globe blog

Whitfield: What do you eat?

from www.globesports.com

I often get asked "what do you eat?"

So here it goes.

To start with I eat a fair bit of fat. In fact a large portion of my calories come from healthy fats. Flax oil, hemp seed oil and our "smoothie" favorite Ascenta Nutra Sea (LEMON FLAVOR!!!). I add it to everything. Combine that with a generous amount of Olive Oil (extra virgin) on our huge salads at night, Omega fish oil capsules (4) after any hard training session and my addiction to Oil(s) would make the crazy prospector dude in the movie "there will be blood" very proud.

My day usually starts at 6 a.m., I get up to either our cat Laya pawing me, Pippa talking in her sleep or at this time of year..... hunger. Breakfast is usually either one half of a flourless sprouted whole grain english muffin by 'food for life' (18 grams of carbs, 3g of protein) with a HEAP of almond butter (never peanut) (190 calories, 18g fat, 6g carbs, 5g protein) OR I have gluten-free cereal 25g carbohydrate, three dollops of flax oil 6-8g of fat, blueberries from the local market and if I anticipate it's going to be a big day of training I'll have small hemp protein smoothie (a combination of hemp protein, yellow pea protein, whole flax seeds, brown rice protein and a ton of anti oxidants - along with some more OIL!!!). One scoop has 10g carbs/6g fat/ 12g protein (and 5g fibre). We only ever use almond milk, unsweetened it's low calorie, it's not milk and I like the taste (very little sugar) oh and I add either NAVITAS Goji berries or Cacao power for flavor and anti-oxidant power!!!..

If it's a light day of training or swimming (six days a week it's our first session) is going to be relatively easy then I skip the shake until after the workout. On running-first mornings I wake up so I can eat two hours before the session and have a LARA bar (not sponsored, we just buy them) 200 calories, 12g fat, 24g carbo, 5g protein and an "Americano" coffee (two shots espresso and hot water). These LARA bars are the greatest, how's this for ingredients - dates, almonds, walnuts, unsweetened coconut and cocoa. Oh, and for the coffee, right after the Sydney Olympics I bought myself a Starbucks brand espresso machine as a present..... to myself. Since then I've upgraded to an Astoria, the real deal!!! with a really nice grinder to make perfect "caps".....

Post swimming it's all about the dates: 2-3 dates immediately after my workout. I drive home and Pippa and I drink the rest of the morning's smoothie. If I'm still hungry I'll have almond butter on the other half of the English muffin or three eggs, with some olive oil and maplesyrup (cooked in hemp oil).

Lunch is either 1/2 to a full avocado with turkey on an English muffin or MANA bread (sprouted grain "cold" bread) or yogurt with hemp protein, blue berries and more oil.

I usually need another bowl of cereal pre or post dinner. Dinner is almost always a large salad with various heaped veggies, more oils (in homemade salad dressing), nuts - almonds, walnuts or cashews - either chicken, red meat or occasionally fish all bought from the OAK BAY butcher and preferably from a Vancouver Island farm (eat local) with either the staple (and favorite) yams!!!!! Or other tubers. I rarely if ever eat pasta or rice. Snacks after dinner are either an apple, hemp ice cream or coconut yogurt with more oil and fruit.

My favorite vices; croissants, coffee, morning gold muffins from bubby, Mars bars....., sharkies, frozen sharkies, dates with coconut oil, 85% dark dark chocolate and more good coffee from habit.

Oh and cold dark beer with Kelly, Adam, Southy, Trevor and Jazz at Ferris Oyster bar with a big plate of yam fries and pulled pork sandwiches (Jennie can come too but she has to order her own fries next time!!!).

S

p.s. I HIGHLY recommend www.marksdailyapple.com please please please read his site, follow his guidelines and enjoy.

the fridge and counter shots are from Plymouth MN when we stayed between races in the states a couple weeks ago.