The Pittsburgh Steelers: Eating Right at Training Camp

Football training camp tests what a player is made of. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, that means sweltering August afternoons in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on the campus of St. Vincent College. The sun beats down on the fields as coaches and fans scout to see who's got the right stuff this year.

But before they hit the field, Leslie Bonci makes sure they have the right stuff on their plates. As the team nutritionist, she helps set the menu at the camp cafeteria and says good nutrition gets front-and-center attention at training camp. Rule No. 1: No skipping meals. Players must sign in at every meal, which means even superstar athletes can't sleep through breakfast.

"It puts the importance on the fueling," Bonci said.

Healthy, nutritious food — eaten at the right times — can make a difference for all athletes, kids included, she said. You might not be a Steeler yet, but you can follow Bonci's advice before beginning your preseason sports camps and practices.

Put your health first.

Bonci likes to use the acronym SHOP with the players she advises. It stands for "Safeguard health. Optimize performance." That means no one should start their preseason workouts unless they're sure they're healthy. For a kid, that might mean getting a sports physical.

Lots of schools require these, which typically include an exam to check basic stuff like your blood pressure and weight. It's also a chance for a doctor to look at your medical history — info on current medical issues, previous sports injuries, and health problems you have had in the past or ones that run in your family.

The Steelers are no different. They get health checkups, too. This year, Bonci had to help one player who had gained weight in the off-season. She worked with the camp cafeteria to create special meals for him. While the rest of the team was having chicken wings for an evening snack, this player got a portion of grilled chicken with dipping sauce. Still a tasty, satisfying snack, but less fat and calories.

Start practice an hour early.

No, Bonci doesn't tell the Steelers to get to the field an hour early. But she does tell athletes to start preparing for practice 1 hour before by having a drink and a snack.

"That's part of your warm-up," Bonci said.

This is especially important when practices will be long and intense — the kind when you'll spend an hour or more doing conditioning exercises or actively practicing your sport.

Here are some before-practice menu options:

Drinks (choose 1)

• 8-10 ounces of water
• Half a sports drink (10 ounces)

Snacks (choose 1)

• Half a peanut butter sandwich
• Yogurt and granola (Steeler Troy Polamalu loves yogurt!)
• Small egg sandwich or wrap

These pre-practice snacks include carbohydrates (like the bread, granola, and oatmeal) for energy. They also offer some protein (peanut butter, yogurt, egg) to help athletes keep going during a long, tiring practice.

Bring enough to drink.

Also 1 hour before practice, think about what you'll need to pack. Most important? Enough water to get you through. Bring a large insulated jug of water rather than just one bottle. Don't rely on the water fountain, Bonci says; bring your own and enough of it.

Your body performs best when you're hydrated. When you're not, you may start feeling lightheaded and dizzy. Even mild dehydration can make it hard to throw that perfect spiral or go after the soccer ball. Sweating while working out means you're losing extra water. Try to take a drink every 15 minutes or so.

Pack a "recovery snack."

Bonci recommends a "recovery snack" — something to eat about 15 minutes after practice ends. At Steeler training camp, some of the players eat Popsicles as they walk off the field after afternoon practice. Other good choices include fresh fruit, granola bars, some dry cereal, or Bonci's favorite recovery snack — garbage can trail mix. What's that?

For large teams, you start with a clean garbage can with a liner. Dump in dry cereal (such as Chex), pretzels, and snack crackers. Give everyone a plastic cup to scoop some out and you have the perfect recovery snack.

Eating a little something after practice takes advantage of enzymes (chemicals your body produces) that help your body recover after a tough workout, Bonci said. A recovery snack has an added benefit: It makes athletes less likely to overeat later.

So the right recovery snack will help "Fast Willie" Parker eat just the right amount of lasagna after a game. Read on to learn more about this Super Bowl champion's healthy food habits.

Food Q&A With Running Back Willie Parker

• What's your favorite healthy food?
  Salad.
• What is your favorite pre-game meal or snack?
  Baked chicken, some potatoes, and lots of fruit.
• What's your favorite post-game meal?
  Lasagna.
• What's your favorite junk food and do you limit how much you eat?
  Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. I like to limit my servings to two servings of each.
• Have your eating habits changed since you were a kid or teen athlete?
  They have changed dramatically. You have to start eating healthier by eating better foods. I also have a nutritionist who makes sure that I get the right proteins.
• Any food advice for kids and teens who are practicing and playing hard?
  Stay away from high-sugar meals and snacks.

How About Some Steeler Salad?

This recipe incorporates Parker's favorites — salad, chicken, potatoes, and fruit — all in one Super Bowl! Have an adult help you with this dish, which requires some cutting, chopping, and use of the stove.

Steeler Salad

What You Need

• 2 3-ounce chicken breasts
• 2 baking potatoes, washed
• 2 cups washed greens (lettuce, spinach, or both)
• ½ cup sliced cucumber
• ½ cup peppers (any color)
• ½ cup red grapes
• Cajun or blackened seasoning (for chicken)
• Cooking spray oil
• Italian seasoning (for potatoes)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ cup shredded cheese, optional
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped almonds, cashews, or peanuts
• Low-fat or fat-free salad dressing (any variety)

Equipment and Utensils

• Oven/stove
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Nonstick grill pan or skillet (for chicken)
• Baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (for potatoes)
• Tongs or spatula
• Knife
• Two large salad bowls

What to Do

Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Sprinkle a little olive oil on the baking sheet lined with foil.
3. Cut 2 baking potatoes into long wedges.
4. Place potatoes on the baking sheet lined with foil.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
6. Bake about 15-20 minutes at 350°.
7. Increase oven temperature to broil and broil for 5 minutes until brown.
8. Remove from oven, cut into smaller chunks. Set aside.

Chicken

1. Prepare grill pan or skillet with spray oil.
2. Sprinkle chicken with Cajun or blackened seasoning.
3. Grill in grill pan until done.
4. Cut into strips, set aside.

The salad

1. In two bowls, combine greens, cucumbers, peppers, and grapes.
2. Add chicken strips and potato chunks to each bowl.
3. Add cheese and nuts, if desired.
4. Top with 1-2 tablespoons dressing.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August 2008