More Real Foods, Less Processed Foods

If you’re serious about getting the most out of your performance on the field, you probably already know nutrition matters, period. As you get older, it becomes much harder to burn off those unwanted calories that come from unhealthy foods, but even young athletes need to pay attention to what they’re putting into their body. It’s not just your “playing” weight that's important. When it comes to a proper nutrition for athletes, the question also has to be: what types of foods are you fueling your body with to perform at your absolute best?

When you give your body the right nutrients, you’ll end up having more energy, focus, strength, and it will help you recover faster and even help you avoid injury. Many people think that maintaining a healthy diet for athletic performance is complicated or hard to understand. My goal is to show you that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here's how…

Keep it simple! No matter what you’re doing in life, excellence and results come from consistently mastering the fundamentals. Most people are beginners when it comes to eating healthy and can make incredible changes, and perform at elite levels using simple techniques….if they practice them CONSISTENTLY. Basics are best! 

Here is an easy tip to start: eat more real foods! What do I mean by “real” foods anyway? Real, earth grown foods are simply foods as they are found in nature. We’re talking fresh cuts of meat, fresh fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, etc. This is the fuel that our bodies want and thrive on! The more of these foods you can consume on a daily basis, the better. 

Do your best to limit the amount of processed foods you eat. Processed foods are basically the opposite from real foods, and are foods that have changed in any way from its natural state. Cereal, fruit snacks, orange juice, doritos, etc. are examples of processed foods.

Eliminating these foods can be challenging, but it’s all about making gradual changes. Slowly increase the consumption of “real” foods as the main focus of what you eat. It’s hard to eat that way 100% of the time, so do your best to gradually add in more earth grown food, and take away more processed foods.

At first, look for options that are “just a little better”. A rotisserie chicken may not be pasture raised and organic but it sure beats chicken nuggets. Come up with a list of healthy substitutions for some of the common processed foods you eat.

Here are a few quick examples:

• An orange instead of orange juice 
• Oatmeal instead of sugary breakfast cereal
• Fresh fish instead of fish sticks
• Frozen grapes instead of a popsicle
• A handful of nuts instead of Doritos
• An apple instead of candy

​The next time you’re buying groceries or deciding what to pick up at the cafeteria, remember, REAL foods over processed foods whenever possible.