What A BOPer Thinks About Good Nutrition

To me, eating correctly is more difficult to accomplish than successful training in running, biking or swimming, to say the least. I do not understand the logistics and practical abilities to consistently have good nutrition. I might do it “once” a month, I certainly can’t “maintain” good nutrition.

Some writers refer to the “difficulties” of eating healthy, but many do not, and must live in a cave.

Case in point are most, if not all of the sports nutritionists extolling the virtues of eating healthy (see Outside Magazine this month), and then one of them will have the audacity to plan out for you a lunch, looking something like this: a lean chicken breast, with a side of spinach-stuffed artichokes, 3 uncooked but washed asperagas, all dashed with a hint of Vinegarette. Baking up the pumpkin squash is optional.

Yeah, I’ll get right on that.

It doesn’t just end there, because apparently the whole day is just one big LA-like Spa feast, going on all day, for this writer. No price or consequence is to be paid for it. Money and free time to pick crops at Kroger or the Farmers Market must rain in from the sky.

That one meal would be bad enough to bankrupt a few hours out of your day because you have to go fetch all of the stuff and prepare it, but these gurus want you to have a whole day of it: these people who must have chefs around their abode, who eat for snacks, yogurt with fresh raspberries, or blueberries, “whatever is fresh,” with some unusual new, tasty, healthy, wheat bread they have lying around. Yes. Goat milk is also a healthy alternative to water, and provides nutrients, so drink that with your snacks, if you want. Or try using this in your blender with some crushed carrots and ice for a refreshing, healthy macronutrient intense drink.

To add insult to injury, the articles usually come from some successful triathlete or runner or swimmer, who you already know probably takes naps in the afternoon, or admits to the importance of doing so in some other article. Here is the chef triathlete, preparing shit heart surgeons would award him a medal for, after a grueling bike or swim sessions. No, nobody works a blender and goes to the farmers market like this person. Life just doesn’t get any better. Get up, head out for a run, nap, and then get back for a macronutrient dense brussel sprouts casserole.

For dinner, you should have fresh Salmon, spinach salad, water chestnuts, and garden fresh corn. Your next snack will be some fresh fat free Brie Cheese or goat cheese, or pesto, with mixed pine nuts, on top of some fresh pasta.

You know what. I’m eating Nacho Dorritos and Bean Dip, and a Dr. Pepper.

Sorry.

classic!!!

I couldn’t even find half of that stuff in a grocery store w/ a map!

I work in the ghetto too, the real ghetto, all I have to pick from is McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, or some Rib & Chinese place. Grass doesn’t even want to grow there, so I doubt I’m going to find anything fresh for lunch!

back for a macronutrient dense brussel sprouts casserole

you have a good recipe fro a brussel sprout casserole?

Brilliant. I love the articles that suggest an avocado as a fatty, almost sinful treat.

Back to my holiday cupcakes (white and green frosting - yum).

Great post - you should write a column somewhere.

I love your writing style, sort of a “tell it like it is” everyman’s point of view. Kind of like Mr. Tibbs, but sane.

I, for one, think nutrition is MASSIVELY overrated. I would guess that diminishing returns kick in at a relatively low level of effort. For example, the suggestions above probably get you 95% of the total benefits to be gained from excellent nutrition.

Just get your ~5 servings of colorful veggies/fruit (trying to keep the balance tilted toward veggies over fruit), watch for too much crap like those chips and other junk, get a decent amount of quality protein and fiber, and limit the sugars. POOF, you are no longer limited by nutrition.

I’m glad you asked, and Mike this is for you, if you are out there.

Here goes:

The Macronutrient Dense Brussel Sprouts Sports Casserole

This is for dinner and just for “sports people,” hence I call it a “sports casserole”—meaning, it’s high in carbohydrates but meeting all of the Chris Carmichael carbo/protein/fat ratios for triathletes. I would suggest that this wonderful dish be prepared after a grueling bike session, so, please get that out of the way first, take a hot bath, then nap, then head to the local farmer’s market. Get back. Touch up your P-3 a little bit out in the garage. Its time to cook.

You will need:

One Pound of Brussel Sprouts. If they are spelled Brussell, same thing.

Two bottles of JC’s Masterpiece Barbeque Sauce.

Two boxes of Velveeta Cheese, the lite kind.

One bag of salted peeled peanuts.

One can of powdered Ex-Tran.

Find a large casserole dish, pour all of the ingredients together, stir, and bake for one hour and a half at 350 degrees. Please pour in the Ex-Tran first to avoid explosions.

Enjoy.

great post as usual.

You should read Chris Carmichael’s new book Food for Fitness. He gives daily menu suggestions that are everyday foods… For exampls, he gives full weekly diet examples, like what a 190-lb triathlete should eat in a week during his “foundation” period (CTS lingo.)

He also talks about real stuff that we talk about here… what to eat before a race (& how long before), what to eat after a workout, etc.

The only part that might be a turnoff is his constant need to sell the liine of Powerbar drinks, but otherwise it’s a very good book.

great post as usual.

You should read Chris Carmichael’s new book Food for Fitness. He gives daily menu suggestions that are everyday foods… For exampls, he gives full weekly diet examples, like what a 190-lb triathlete should eat in a week during his “foundation” period (CTS lingo.)

He also talks about real stuff that we talk about here… what to eat before a race (& how long before), what to eat after a workout, etc.

The only part that might be a turnoff is his constant need to sell the liine of Powerbar drinks, but otherwise it’s a very good book.

give me salt, pepper, fresh garlic and a good olive oil … these will turn any "protein: and two veggies into healthy gourmet eats. also, got to have a grill - if you’re good you can do everything on it and not have to clean up a single pan!.

Yeah!

You know, that makes me think… I get really irritated at those types of articles, too. I appreciate the idea of “here’s some new and unique ways to eat things you’ve either never heard of or didn’t know would taste good…” - kindof like a recommendation for some odd indie movie that ends up being really good.

But it’d be nice if they’d have some articles about how to eat right on “staple” foods. Rather like the other fella’s reply (sorry can’t remember who) about the flank steak and salad-in-a-bag-with-Arkansas-jokes-on-the-side. We BOP’ers need articles like that. What to order at Fazoli’s, or why we should grab the Rold Gold instead of the Dorito’s. How to dig the not-so-hidden nuggets of “gold” out of the Kroger aisle.

It’d be nice to have some simple recipes and meal plans with stuff I can find and cook easily without a gourmet kitchen and pantry. And stuff my kids will actually try, too!

I agree that it’s harder to find good food in some locations than others. We have fairly good food options in Seattle but it becomes much more difficult when we visit folks in the middle of the country. Maybe you need to fill that void and write your own guide to nutrition for folks in the real world without a farmers market and a personal chef.
One way to do better is to cook ahead on your off days. We usually make a big load of pasta sauce on Sunday and freeze it for later in the week and we make and freeze a bunch of pesto at the end of the summer when basil is cheap. I also buy about $80 of fruit and veggies every week.

I am with you on this. As I type this my slice of coffee ice cream cake is melting.

Great post Booth. Although I lost some respect for you with your “slam Subway-Jared” post, I gotta give you props for this one. I agree, you should write a column… xtri maybe?