Unwrapping the NFL's Sweetest Secret to Tasting Victory
- Dolapo Balogun
- Sep 8, 2024
- 4 min read
Welcome to the seventh installment of Game Changers! Here, we get to talk about all things nutrition with me, Dolapo Balogun. I’m a registered and licensed dietitian who gets to use this platform to give you all trusted, evidence-based information. This means, you can trust Game Changing Fuel as a source for all the 411 on nutrition. This is our space to not only get real, but also get informed. 🧐
You may have seen this already, but just in case you didn’t, Marshawn Lynch scored himself an endorsement deal with Skittles by doing something quite controversial: eating candy as an elite athlete. 😱
"Isn't candy bad for you?"
"I don't eat added sugars!"
"Eating candy is going to ruin all my progress!"
"There's no room for candy in my diet."
We've heard it all before.
And today, I'm hoping this blog gives you some much needed food freedom.
Remember how we talked about carbohydrates and their role in our bodies? We used the analogy that our body is like a car and cars need gas to go.
I’m sure you’ve been on a road trip before, and you filled up your tank with quality gas.
But what about those times where payday hasn't hit yet, and you only have $10 to top off your tank? (Oh yes, we're in your business 😂)
No food is good or bad, but when it comes to performance nutrition, you can utilize certain foods to optimize your performance. And this doesn’t discriminate against candy!
When it comes to "topping off" your gas tank, you want to opt for simple carbs rather than complex. The biggest difference here is the fiber content within the carb (think white and brown rice). The fiber contributes to a slower digestion rate.
For example, if you had 4 hours before you went on a run, that’s enough time to digest a quality, normal meal that has carbs like brown rice or whole grain bread.
But what if you only had 30 minutes before that run?
You’d want to opt for simple carbs to be used for immediate energy.
Mandy Tyler is a pillar in the performance nutrition world, as she is a team dietitian in the NBA and private practice sports dietitian, and has experience working with athletes on the collegiate and high school level. When asked about what works for her athletes she shared,
"When working with high school and college athletes, I'm often asked for easy snacks they can eat before a game for quick energy. In addition to items such as bananas and applesauce, packages of fruit snacks can be a convenient option. Fruit snacks have the advantage of being easy to travel with, mess-free, and I find most athletes like them. Thus in the hour before a competition or during halftime, fruit snacks can be an easy way for athletes to get in a quick source of carbs."
The best part about performance nutrition is that it’s all about accessibility - knowing what works for you, your body, your schedule, and most importantly, your budget. Fruit snacks and candy alike can be a game-changing option for you!
You may be wondering, “does this mean I can eat candy at any time?”
Sneaky, you!
Remember that we learned that carbohydrates break down into sugar for energy. If you ate candy before/during activity, your body is going to be smart enough to utilize it for energy.
But do you think you’d want to have candy alllllll the time, even when you’re not active? Probably not, right? This is when you’d implement the principal of moderation!
The important thing is to be diligent about balancing candy consumption with other nutrient-dense foods for overall performance and recovery. This is all assuming that you've fueled up your gas tank hours beforehand and just need to top off the tank.
Tyler adds, "of course, outside of competition, it's important to remind athletes to focus on eating real fruit, which provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals!"
So how can you start applying this? Well it’s all about being strategic: timing is everything.
If you need a quick burst of energy and have less than one hour until activity, aim for simple carbs such as:
Fruit/Dried fruit
Pretzels
Candy or Fruit Chews
Pretzels
Sports Drinks
Applesauce
White bread/bagel
They're easy to digest and reduce the risk of causing GI distress while you move your body. Movement should be enjoyable, and we don't want an upset tummy to get in the way of that.
All. Foods. Fit.
And some fit so well that they can land you an endorsement deal. So live a little, and taste the rainbow while you’re at it! 🤪
With gratitude,
Dolapo ✌️
Until next time. . .
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