Jordyn McDonnell competing in the 3k Steeplechase event at the Princeton Invite. Photo Courtesy Hofstra University
THE ATHLETE’S DIET BY FRANCIS ARGUETA
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orning workouts, weight room sessions, breakfast, school and work are just a few things that make up the day of a student athlete. What is indispensable among them is eating, and finding the time to eat is often what athletes leave for last, though it may be the most important part of their days. For some, their diets might consist of roughly the same meals every day to ensure they don’t lose or gain too much weight. For others, their diets might depend on how much time they have to eat in their busy schedules. Regardless of what diet is followed, there are varying methods one can use to eat healthily and get in shape. While college athletes play sports, they are also students. That means their time is divided between their participation in their sports and classes. Many also hold jobs, often during the week, but also on weekends at times. College athletes’ time is precious, and how much time they have in their
scheddules could make the difference between eating right or not for many. Jordyn McDonnell, a Hofstra University junior cross-country and long-distance track runner, dorms at school. She finds it difficult to eat at Hofstra because of her busy schedule. “At school, it’s very hard to eat because I’m always rushing around, and I feel like I’m never actually enjoying what food I eat,” McDonnell said. One to two meals a day gets McDonnell through school and practice, but most important to her is lots of coffee. If she is running late, she might not eat before class and just have her coffee in the afternoon. When she is able to eat, she might have a sandwich, salad or rice bowl with chicken. Team members traditionally go to the Starbucks on campus after their morning runs, and McDonnell sometimes gets a bagel with cream cheese as well. If she has more time, she orders eggs with home fries on weekends. The track team occasionally goes off
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campus to parks and fields for its runs, and members eat at other bagel places afterward. McDonnell said that she doesn’t eat before practice or a meet (only water) and that she eats better during winter and spring breaks because she has more time to herself. “At home, I’ll eat whatever, whenever, because there’s more stuff there than here,” she said. Dinner is McDonnell’s favorite because it’s her biggest meal of the day and she gets to relax and enjoy it more. She typically has pasta, a rice bowl or anything else that might grab her attention at the student center. If it’s after a race, she and her teammates go out for pizza, Chinese or fast food. Carlos Santos Jr. is another crosscountry and long-distance track runner from Stony Brook University, where he’s finishing his senior year. Santos averages a five to six meals a day, because as he puts it, “I never get full and I’m always hungry.” Santos’ meals generally consist of
