There are all sorts of sports drinks these days that claim to hydrate you and give you energy. Are any of them really any better than just drinking water?—Jared, 15, Lower East Side

Everyone says that an athlete’s diet is super important. What should I eat for lunch the day I have a big game?—Paige, 14, Upper West Side

I am a runner and many of my teammates eat a bunch of carbs the night before a meet to help them run the best race possible the next day— does this really help?—Melissa, 14, Hell’s Kitchen

“Once and for all please answer this question: what is the rule for swimming after eating?” —Alyssa, 16, Lincoln Center

Much of your energy will be coming from the foods you’ve been eating in the past 2-3 days leading up to your lacrosse game, but what you consume in the few hours just before will certainly help to boost your performance. This meal or snack should be rich in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and low in fat. Why? Fat and protein use more energy to digest compared to carbohydrates.