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When I watch NBA stars run full-throttle laps across the court, high-jump, and outsmart other speedy giants in the course of a game, I wonder what they're eating that I'm not. Full heads of raw broccoli? Vats of spinach? Some kind of carb cubes? Not quite. Turns out they eat a lot like us. "The NBA is like a microcosm of society," says Gary Vitti, the athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers. When it comes to nutrition, "some athletes take 100% of what you say, some take a part of it, and some don't follow at all." In other words, some eat right, some eat some things right, and others eat junk.
When asked what foods the Lakers don't like to eat, Chip Shaefer, the Director of Athletic Performance and Player Development for the Lakers, had a diplomatic reply, "Many of our players would benefit from an increase in their fruit and vegetable consumption." Sounds like a lot of people I know.
What's their favorite food? Chicken. But that's not the only chow they crave. Lamar Odom's obsession with sweets was the topic of a recent story on ESPN. He admitted to eating four or five Hershey's White Chocolate Cookies and Cream bars per day, along with watermelon Now-and-Laters, Nibs, Gummy Savers, Skittles, and chocolate.
Nice to know that this season's finalists have a couple tendencies in common with common people.
You would think these elite athletes would have completely unique eating requirements, but according to Shaefer, "Other than an increased need in both calories -- and possibly protein -- during intense training periods, our [nutrition] recommendations are equally appropriate for the general public." (That is, if the general public is looking for a healthy plan to maintain -- not lose -- weight.) He explains, "Portion sizes would be calculated based on the particular person's calorie demand, for example a 250-pound athlete in an intense training period could easily have a 5,000 calorie per day calorie expenditure, as opposed to a more sedentary person, [who] would eat the same foods in portions that may total a 2,000 calorie expenditure." 3,000 calories is a big difference, but Vitti says the recommended ratio would be the same: 60% carbohydrates, 15% protein, and 25% fat. With these portion guidelines in mind, Vitti shared a few menus that are recommended for the Lakers...
BREAKFAST:
OJ, pancakes, bagel, low fat yogurt, banana
OR
OJ, dry cereal (cornflakes, cheerios), low fat milk, muffin
LUNCH/DINNER:
Chicken, whole wheat bread, fruit, frozen yogurt, low fat milk or sports drink
OR
Pasta with marinara, salad (oil & vinegar dressing), bread, fruit,
sherbert, low fat milk or sports drink
OR
Baked potato low fat cheese, cornbread, low fat smoothie
OR
Cheese pizza, fruit, low fat milk or sports drink
POST-GAME
WRAP-UP:
Once the Lakers have completed their four quarters of
super-human activity, they need to consume protein and carbohydrates within 30
minutes to an hour. "Exercise usually affects your
satiety center, so athletes are not generally hungry immediately following
competition," notes Vitti. "Some [players] need to force themselves
to consume the protein and carbs they need for proper recovery." This may be our greatest dietary difference. For the fans, the end of the game signals us to put down our plates of nachos, set aside our chicken tubs, and finally stop eating.
Did you know it takes 59 minutes of walking to work off a donut? Check out What Chain-Food Favorites Cost in Exercise.
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