The diet of an organism is what it eats, which is largely determined by the availability, the processing and palatability of foods. A healthy diet includes preparation of food and storage methods that preserve nutrients from oxidation, heat or leaching, and that reduce risk of food-borne illnesses. Nutrition is the science that interprets the interaction of nutrients and other substances in food (e.g. phytonutrients, anthocyanins, tannins, etc.) in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an organism which includes food intake, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism and excretion. An athlete’s daily energy intake (total Calories or kilojoules) provides for immediate energy needs such as that for body functions, activity and growth. In addition, energy intake also influences the body’s energy stores. Energy stores (body fat + glycogen in muscle and liver) play important roles related to exercise performance, since they contribute to:

• An athlete’s size and physique

• function