Should You Eat Before Skydiving? What First-Time Jumpers Should Know

Key Takeaways 
Eating before your skydive helps keep your energy levels up, your mind sharp, and your nerves more manageable. Skipping meals can make you feel worse. Stick to light, familiar foods that sit well with you, and avoid anything heavy, greasy, or overly rich before your jump. Timing matters, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Eat within a window that you know feels comfortable for your body, and don’t forget to hydrate. Most importantly, listen to your body and set yourself up to feel good so you can fully enjoy the experience.

Is it okay to eat before skydiving? Yes! But, should you eat before skydiving? Also, yes! Eating before tandem skydiving (and skydiving at all) is a key component to having a comfortable and enjoyable skydive. Think of it as part of your overall jump prep. Just like getting a good night’s rest, gearing up, and going through the briefing, fueling your body helps set the tone for the entire experience. 

Here are our top tips on what and when to eat before skydiving! 

You Should Eat Before Skydiving … Why? 

Are you supposed to eat before skydiving? Yes! Eating gives us energy, helps to improve focus, and keeps our nerves at bay. Jumping on an empty stomach may seem appealing to some (who wants to eat before doing something they’re scared to do!?), but it can actually make you feel worse. 

Energy

When we go too long without eating, our energy levels can drop because the body is running low on readily available fuel. After we’ve used up the energy from our last meal, blood sugar levels begin to fall, which can lead to feelings of fatigue, brain fog, and decreased focus. While the body can tap into stored energy like glycogen and fat, that process isn’t always fast or efficient enough to keep energy levels feeling steady, especially during busy or physically demanding days (like when we go skydiving!). Set your body up for success!

Focus

Paying attention to instruction is a key component of a first skydive. Feeling foggy or out-of-focus is a consequence of delaying eating, and you want to come in sharp on the day of your jump. In high-adrenaline environments, even mild dips in blood sugar can make it harder to process information, react quickly, and retain what you’ve just learned.

Nerves

It’s completely normal to feel a little anxious before your jump, but not eating can actually amplify those nerves. Low blood sugar can trigger symptoms that feel a lot like anxiety: shakiness, irritability, and a rapid heartbeat can make the experience feel more overwhelming than it should. Eating beforehand helps keep your body balanced, so you’re better able to manage those pre-jump jitters and turn that nervous energy into excitement.

Speaking of blood sugar, can diabetics go skydiving? We aren’t here to give medical advice, but many people who live with diabetes can go skydiving and have a great time. The key to skydiving with any medical condition is controllability. If your diabetes is regularly controlled and you have the greenlight from your doctor), skydiving may well be within reach! 

What To Eat Before Skydiving 

We suggest eating as you normally would, but in moderation. For example, if your typical breakfast includes 10 sausage links, do five on the morning of your jump. Similarly, foods that are easy on your stomach should be your go-to before skydiving. If you love sausage, but it never seems to settle well, save it until after your skydive. 

So, what can you eat before skydiving? Here are some of our favorite pre-flight nibbles:

• Granola bars
• Toast
• Oatmeal
• Light sandwiches 
• Smoothies 
• Trail mix 

Note of reassurance: Does your stomach drop when skydiving? Nope! That typical roller coaster feeling that happens when going over a big hill may happen while flying the parachute from the centrifugal force experienced during a turn, but not when we jump out of the plane.   

What Not To Eat Before A Skydive 

What should you not do before skydiving when it comes to food and drink? Don’t eat heavy, greasy, spicy, super rich, or unfamiliar foods. 

Do not consume alcohol ahead of your jump either! It’s actually illegal to have alcohol eight hours or less before a skydive, but we recommend pushing that even longer. Consuming alcohol can leave you feeling sick, anxious and icky overall. Your first-jump day should be one for the books, and not because you felt horrible all day! 

It’s also a good idea to consume minimal caffeine before jumping. We promise your heart rate will be pumping high enough! 

When Should You Eat Before Skydiving? 

Eating a few hours before your skydive is a safe bet. If you’re feeling too nervous for a full meal, small snack options are ideal. The goal is for your belly to feel light but satiated by the time you get in the plane. 

If you know it takes your body four hours to get to the point of comfort after eating, eat four hours before you jump. If you feel good doing physical activity 30 minutes after eating, then 30 minutes would be your threshold. 

Don’t Forget To Hydrate 

Hydrating is just as important (if not more) as eating! Don’t overdo it on caffeine or super carbonated, sugary drinks. Water and electrolyte drinks are a skydiver’s go-to to keep their hydration in check.  

Too Nervous To Eat? It’s Common! 

For many, skydiving is a bucket-list item that has been on the horizon for months, if not years. When a big, intimidating event is lingering in your peripheral for a long time and it finally arrives, eating may be put on the backburner, or you may feel too jacked up to want to consume anything! 

This is a totally normal and common reaction from our bodies. But, it’s important to overcome it. If it’s too much to eat a big meal, stick with the snacks. It’s just important to make sure you have something in your stomach. 

Does The Dropzone Have Food Options? 

Yes! Skydive Perris is home to a restaurant called The Bombshelter! It’s an awesome, convenient option for a pre-jump snack or a post-jump meal. Having food available on-site makes it easy to listen to your body without overthinking it. If you arrive at the dropzone and realize you left your snack bag on the counter, The Bombshelter will come to your rescue! 

Bonus: The Bombshelter overlooks our swimming pool! Pack your suit and enjoy a post-jump dip too!

Final Food Tips For First-Time Jumpers 

Eat what’s familiar and in moderation, stay hydrated, avoid heavy foods, listen to your body, and arrive ready for an ah-mazing experience. If you have any questions or concerns about eating and skydiving, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We can’t wait to share the freedom of human flight with you! Book your jump today!

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