austiNuts Olympic Meal Plan - Austin, TX

We are days away from the 2016 Rio Olympics and we could not be more excited! This is a great time to get together with friends and family to cheer on our country in a month full of Olympic games. 

But, what makes these athletes so great at what they do is what they put into their body first. 

We wanted to get a deeper look at what exactly goes into a Olympian diet. 

ABC New said it perfectly "It takes more than just practice to become an Olympian. Gold medal performances require some serious nutrition." 

So, what does that nutrition entail? 

We have found research from experts to develop a nutrition guide to be like an Olympic athlete. Let the games begin! 

Do NOT Skip Breakfast! 

Repeat: DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST! 

"One of the biggest mistakes athletes make is heading out for a run in the morning without eating anything first," says Dan Benardot, PhD, RD, director of the Laboratory for Elite Athlete Performance at Georgia State University in Atlanta. This sounds so obvious, but many people think that skipping the most important meal of the day makes them perform better just because their stomach isn't full, but in reality the only thing you are doing is hurting their body more. The first meal of the day should be packed with carbs to help give you the energy level you need to get you through the day. Check out this article of Olympic athletes that start there day right.  

Next on the nutrition guide is HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!

Water is the most important thing that you need to be a successful athlete. Without water we cannot live and without enough water you cannot perform the way you need to in order to win Gold medals. "Athletes should be consuming .5 to 1 ounce of H2O per pound of body weight every day, says Amanda Carlson-Phillips, vice president of nutrition and research for Athletes' Performance in Phoenix, Arizona".

We have breakfast and water covered, but what about the snacks? 

"Beth Duryea, head soigneur for the Specialized-lululemon women's cycling team, says she encourages all of the riders, including Olympic contenders Evelyn Stevens and Amber Neben, to incorporate whole-grain carbs, lean proteins, and colorful fruits and veggies into their snacks and meals every day. The more color on your plate, the better, she says. Carlson-Phillips also suggests stocking up on Greek yogurt, which is high in probiotics, as another stay-healthy tool. Sprinkle some walnuts and fruit or flax seeds on top for a bonus antioxidant boost."

So, Walnuts for the Win

Olympic Athletes choose Walnuts for the Win because they are filled with more than 100 percent of the daily recommended value of plant-based omega-3 fats, along with high amounts of copper, manganese, molybdenum, and biotin. 

For more information about Walnuts check out this article! 

Let's go NUTS for Walnuts! 

Don't forget  to check out www.austiNuts.com to get ready for all your Olympic Festivities!