While traditional approaches to dietary analysis in athletes have focused on total daily energy and macronutri-ent intake, it is now thought that daily distribution of these parameters can also influence training adaptations. Using 7-day food diaries, we quantified the total daily macronutrient intake and distribution in elite youth soccer players from the English Premier League in U18 (n = 13), U15/16 (n = 25) and U13/14 squads (n = 21). Total energy (43.1 ± 10.3, 32.6 ± 7.9, 28.1 ± 6.8 kcal⋅kg-1⋅day-1), CHO (6 ± 1.2,4.7 ± 1.4, 3.2 ± 1.3 g⋅kg-1⋅day-1) and fat (1.3 ± 0.5, 0.9 ± 0.3, 0.9 ± 0.3 g⋅kg-1⋅day-1) intake exhibited hierarchical differences (p < .05) such that U13/14 > U15/16 > U18. In addition, CHO intake in U18s was lower (p < .05) at breakfast, dinner and snacks when compared with both squads but no differences were apparent at lunch. Furthermore, the U1 5/16s reported lower relative daily protein intake than the U1 3/14s and U1 8s (1.6 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.5, 2.0 ± 0.3 g⋅kg-1). A skewed distribution (p < .05) of daily protein intake was observed in all squads, with a hierarchical order of dinner (~0.6 g⋅kg-1) > lunch (-0.5 g⋅kg-1) > breakfast (-0.3 g⋅kg-1). We conclude elite youth soccer players do not meet current CHO guidelines. Although daily protein targets are achieved, we report a skewed daily distribution in all ages such that dinner > lunch > breakfast. Our data suggest that dietary advice for elite youth players should focus on both total daily macronutrient intake and optimal daily distribution patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]