I am an athlete and my question is, what foods will give me the best energy?

Athletes generally need to have increased carbohydrate intake, balanced out with protein and fat. For most of athletes and gym goers, we tend to recommend having three meals and three to four snacks a day, depending on the level of physical activity. We think it’s important to not have anything “new” the day before a big event so you do not have any surprises digestively! Simple carbs tend to work out well for dinner and breakfast before an event.

I have a weird class schedule, will not eating at “normal” mealtimes mess up my metabolism?

It’s important to fuel yourself every two to four hours, starting an hour or so after breakfast. It is highly important to have breakfast every day. We can’t stress this enough! Especially if you are in college, having a well-rounded breakfast is essential. We would say if a class is super early, it might be a good idea to plan ahead.

You should eat:

• A substantial snack before (like a sandwich or fruit and yogurt parfait), so you are not hungry during class. And then having dinner after.

• Dinner before and then having a substantial snack right after class.

This can really depend on your personal preference and what you feel may keep you more fuelled throughout the evening. But, we think it is totally okay to eat when you’re not hungry if that will keep you get fuelled.

I hear a lot of comments along the lines of “I was so bad this weekend, I went to get ice cream and had pizza, but I’ll make it up by eating super healthy the next few days.” Does that really work?

Well, our bodies don’t really work that way. And we firmly believe there is no such thing as being “bad” with food. Our bodies are very smart, so don’t underestimate your digestive system. If you eat out more on the weekend, your body is going to figure out how to metabolise the food and use it as energy. That’s not to say that a well-balanced diet isn’t important. Overall, try to make sure your diet incorporates fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein and healthy fats, and that eating out isn’t taking the place of these. Bottom line: Having a variety of foods, including fun foods, is totally okay and your body will thank you for giving it the fuel it needs.