The Olympic Athlete Diet
Five nutrition experts working with Olympic athletes share their health secrets and a favorite recipe to help you customize your workout. By: Patricia Bannan, MS, RD
1. Eat Smart, Eat Frequently to Maximize Performance
For the Athlete: Sports dietitian, Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, works with Olympic sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste, from Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure she’s fueling her body properly to maximize performance. Pre-training foods Piattoly
recommends consist of lean protein and complex carbs, such as whole-grain bread, oatmeal, fresh fruit, eggs, Greek yogurt,
and whey protein. “We also focus on healthy fats like natural peanut butter, whole eggs, fish oil supplements, and nuts to
help with satiety,” he adds.
For You: Piattoly says, “The principles of sports nutrition never change regardless if you're a weekend warrior, average exerciser,
or elite athlete; the only aspect that changes is the total caloric intake. Whether I'm working with a mom who plays tennis
five days a week or an Olympian, we still focus on the same eating principles such as eating every 3 to 4 hours, eating after
training to enhance recovery, and hydrating well.”
