Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo sportininkų mitybos įpročiai

The purpose of the study is to describe and assess the dietary habits and the nutritional regime of Lithuanian high performance athletes depending on the cultivated sport, sex and age. Using a valid nutrition questionnaire, 247 Lithuanian high performance athletes were investigated by direct interview method. Athletes’ body composition was studied by the BIA tetra-polar electrodes method. The results of the research showed that Lithuanian high performance athletes’ eating habits are determined by gender. The lower impact of age and cultivated sports was determined. Male athletes are more likely to use bread bakery, boiled potatoes, eggs, oily pork, meat preparations, canned food, fried potatoes, potato crisps and refreshing drinks with artificial sweeteners. Meanwhile, athletes’ women’s eating habits are healthier. Women are more likely to consume fresh vegetables, fruits, poultry, and less often use unhealthy food. Dietary habits of Lithuanian high performance athletes should be changed to healthy ones in order to ensure maximum adaptation to physical activity. Keywords: athletes, dietary habits, sports nutrition.