What kind of foods to eat before/after working out, jogging, or practicing a sport (specifically basketball)

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago, some of those answers may help
http://www.fluther.com/disc/10299/what-is-a-good-meal-to-eat-before-playing-a-sport/

Energy drinks and exercise do NOT mix. You’ll be losing fluid from sweating and then the caffeine in these drinks will double that effect, making you very very dehydrated. Not a good combination at all.

If you want to drink something other than water, I would say Gatorade/Powerade is your best bet. Yes it contains a lot of sugar but it doesn’t have the caffeine in it.

Or water w. a pack of Emergen-C mixed in. No artificial colors, or sugars as in Gatorade but same enzymes; and packets fits easily into a small pocket.

is it better to have water instead of a Gatorade?

i eat nuts, raisins, and tuna when i need a blast of energy.

Carbs are real good thats what runners are mostly told but it is great advice for all athletes. Its good to eat like some pasta and stuff the night before a big game, or working out at the gym. Proteins are also very important, and potassium helps reduce the lactic acid that builds up.

Your diet sounds good but NO to energy drinks and for every one Gatorade you drink you should drink an equal amount of water after.

agreed, if you’re going to drink gatorade, or any sports drink, balance it with equal water or you’ll feel sluggish and increasingly more thirsty. i wouldn’t consume all that much of any kind of energy drink—i’ve always found it most effective to add my own gatorade powder to water for dilution purposes.

i’ve found that carbs are important as a pre-workout energy source, yes, but proteins are crucial, too, as they contribute that energy source.

what kinda foods have those, and are avaliable at local grocery stores or walmart or 7–11?

Beer

you have a health store in your neighborhood? Like a trader joes, whole foods? Health bars, trail mix and lots of water is what I go with

I’ve seen recently that some professional and amateur athletes are drinking Pedialyte, a pediatric rehydration solution for kids with diarrhea, in stead of Gatorade. It has fewer calories and a higher salt content, which is very important for the intestinal absorption of water and concentration of urine (a way to hold on to the water in the body). I haven’t tried it myself, but some of my soccer teammates have with positive responses.