Is It OK To Eat Before Skydiving?

Proper preparation is key to a successful skydive, and that includes eating properly. Can you eat before skydiving? And if so, should you eat before skydiving? 100%, yes to both! We highly encourage eating prior to jumping. Don’t misquote us and get upset when your tummy hurts after eating a bottomless stack of pancakes for breakfast, there’s a method to prepping for the ultimate skydiving day. We’ve got you covered with what to eat before skydiving, what to drink before the jump, and how to bring those butterflies in your stomach to a halt. 

It’s All About Timing

Let’s first ask, “When should I eat before skydiving?” Because timing is critical! We recommend that every first time jumper eat as they typically would on any normal day – even though skydiving will be the best day of their freakin’ life! If your skydive is scheduled for noon, please don’t stuff your pie hole with the entirety of a KFC Bottomless Bargain Bucket at 11:30. It’s a safe bet to stop eating approximately an hour before the jump and to taper off throughout the day; start your day with a bigger meal and move onto smaller snacks leading up to the jump.  

What To Eat Before The Jump 

Think of it this way: Your adrenaline (and therefore, your heart rate) will be through the roof, you’ll be in a crowded airplane, you’ll fall through the sky at 120mph, then you’ll have a parachute ride back to earth. What would you like to have in your stomach while doing all that? Going skydiving for the first time brings enough change as it is, so we don’t want to mess with your diet too much and throw your body for a loop. That being said, if your typical morning consists of two All-Star Breakfasts from Waffle House (yum!) maybe just cut back to one on the morning of your jump. 

Try to avoid anything that typically doesn’t agree with you. For example, if you’re lactose intolerant but commonly eat cheese because “It DoEsN’t MaKe Me FeEl ThAt BaD,” let’s dive into the dairy after your jump. We generally suggest avoiding anything super duper fried or “heavy,” and tend to opt for cold cuts, granola bars, smoothies … anything that’s nutritious and delicious and easy on the breadbasket. 

Can You Drink Before Skydiving? 

Good ole H2O is your friend before skydiving! If you’re referencing another type of popular beverage – that sounds a lot like liquor *wink wink* – it is prohibited prior to jumping. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with the United States Parachute Association (USPA) make up the governing bodies for skydivers. They strictly prohibit anyone from skydiving within 8 hours after consuming any alcohol. We’re going to take this a step further and push you to not drink the day/night before your jump at all. Why? We want you to have the best time of your life, and losing your PBR from the night before all over yourself (and your instructor!) is not conducive for a very fun time. 

Eating And Staying Hydrated Is Important: Why? 

When we go skydiving, especially for the first time, our bodies are working in overdrive. Your body and mind have to be prepared to endure the newness of everything that happens when you jump. What do we mean? Physically: Your body has never experienced flying in a jump plane, leaping from the open door into freefall, and flying around under a canopy. It’s a lot! Mentally: Skydiving is special because it brings an influx of exciting chemicals into our bodies, including serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline. In order to adjust for this rush of happy chemicals, your body needs to be ready. If you’re dehydrated and hungry your body will have a tougher time balancing itself out. 

Neglecting to eat and drink sufficiently may result in crashing blood sugar and dehydration. This can leave you feeling jittery, tired, anxious, nauseous, and overall yucky, which is what we’re trying to avoid! 

Wait, Is Skydiving Going To Make Me Sick!? 

Getting motion sick while skydiving is not as common as people make it out to be. If you’re prone to motion sickness and nervously wondering, “Should I skydive!?” Don’t worry. If you take steps to stay nourished throughout the day and let your instructor know beforehand, you’ll be golden. The key thing here is to tell your instructor before the skydive. 

During the briefing, they’ll ask you if you have any questions, this is your time to shine! If your instructor knows about your struggles with motion sickness, they’ll be able to fly the parachute in the calmest possible way to avoid any tingles in the tummy. 99% of the time, people who are cursed with getting sick from a skydive didn’t eat anything that day thinking it would mean they have nothing to throw up – don’t be this person! 

We would like to note that if you do happen to succumb to motion sickness, it will be okay! You’re in good hands here, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before, and it will still be the best day ever. 

Start your pre-jump prep by booking your skydive today! Please reach out to us with any further questions. We look forward to seeing you!