The Diet of an Athlete | Ben Smith Shares his Nutrition Plan
Food has such a huge impact on the body. It can affect mental health, physical health, and as athletes it can greatly affect athletic performance. Food is about more than just satisfying hunger, it’s fuel for our bodies. What you put into your body, you get out. You can’t put in junk food and expect your body to perform at its best. An athlete’s diet plays a big role in performance, recovery, and stamina.
Even though calories play a role in an athlete’s diet, it’s also important to make sure those calories come from clean food sources. Eating a 200 calorie cookie won’t do the same thing for your body as eating 200 calories worth of almonds. Crossfit Games athlete Ben Smith tries to eat as clean as he possibly can every day. While it may seem like a small increase, if Ben’s diet allows him to perform 1-2% better, he says it’s worth sticking with.
Athlete Diet | Ben Smith
Ben Smith eats about 3-5 times a day and tries to keep all meals clean and simple. While traveling can make it hard to eat clean, Ben still tries to look for healthy options and follows his diet as much as possible.
Ben Smith’s Typical Meals
Breakfast
- Oatmeal, peanut butter, and fruit- all mixed together
- Eggs with avocado
Lunch
- Chicken, steak, or fish
- Rice
- Vegetables
Dinner
- Chicken, steak, or fish
- Rice
- Vegetables
Everyone is different. A diet that works for one athlete may not work as well for another. Also, the diet of a Crossfit athlete may look much different than the diet of a triathlete. Choosing the right diet for your athletic needs is important. Ben Smith has tried many diets over the course of his career, but has found this one to be the most beneficial for him at the moment.
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