Food is one of the most important ingredients to a successful professional athlete. Eating the right foods will fuel your body to give you enough energy, as well as allow you to push your limits.
There are lots of "diets" out there which talk about different ways to lose weight, or all these rules about what to eat. Healthy eating needs to not be considered a "diet" but a lifestyle. It isn't something you do for a short period of time, it has to be an all the time thing. As an elite athlete, where physical activity is my daily work, what I eat directly effects how I feel and how I perform day in and day out! With that being said, I use a 90/10 rule. This means staying true to healthy eating 90% of the time and allowing yourself "cheats" 10% of the time.
So... what do I eat? What do I consider healthy foods?! Well, of course there is a long list, but I will give you a general definition. To me, I want to put unprocessed natural foods into my body as much as possible. This means a lot of meat, fish, fruits, veggies, eggs, etc. It is similar to the Paleo diet for those that are familiar with that. But I do try to limit my carbs. Most athletes are told they need carbs as energy, but I find I get enough carbs from fruits and vegetables, and all my extra energy stores come from protein. I feel fit, lean, fast, and strong. Since changing my eating habits last year, I feel the best physically I have my whole career!
It is not easy changing your eating habits though. The first two weeks, cutting out some typical foods (for me it was pasta, rice, and potatoes) is the hardest part!! Once you get through that first block, it gets so much easier. Your body doesn't crave it anymore and you start to enjoy other foods. You even find new foods you never even knew you liked!
Trying new foods and recipes to mix up my meals has probably been my favorite part! Not only have I learned how to cook a lot better (I know my boyfriend is happy about this!!), I find real joy in eating (which is already one of my favorite activities!) Hehe. And I am so confident that I am fueling my body well with each delicious bite!!
I'm sure you're wondering what some of my typical meals look like? Well, here are some pictures of some meals I've made at home over the last few weeks!! Enjoy!
Feel free to comment, ask questions, or send your favorite recipe or one you'd love to try! I'm always looking for new ideas!
Steak and sugar snap peas:
