Bulldogs in the Kitchen

A nice thought, University of California at Fresno dietetic students have partnered with student-athletes in a popular program. The idea came from a professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. Dr. Lisa Herzig, a PhD, is also the Director of the Dietetics and Food Administration program. What she found is that student-athletes, as indeed is no doubt true of most college students, had poor eating habits, and were useless (she didn’t say useless, but I think we’re not taking liberties; perhaps ‘strangers’ would be better) in the kitchen.

Baste Bulldogs Baste! Blanch Bulldogs Blanch!

Andy Bennett, the school’s director of strength and conditioning, concurrently wondered whether a lack of nutritional understanding was costing his athletes in performance and stamina. Two parallel universes joined. One result: the “Bulldogs in the Kitchen” Sports Nutrition Playbook. Now that cooking has entered the televised competitive arena, perhaps the favor can be returned – a football “sled” for building sous chef stamina and toughness? Maybe interval training elements integrated with dicing and plating. Just a thought. I’ll be here all week. (Anyone who has read accounts of the major culinary schools will know the comparisons are not far-fetched.)

The article appears in the November edition of Training & Conditioning (training-conditioning.com). A few tips on “Healthy Snacking” right out of the old sports nutrition playbook appear below. Sauté Bulldogs Sauté!

Snacks on the Go

• Fruit-flavored, low-fat Green yogurt with low-fat granola.
• Whole grain pita bread triangles with flavored hummus.
• Fresh fruit paired with peanut butter or nuts.
• Hard-boiled egg paired with a handful of cherry tomatoes

 Quick picks from the vending machine or convenience store

• Packages of baby carrots, broccoli florets or celery sticks
• Pudding cups
• Cereal bars or nutrition bars
• Low-fat or fat-free regular or flavored milks
• 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices

 Survival stashes

• Oatmeal packets with nuts or peanut butter
• Light mircrowave popcorn
• Raisins, dried apricots, and single-serve fruit cups packed in 100 percent fruit juice.
• Shelf-stable protein drinks