and his mouth may gap open as you explained each function of the foods. If he receives instead a tub of ice cream or pizza, you might have to eat it all alone, after he slammed the door on your face.